Most scenic route

We have been told 10/12 miles per day is what we should be aiming for

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That is typical. At times you may be capable of more. It is hard to describe the physical "ups and downs" of walking the Camino, but you are likely to feel pretty good the first day, quite sore for a few days, then recover to a higher level as you become more fit. Then you may "hit the wall" nutritionally as your appetite decreases and weight drops. After a couple of weeks, you may begin to combat mental issues. Your enthusiasm lags, the weather gets to you, or the bed race has you in turmoil. You may perceive that you physical conditioning has improved so much that you can walk longer than before, push past a limit, and cause shin splints or other injury. Joints and connective tissue do not recover as muscles do, and this is most apparent in those over the age of 40 (and even more so over the age of 60).

The Camino del Norte has a lot of up and down. The views are beautiful coastal views, though it is possible to reach a point that you have seen enough water. Stages can be longer than on the Camino Frances, but there are fewer pilgrims per bed. By September you probably will not have a problem finding a bed each night, but there still will be a lot of pilgrims.

I won't hazard a guess on "the most scenic route." There is too much variety on each of the routes for there to be a "factual" answer to that. I personally liked the Meseta, where there did not seem to be a tree in sight. Scenic? Well, yes, in its own way. The green valleys of Galicia are quite beautiful. Scenic? Well, yes, as a break from hiking in the hot sun, but often obscured by fog, so you may not see them.

Have fun; take your time; don't push age-appropriate limits. You will love it.

Meseta:
http://www.youtube.com/user/YourCamino# ... KmTqaZSnpU

falcon269 said:

you are likely to feel pretty good the first day, quite sore for a few days, Then you may "hit the wall" nutritionally as your appetite decreases and weight drops. After a couple of weeks, you may begin to combat mental issues. Your enthusiasm lags, the weather gets to you, or the bed race has you in turmoil.

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Don't sugar coat it falcon, tell it like it is!

In my experience, the most scenic routes are also the most physically demanding, because they involve mountains!

That said, I recommend the Camino del Salvador, between Leon and Oviedo. It crosses the Cordillera de Cantabria and then follows a magnificent river valley through green Asturias. And you can do it in a week´s time, if the weather is good and you are fit. From Oviedo you can join the Camino del Norte or the Primitivo.

If you want a truly scenic long-distance camino that lands you in Santiago de Compostela, try the Camino Invierno, which begins in Ponferrada and follows the Sil River valley. It´s got some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever walked through!

Rebekah

Re: Most scenic route - what next?

I have just completed the Camino from SJPDP to Santiago and am already planning my next walk in April next year as it is so difficult to get back to reality after the sheer exhilaration of the Camino. At this stage I am contemplating doing the Le Puy to SJPFDP route of the Camino de Norde. Mountains dont bother me; in fact I prefer them to the Meseta. What does everyone recommend?

the answer will tell you more about the viewer than the scenery
.
i walked with 2 dutch pilgrims, and every time i stopped at an ancient church and gasped at its beauty, they laughed
they said theyd seen so many ancient churches it was now commonplace and had lost its shine
however, theyd both travelled to my hometown of Cape Town and viewed Table Mountain rising 1000m above the city centre, as beauty beyond just scenic
.
so, for me, its the element of freshness and newness and differentness
.
the flat lands of the spanish mesita of the vdlp mesmerised me