Norte in March

[paolo r]

Dear all , i am planning the Norte from Gijon starting the 16 march. I read nobody goes on the Norte in March so I am wondering if i will have difficulties with the hostel.
It‘s my first camino. Would it be better to go the Frances ?
Any suggestion is welcome

 

[Babyboomergirl]

Dear all , i am planning the Norte from Gijon starting the 16 march. I read nobody goes on the Norte in March so I am wondering if i will have difficulties with the hostel.
It‘s my first camino. Would it be better to go the Frances ?
Any suggestion is welcome

I walked the Norte in 2019, starting in Irun on the 19 March . It was a great time to walk and there were only a few times when it was necessary to book ahead and that included Semana Santa. It is a very scenic Camino .
However for a first Camino I would recommend the Frances although it’s hard to predict how busy it will be this year.

 

[C clearly]

I read nobody goes on the Norte in March

Hello, and welcome to the forum!

I haven't walked the Norte, but expect that it is a significant exaggeration to say nobody goes there in March . I guess there will not be throngs of people, and you won't have all the tourist crowds who go there in the summer, but then perhaps some seasonal accommodation will not yet be open. We really don't know how 2022 will compare with previous years.

Others will come along and give you better information, but it would be helpful to know if you are a person who wants a lot of company, and also if you want to stay in albergues or in private accommodation.

 

[paolo r]

Thanks both.
I am fine in walking alone and meeting just some 3-5 people on the way. No need for crowds and be always with someone

I would not want to feel completely alone day and evening. I would prefer eating together with other people at evenings and refuel energy by sharing our experience with a smile and a glass of wine. So i guess albergues could be better ?

 

[peregrino_tom]

Hi Paolo
I just raced through a virtual camino on Gronze looking at accommodation. What is apparent is that a lot of municipal albergue accommodation is still showing as closed. So you should plan ahead and be prepared to occasionally pay more than municipal albergue rates.
However, it's quite likely that some of the places showing as 'closed temporarily' on Gronze will have re-opened by the time you start walking.
Based on availability of accommodation alone, I wouldn't change your camino choice. And be prepared for a fairly uninspiring first day to Aviles. Some people even recommend taking the bus to avoid the sad industrial zones, but I think it is still an interesting walk!
Cheers, tom

 

[paolo r]

Hi Paolo
I just raced through a virtual camino on Gronze looking at accommodation. What is apparent is that a lot of municipal albergue accommodation is still showing as closed. So you should plan ahead and be prepared to occasionally pay more than municipal albergue rates.
However, it's quite likely that some of the places showing as 'closed temporarily' on Gronze will have re-opened by the time you start walking.
Based on availability of accommodation alone, I wouldn't change your camino choice. And be prepared for a fairly uninspiring first day to Aviles. Some people even recommend taking the bus to avoid the sad industrial zones, but I think it is still an interesting walk!
Cheers, tom

Thank you Tom.
Actually I just looked at the maps and, arriving at the airport of Oviedo, it seems i will be already at Aviles, thus skipping the ugly part.
I registered in Gronze. it seems very useful. One question: how do you recognize if an albergue is closed or open ? Or maybe only the open ones show up ?
Thank you
Cheers Paolo

 

[peregrino_tom]

Sigh. I'm fighting a one-pilgrim battle trying to get folk not to take the bus from Gijon to Aviles - and I've lost again . You'll miss the ancient dolmens!
Alternatively... depends on what time you arrive, but have you considered just walking out of the airport and straight onto the camino - that would be quite cool. Looks from the Gronze map as if Santiago del Monte (on the camino) is very close to the camino path....
However if you are interested in the great statements of modernist architecture you should definitely go to Aviles and walk around the Niemeyer Cultural Centre. Perhaps not the first thing people think about visiting when walking the camino - but it is food for a different kind of thought.

Re: identifying closed albergues on Gronze - just had a look again. And from where you are starting it's actually not so bad. There's just this one section after Ribadeo where there are three cute little village albergues in a row in the uplands that are closed. You can see by the circle with the line across, and then when you open the page you get more details.

 

[trecile]

There are closed and warning symbols on some albergues - when you click on the albergue name it will give you more information.



If Avilés will be your first stop it appears that the albergue is open.

Albergue de peregrinos Pedro Solís | Albergue de Peregrinos en Avilés | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue de peregrinos Pedro Solís, en Avilés: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

I walked from Oviedo to Avilés in 2019, and you approach from a different direction than when you are coming from Gijón.

 

[JerryStroebele]

One of my favorite albergues on the del Norte is San Martin de Laspra, 1.5 km past Salinas, which is just 6 km past Aviles. I read somewhere recently the Camino may have been moved from Salinas. Makes no sense but diverting to San Martin de Laspra would be worth it. Buen Camino

 

[paolo r]

Sigh. I'm fighting a one-pilgrim battle trying to get folk not to take the bus from Gijon to Aviles - and I've lost again . You'll miss the ancient dolmens!
Alternatively... depends on what time you arrive, but have you considered just walking out of the airport and straight onto the camino - that would be quite cool. Looks from the Gronze map as if Santiago del Monte (on the camino) is very close to the camino path....
However if you are interested in the great statements of modernist architecture you should definitely go to Aviles and walk around the Niemeyer Cultural Centre. Perhaps not the first thing people think about visiting when walking the camino - but it is food for a different kind of thought.

Re: identifying closed albergues on Gronze - just had a look again. And from where you are starting it's actually not so bad. There's just this one section after Ribadeo where there are three cute little village albergues in a row in the uplands that are closed. You can see by the circle with the line across, and then when you open the page you get more details.

yes. probably go out of the airport and start walking on the camino towards Muros de Nalon.

I googled the Niemeyer centre, very interesting design. Definitively wort a visit if I stay overnight in Aviles

thanks for the hints on Gronze

 

[paolo r]

There are closed and warning symbols on some albergues - when you click on the albergue name it will give you more information.

View attachment 118051

If Avilés will be your first stop it appears that the albergue is open.

Albergue de peregrinos Pedro Solís | Albergue de Peregrinos en Avilés | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue de peregrinos Pedro Solís, en Avilés: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

I walked from Oviedo to Avilés in 2019, and you approach from a different direction than when you are coming from Gijón.

it looks good.
Thanks Trecile also for the explanation

 

[paolo r]

One of my favorite albergues on the del Norte is San Martin de Laspra, 1.5 km past Salinas, which is just 6 km past Aviles. I read somewhere recently the Camino may have been moved from Salinas. Makes no sense but diverting to San Martin de Laspra would be worth it. Buen Camino

thanks Jerry
it seems a good location.
I read that is now closed for the season but i keep monitoring.
Gracias

 

[smp]

Dear all , i am planning the Norte from Gijon starting the 16 march. I read nobody goes on the Norte in March so I am wondering if i will have difficulties with the hostel.
It‘s my first camino. Would it be better to go the Frances ?
Any suggestion is welcome

Hi there, I am hoping to walk the Norte towards the end of May and am also curious about accommodation availability if you do walk the Norte. Is there a way to connect with you either through this forum or? I would be interested in updates, as you will be ahead of me. Thank you.

 

[paolo r]

Hi there, I am hoping to walk the Norte towards the end of May and am also curious about accommodation availability if you do walk the Norte. Is there a way to connect with you either through this forum or? I would be interested in updates, as you will be ahead of me. Thank you.

I read that most of the albergues open on 1st april, so you won't have problems.
At any case let's stay in touch

 

[smp]

I read that most of the albergues open on 1st april, so you won't have problems.
At any case let's stay in touch

Thanks Paolo, any idea if we are able to private message using the forum?

 

[Tincatinker]

Click on a member’s avatar then on “start conversation”

 

[smp]

Click on a member’s avatar then on “start conversation”

Thank you!

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

In March you will not be alone while walking, but you certainly not be with crowds either.
If you seek to be among more pilgrims The Frances would be your best bet, especially since this is your first time.

 

[paolo r]

In March you will not be alone while walking, but you certainly not be with crowds either.
If you seek to be among more pilgrims The Frances would be your best bet, especially since this is your first time.

Thanks Bob. It's a sound suggestion.
I am getting convinced. I might change my plans and starting in Leon on the Frances instead of starting in Oviedo/Gijon and doing the Norte

 

[trecile]

Thanks Bob. It's a sound suggestion.
I am getting convinced. I might change my plans and starting in Leon on the Frances instead of starting in Oviedo/Gijon and doing the Norte

I've walked both routes, and at that time of year I'd definitely do the Francés, especially as a first Camino.

 

[paolo r]

I've walked both routes, and at that time of year I'd definitely do the Francés, especially as a first Camino.

thank you I will change then the plans