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Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Planning #3

andywild

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
CF april 18.. CP sep 18.. CF april 2020
I'm trying to plan a 2019 meander and would like to do a longer walk than the CF.. however I really like the social aspect of the CF and think it would be a shame to miss out on that part next time.. so here's what I've got so far..
Walk the CF and add extra on.. maybe Finisterra again?.. but still not enough..
An easy pace on CF gives roughly 40 days and I'd like another 20 or so so roughly another 400km...
Is there 400km before Sjpdp or 300 plus Finisterra?
I'd prefer not to be in France for too long if I can help it.. I'm not a huge fan.
Does all that make sense?
How about a 3or4 hundred km walk through Spain (ish) that finds me at sjpdp or somewhere near...

I don't really want to do 400km and then have to train or fly to sjpdp, I'd rather be continuous if possible
Thanks and hugs
Andy
 
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You could fly to Barcelona and begin the Camino Catalan. Connect to the Camino Aragones in Santa Cilia de Jaca, and continue down the CF from Puenta la Reina on. About 1100 km, give or take. You'd skip SJPdP though...
 
I'm trying to plan a 2019 meander and would like to do a longer walk than the CF.. however I really like the social aspect of the CF and think it would be a shame to miss out on that part next time.. so here's what I've got so far..
Walk the CF and add extra on.. maybe Finisterra again?.. but still not enough..
An easy pace on CF gives roughly 40 days and I'd like another 20 or so so roughly another 400km...
Is there 400km before Sjpdp or 300 plus Finisterra?
I'd prefer not to be in France for too long if I can help it.. I'm not a huge fan.
Does all that make sense?
How about a 3or4 hundred km walk through Spain (ish) that finds me at sjpdp or somewhere near...

I don't really want to do 400km and then have to train or fly to sjpdp, I'd rather be continuous if possible
Thanks and hugs
Andy
If you like the social aspect you could follow the CF immediately with the CP. That's probably the second most traveled route. I met some people on the CP this year who had done just that - finished the CF and decided they weren't done walking so started the CP.
 
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That sounds possible.. I'll have to see if I can get any info about albergues etc on the Catalan and the aragones.
I used to live near Barcelona so it'd be a nice starting point and missing the hill over to Roncesvalles doesn't really sadden me too much 🙂
 
Andy,
I believe that there are some routes through the Basque country which can take you to St Jean pied de Port to begin your camino. These are not major routes and are not marked on my large map of all the routes in Spain. But some members of this forum have walked such a route. Here is the title of a recent camino thread about beginning such a route and going to St Jean pied de Port. But they are not very long routes and maybe not suitable for someone as social as yourself. However, I believe that you would be largely in Spain, rather than France and could connect this route with the start of the Frances.
Bayonne – Pamplona via Baztán or Frances?
The routes are called the camino Baztan and the Voie de Nive. It may be easier to end in Pamplona than in St Jean. Good luck.
 
If you like the social aspect you could follow the CF immediately with the CP. That's probably the second most traveled route. I met some people on the CP this year who had done just that - finished the CF and decided they weren't done walking so started the CP.
I walked both this year and although I enjoyed the CP it was nowhere near as good as the CF when it came to socialising (luckily I had a walking buddy so it didn't matter) plus if I didn't travel after Santiago I would end up doing the CP backward which
Doesn't feel like the right thing.. thanks for the suggestion though.. all input is welcomed when your as indecisive as I am
 
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I'm trying to plan a 2019 meander and would like to do a longer walk than the CF.. however I really like the social aspect of the CF and think it would be a shame to miss out on that part next time.. so here's what I've got so far..
Walk the CF and add extra on.. maybe Finisterra again?.. but still not enough..
An easy pace on CF gives roughly 40 days and I'd like another 20 or so so roughly another 400km...
Is there 400km before Sjpdp or 300 plus Finisterra?
I'd prefer not to be in France for too long if I can help it.. I'm not a huge fan.
Does all that make sense?
How about a 3or4 hundred km walk through Spain (ish) that finds me at sjpdp or somewhere near...

I don't really want to do 400km and then have to train or fly to sjpdp, I'd rather be continuous if possible
Thanks and hugs
Andy
Good Morning!
I had the same dilemma in 2015. I wanted to do the Portuguese from Porto but needed to add some walking so I added the Fisterre then took the bus to Caruna and walked the Ingles. Three days for the Fisterre and about a week for the Ingles. Fit seamlessly with the Portuguese as it will with the Frances.
AQlternatively you can bus to Porto and walk back to Santiago I think its around 300k or 2 weeks at 20+ k per day.


Cheers
Jim
 
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@andywild
Here is another thread that you might like to have a look at:
"Baztan, Vasco del Interior or Aragones?" I have walked the camino Aragones and loved it, but it may not be for the very social. I understand that the camino Catalan is even less walked, but has the advantage of going through San Juan de la Pena, instead of having to detour to visit it on the Aragones. If you want to walk in Spain and don't care about beginning the Frances at Puente de la Reina, this is a very nice route, but the Catalan might be more solitary, with various challenges.
 
What if you walk the Frances from SJPdP to Leon and then head north on the Salvador (5-9 days) to Oviedo and then walk the Primitivo and arrive back on the Frances, to finish. The Salvador didn't have many people walking, but you meet all the pilgrims each night at the albergues. It was very social at night. I think the Primitivo would be very social even during the day. The problem might come when it is time to turn off in Leon if you have found a great group of people to walk with and they are staying on the Frances.
 
What about the Via de Plata? Many love it, although I have no experience myself. You probably will not have many social experiences on most other routes in Spain. Another consideration is the Norte/Primitivo combo. I loved it. That said, nothing really replicates the Frances.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I recommend the Via de la Plata, if you are looking for a new route. In the Spring, there are enough walkers to ensure a variety of walking companions and social contact every evening. You could walk from Seville to Astorga and join the Frances to walk to Santiago.

Are you familiar with this web page, which could be helpful?
 
Maybe the Camino del Norte from Irun, go down to Lebaniego/Vadiniense to leon, up the Salvador and finish on the Primitivo from Oviedo? 4 caminos in ones, all in Spain :)
 
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There are a number of other pilgrimages you can do that connect to the CF to extend the time, as others have suggested. The reason I didn't suggest any of them was your expressed preference for a social Camino. They are all less frequented than the CP. If the CP from Porto doesn't have enough pilgrims for you, I don't think you'll be happy with the Aragones, the Catalan, the VdlP, etc.

Maybe turn around when you get to the end and walk back. :) Some people do that (although not nearly as many as in the middle ages). You'll see a lot of pilgrims, different ones each day. It will certainly be an experience!
 
On a completely selfish note, I think that you should so what I'm planning, starting in mid May because I think that you would probably so much fun and entertaining to walk with. Here's my plan - Camino Frances to León, then the Salvador to Oviedo, then connect to the Norte to Santiago (I got sidelined by injury this year and couldn't finish the Norte), then walk to Finisterre and Muxia. I'm thinking that should be approximately 6 weeks. But you must portray me in a positive light in your blog and forum posts. 😂
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Arrrrgh it's so confusing !! I might do the CF twice !!
I'm thinking of redoing the CF. this time I'll go via Samos and instead of Sarria go to Santiago via Ourense. Not sure what that route is called but that's what a Canadian pilgrim I met did because she had already walked the CF twice.
 
Interesting. Does anyone know if getting to Ourense from the Frances is possible by walking a camino route or is a bus needed?
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Andy,
I believe that there are some routes through the Basque country which can take you to St Jean pied de Port to begin your camino. These are not major routes and are not marked on my large map of all the routes in Spain. But some members of this forum have walked such a route. Here is the title of a recent camino thread about beginning such a route and going to St Jean pied de Port. But they are not very long routes and maybe not suitable for someone as social as yourself. However, I believe that you would be largely in Spain, rather than France and could connect this route with the start of the Frances.
Bayonne – Pamplona via Baztán or Frances?
The routes are called the camino Baztan and the Voie de Nive. It may be easier to end in Pamplona than in St Jean. Good luck.

Just FYI - There is a network of French hiking trails called the Routes Grande Randonnées. Consult these web sources:

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GR_footpath
Chemins de Grandes Randonnées: (english) https://www.gr-infos.com/gr-en.htm

The key thing is that the markings for these routes can be seen across Spain and Portugal. The marks look like the Polish flag (white over red horizontal stripes). I have frequently seen these markings as I follow the yellow arrows.

These French-designated routes intertwine with existing Camino routes. So, you need not be in France any longer than you choose...

The second URL above has a TON of useful information.

Hope this helps...
 
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Interesting. Does anyone know if getting to Ourense from the Frances is possible by walking a camino route or is a bus needed?
You can veer off the CF in Astorga on VdlP and walk south to La Granja de Moreruela where you make a turn onto Camino Sanabres which goes through Ourense.

I'm thinking of redoing the CF. this time I'll go via Samos and instead of Sarria go to Santiago via Ourense. Not sure what that route is called but that's what a Canadian pilgrim I met did because she had already walked the CF twice.
It is called Camino Sanabres.
But you have one more option to the south of the CF crowds which is called Camino de Invierno and starts in Ponferrada. In the village of A Laxe it merges with Camino Sanabres.

Take a look at these maps:
https://www.rayyrosa.com/caminos (scroll down a bit)
https://thecaminoprovides.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/wisepilgrimcaminomap.gif

Buen Camino!
 
You could fly to Barcelona and begin the Camino Catalan. Connect to the Camino Aragones in Santa Cilia de Jaca, and continue down the CF from Puenta la Reina on.
Now you have me thinking about this. But instead of starting in Barcelona by taking the Sant Jaume you could start at the easternmost spot in Spain and walk to the westernmost.
 
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I had a similar desire 3 years ago, so in early-September 2015 I started walking from Lourdes, France on the Piemont Way to St Jean Pied de Port, and then on the Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela, and on to Finisterre. This adds about 250 kilometers to the traditional CF (30 more if you walk on to Muxia). It took me 45 days of walking. Of my six Caminos, this was the most rewarding and I highly recommend it!
 
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Are you familiar with this web page, which could be helpful?[/QUOTE]

Thank you for sharing that link! It's a very interesting read concerning all caminos.
 
Interesting. Does anyone know if getting to Ourense from the Frances is possible by walking a camino route or is a bus needed?
Hi Chris - this is the blog that Peggy wrote describing her journey to Santiago via Ourense: https://epeggyh.wordpress.com/ Unfortunately she was sick of the weather by the time she got to Santiago. I walked from Sarria and was sick of the weather as well. At least the first 3 weeks we had fine weather.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Are you familiar with this web page, which could be helpful?
Thank you for sharing that link! It's a very interesting read concerning all caminos.[/QUOTE]

It's a good app, but at least 7 Spanish and 3 Portuguese Caminos are missing on that map. If you really want an overview you have to combine maps/sources.

Happy planning :)
 
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I'm trying to plan a 2019 meander and would like to do a longer walk than the CF.. however I really like the social aspect of the CF and think it would be a shame to miss out on that part next time.. so here's what I've got so far..
Walk the CF and add extra on.. maybe Finisterra again?.. but still not enough..
An easy pace on CF gives roughly 40 days and I'd like another 20 or so so roughly another 400km...
Is there 400km before Sjpdp or 300 plus Finisterra?
I'd prefer not to be in France for too long if I can help it.. I'm not a huge fan.
Does all that make sense?
How about a 3or4 hundred km walk through Spain (ish) that finds me at sjpdp or somewhere near...

I don't really want to do 400km and then have to train or fly to sjpdp, I'd rather be continuous if possible
Thanks and hugs
Andy
 
You could walk from Lourdes to St Jean pied de port. Incredibly beautiful. Stacey Wiggin guide book will provide you the details you need
 
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I plan to walk the Via De La Plata in September 2019 which should get me to Santiago with 950+ Kilometers Plus maybe 50 KM of being lost. Then I plan to continue to Finisterra and end in Muxia. If you want some social on the 19th day of walking an average of 18 miles a day you'll be in Salamanca where you can then veer to Burgos I know cause I saw it during my research. I wish I could find that link. I loved my CF this year and am also reconsidering walking it again with a twist; same start at SJPDP to leon then go up to Oviedo for the primitivo then on to Muxia... But Seville and the absence of all those mountains makes it so inviting... Buen Camino Perigrino...
 
you'll be in Salamanca where you can then veer to Burgos
Not quite. You could walk north on the VDLP past Salamanca and Zamora to Granja de Moreruela. At that point, you can choose to veer west (with most people) onto the Camino Sanabres to Santiago, or continue northward to join the Camino Frances at Astorga. You can look at the options on this site.
 
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...If you want some social on the 19th day of walking an average of 18 miles a day you'll be in Salamanca where you can then veer to Burgos I know cause I saw it during my research. ...
Are you sure???
As the crow flies Salamanca - Burgos is 250 on the highway and Burgos is to the NE of Salamanca so that would make you actually going back on CF.

And if I may add - I have never heard of a Camino that connects Salamanca and Burgos. I'd be very happy to learn something new if you can provide sources.

Anyway happy planning and Buen Camino!
 
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I'm trying to plan a 2019 meander and would like to do a longer walk than the CF.. however I really like the social aspect of the CF and think it would be a shame to miss out on that part next time.. so here's what I've got so far..
Walk the CF and add extra on.. maybe Finisterra again?.. but still not enough..
An easy pace on CF gives roughly 40 days and I'd like another 20 or so so roughly another 400km...
Is there 400km before Sjpdp or 300 plus Finisterra?
I'd prefer not to be in France for too long if I can help it.. I'm not a huge fan.
Does all that make sense?
How about a 3or4 hundred km walk through Spain (ish) that finds me at sjpdp or somewhere near...

I don't really want to do 400km and then have to train or fly to sjpdp, I'd rather be continuous if possible
Thanks and hugs
Andy

Start on the Mozarabe from Almeria and connect into the VdlP (Merida) and then walk that to the CF (Astorga) or Sanabria into Santiago. Just get on the www.gronze.com website and you can roughly plan a long Camino without leaving Spain.

Ultreya,
Joe
 

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