Norte to Primitivo

hi ritopaxi,

Great decision! I think it just depends on how much time you have for the walk. I have walked from Villaviciosa, down to Oviedo, then back up to Aviles, so I can give you a little information.

When I walked the Norte in 2006 (?), my friend and I decided we wanted to stay on the Norte all the way to Santiago. At the same time, though, I LOVE Oviedo, so I convinced her that we should "dip down" to Oviedo and then go back up to continue the Norte in Aviles. This means that I haven't walked between Aviles and Villaviciosa, only the other two legs of the triangle.

Oviedo to Aviles was, at that time, very poorly marked. I would have to go back to my journal to see the exact problem spots, but we had a very hard time and wound up walking many kms on the side of a dangerous national highway. I don't know if things have changed.

Villaviciosa to Oviedo is a very nice walk, especially if you decide to walk to the church of Valdedios, another pre-romanesque Asturian jewel (I realize I've been on a pre-romanesque soapbox lately, sorry, but here is another picture or two to show you what it's like)
[attachment=1]valdediosvalley.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=0]Valdedios.jpg[/attachment]

There is an albergue now in Pola de Siero, I believe and maybe one other place between Valdedios and Oviedo.

I have been told that the part of the norte between Villaviciosa and Aviles right along the coast goes through some pretty bad industrial sections. From Oviedo to Aviles, you avoid that segment.

Based on the conditions when I walked, I'd say the best option is to take public transportation to Villaviciosa and walk from there. Buen camino, Laurie

Hi, ritopaxi,
I've seen anglulero's comments on what seems to be a duplicate thread of this posting: el-camino-del-norte/topic19692.html

Here's what I can add to what s/he told you:

Though Gronze lists Sebrayo as the starting point of the stage, I'd just start in Villaviciosa. I don't think that those 6 kms from Sebrayo to Villaviciosa have any un-missable points. That would make Villaviciosa to Pola de Siero a very do-able 24, which would allow a short detour (down and up 300-400 m I think) to the church at Valdedios if you were so inclined.

From my 2007 notes, Villaviciosa to Pola de Siero is all asphalt, but nothing busy. There is an albergue in Vega, about 9 kms before Pola de Siero, but there is apparently a new albergue in Pola that is very nice. From POla to Oviedo is only 17 kms, again almost all asphalt but only one highway spot.

Oviedo to Aviles (28 kms, which you would be doing in reverse) is where we lost the camino. My notes tell me that it was in La Posada de Llanera where no one could tell us anything about the camino and we just stayed for 17 kms alongside the national highway north to Aviles. Not a nice walk.

So if your choice is Aviles to Oviedo or Villaviciosa to Oviedo, I think the latter route is much more pleasant, though both are nearly all asphalt. Starting in Villaviciosa will take you two days, whereas you can walk Aviles to Oviedo in one but unless the camino has been well marked it could be a very unpleasant walk on the highway.

Buen camino, Laurie

p.s. in your note to Angulero you asked about walking on the autopista. Don't worry, you can't walk on the autopista, it's strictly prohibited the worst you will find is walking alongside the national highways.