Maslacq/Navarrenx to Spain

[Tamar14]

Hello everyone,

I would really appreciate your advice on few things:
I am leaving on the 3/8/2011 for a
My original plan was to start at SJPDP and walk into Spain, but the more I looked into photos I realised I would to see a bit more of the French side, so I was thinking about starting in Maslacq or Navarrenx instead. As I don't speak French and have not booked in advance I wonder if it's realistic at all (or maybe I should bring a tent?)?
Are there places you could recommend to stay in?
Also, does anyone know how to from either SJPDP or Pau to Navarrenx of Maslacq?
I appreciate this is very much last minute, and would be grateful for any advice

Many thanks

Tamar

 

[irishpilgrim]

Hi
We have walked this year in June from Condom to St. Jean Pied de Port and so covered the area you are interested in. I don't know much about public transport to either town but Navarrenx is a good sized town and I would expect it to have some services.I will try to find out on the internet and respond further. Navarrenx struck me as a lovely town and I was sorry not to have more time to explore. There is a good sized communal gite in the center of the town. I think it would be a good starting point as you are heading into the foothills of the Pyrenees at that stage and the scenery is gorgeous.
Anna

 

[Deleted member 3000]

From the Navarrenx tourist office website:

TGV Pau liaison Navarrenx par bus TPR
TGV Orthez liaison bus Salies/Sauveterre par ligne 22

So it looks like you can go from Biarritz to Pau or Orthez, then take a bus. I could not find a schedule. You could call the tourist office.

Orthez is about 15 miles from Navarrenx, so as an alternative, you could take the Biarritz-Orthez train, and walk to Navarrenx.

 

[robertt]

I'd like to second what Anna has said. The country after Navarrenx, (and also before it, once you leave the Landes), is superb. The town is full of interest and has all services. The old Protestant connection and the extant fortifications all add to its historical fascination. I'm told there's even a cigar factory!

 

[dutchpilgrim]

Hi,

You can find deteiled information on the route on:
http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org/spip/spi ... ubrique569
On this site you can find lots of info about lodging (Hébergement) as well (alas, only in french).
Lodging is no problem, I walked it myself in 2005 (Lourdes via Navarrenx) and in 2008 (Lourdes via Mauleon)

Ultreya,
Carli Di Bortolo.

 

[Tamar14]

Thank you guys ever so much-

I didn't realise I had all these replies here (was expecting an email alert), so started to make plans and I am heading early tomorrow morning and will start at Navarrenx indeed!
How reassuring it is to read all your great impression from your visit and I do appreciate people's kindness and willingness to help.
I wanted to do a long-distance walk of over a week and the camino seemed like a 'sensible choice', since I am going on my own. But the closer I get to heading out I become more aware of this 'social network/community' that had developed around it I feel it's not only sensible, but a good choice of route.

Thanks again

 

[irishpilgrim]

Good luck and have a great Camino. Delighted you're starting at Navarrenx. You are in for some lovely walking.
Anna

 

[jl]

Hi Tamar, just in case you haven't left - just repeating again that I don't speak French and didn't book anything when I walked around this time in 2007 and had no problems - the tourist offices / officers were a great help I might add. I loved Navarrenx. Buen Camino, Janet