Pamplona to Leon, San Salvador to Primitivo to Santiago

[Jim ME]

I am planning to do this route in late August and am wondering who might have done this and if there are any special things I should know? I like the CF to warm up and then a fresh path to Santiago over the normal CF route.

 

[trecile]

In 2019 I did SJPdP to León, then the Salvador to Oviedo. However, rather than the Primitivo, I walked to Avilés and continued on the Camino del Norte, because I had had to abandon it due to injury the year before. I wanted to finish the Norte. Hopefully, my next Camino will be the Norte/Primitivo combo.

As far as the Camino del Salvador goes, as you probably know, there are usually very few pilgrims on it. But there are enough albergues - just not too many places to stop and eat between stages. Some albergues ask that you phone them the day before to let them know that you are coming. @Elle Bieling's website is a good resource.

The Camino de San Salvador or the Camino del Salvador ~ León to Oviedo

The Camino de San Salvador is perhaps the most mountainous of all the Caminos de Santiago. This short but spectacular, pilgrimage path of only 119 kilometers (74 miles), figures by my GPS tracks, will physically test most of you! Do not be fooled by the short length.

www.pilgrimagetraveler.com

 

[Jim ME]

In 2019 I did SJPdP to León, then the Salvador to Oviedo. However, rather than the Primitivo, I walked to Avilés and continued on the Camino del Norte, because I had had to abandon it due to injury the year before. I wanted to finish the Norte. Hopefully, my next Camino will be the Norte/Primitivo combo.

As far as the Camino del Salvador goes, as you probably know, there are usually very few pilgrims on it. But there are enough albergues - just not too many places to stop and eat between stages. Some albergues ask that you phone them the day before to let them know that you are coming. @Elle Bieling's website is a good resource.

The Camino de San Salvador or the Camino del Salvador ~ León to Oviedo

The Camino de San Salvador is perhaps the most mountainous of all the Caminos de Santiago. This short but spectacular, pilgrimage path of only 119 kilometers (74 miles), figures by my GPS tracks, will physically test most of you! Do not be fooled by the short length.

www.pilgrimagetraveler.com

Thanks for telling me about the food situation and I did find Elle's resource. I like the sounds of the road less traveled for a few days, but generally prefer to meet folks. That is why I am also considering the Camino Madrid.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, @Jim ME,

I think that the Salvador/Primitivo is a great combination. In addition to the resource @trecile notes, you should take a look at Ender’s Salvador guide.

Ender's guide in English 2016.pdf

drive.google.com

The author (José Antonio Cuñarro, aka Ender) is the person who is primarily responsible for the marking and the growth of pilgrims on the route. In fact there are now regular August reports of too many people for the few facilities. This was before covid, of course, so who knows what next August will bring. Other times of year there are others, but not too many. I walked in late June a few years ago, and the albergues in La Robla and Pajares were full, but not overflowing.

That is why I am also considering the Camino Madrid.

The Camino de Madrid also falls into the category of “untraveled.” It has had some growth in numbers since I walked it ten years ago, but I met a total of two on foot and a few on bikes. It’s a great camino and the albergue infrastructure is great, but there aren’t a lot of others on the route. Again, covid may change that since people are staying closer to home, who knows? But I would say you have a greater chance of meeting pilgrims on the Salvador than on the Madrid. The joy of the Madrid is that you will meet so many wonderful people in small towns along the way — they are friendly and helpful and love to talk!

Lots of information on all of these caminos in the different sub-forums

Salvador

Madrid

 

[Holly Mitchem]

I am planning to do this route in late August and am wondering who might have done this and if there are any special things I should know? I like the CF to warm up and then a fresh path to Santiago over the normal CF route.

You don't say whether or not you have done the entire Frances before. We had a similar idea on our first Camino in 2016 but we found that by the time we reached León we had become emotionally committed to the Frances and all the people that we had been journeying with for the previous two weeks. So we stayed on the Frances.

 

[Jim ME]

You don't say whether or not you have done the entire Frances before. We had a similar idea on our first Camino in 2016 but we found that by the time we reached León we had become emotionally committed to the Frances and all the people that we had been journeying with for the previous two weeks. So we stayed on the Frances.

Yes, in 2019 I did the whole Frances. I liked St. Jean and the first day climb and the rest of the CF. I was slightly disappointed with the last week or so of the CF. That is why I am thinking of taking the San Salvador to the Primitivo. Looking like an arrival into Pamplona around August 15/16. No hard plans yet, waiting on Spain to open and more shots in arms to be administered.

 

[Holly Mitchem]

Yes, in 2019 I did the whole Frances. I liked St. Jean and the first day climb and the rest of the CF. I was slightly disappointed with the last week or so of the CF. That is why I am thinking of taking the San Salvador to the Primitivo. Looking like an arrival into Pamplona around August 15/16. No hard plans yet, waiting on Spain to open and more shots in arms to be administered.

Makes perfect sense then. I would love to do the Salvador/Primitivo route!

 

[Rainey]

Thanks for telling me about the food situation and I did find Elle's resource. I like the sounds of the road less traveled for a few days, but generally prefer to meet folks. That is why I am also considering the Camino Madrid.

I travelled the Madrid in May 2018 with my walking partner who had done the Frances previously, to me it was very quiet we saw four people! she found it very lonely compared to the Frances. It was a nice walk. We also continued on the Salvador to Oviedo and encountered few people but still not too many 20 or so? Less travelled for sure but more than Madrid and it was more challenging and beautiful!

 

[trecile]

We also continued on the Salvador to Oviedo and encountered few people but still not too many 20 or so?

That was about four times more than I saw on the Salvador in June 2019!