Planning Camino del Norte for mid-March

[shantideva]

Hi all,

My name is Jean-Claude. I am currently planning to walk a section of the Camino del Norte starting mid March. My plans were originally to do that later in the year, but as a trip to Nepal has been cancelled I opted to use that time for my Camino. I guess it's a bit early and the weather will most probably be a bit wet.

The plan was to walk up to Ribadesella or Gijón, starting from Irun, knowing that I have 3 weeks (incl. travel). I'll arrive at San Sebastian airport and leave from Oviedo. I don't know if 3 weeks is enough to get close to Oviedo and I would be thankful for any advice before I book my flights.

My first Camino was last year. I did the Camino Ingles, but my original plan was always to walk the northern Camino as I have lived a couple of month in Bilbao many years ago and I would like to cross again that part of the country and merge my new experience with the beautiful memories I have from the northern part of the Spanish Basque country.

JC

 

[david marquez]

I walked pretty much the same route. I left Irun last April 6th. I got as far as Luarca before I sprained an ankle pretty bádly. I then left the del Norte, went to Oviedo, and did the primitivo and on to Finistere. Took a total of 43 days. 3 days off for sightseeing, and 4 days off for the sprained ankle. Actual walking time was 35 days.
It was VERY wet! So be prepared to be damp/wet....bring wool! I had no problems with accomodations until the Primitivo merged with the Frances. At that point the entire character of the experience changed for me. I definitely plan to walk more Caminos, hopefully many more, but I will avoid the main way (Camino Frances) as much as possible. I much prefer the quieter, more introspective, less traveled Caminos.
There are threads in the Del Norte forum on how to spend as much time as possible walking along the coast and minimizing the distance walking on the Spanish highway system. I would strongly encourage you to investigate and plan accordingly. I used Magwood’s online blog and the Wise Pilgrim app on my iphone and it was adequate.
By all means plan to do “el purgatorio” on the way out of Irun.
Be aware that a fair number of Albergues will NOT be open anytime during the month of March, and some do not open till May 1st. Also I would suggest you look very carefully at where you will stay over Easter weekend!
Buen Camino...the del Norte/Primitivo experience was one of the highlights of my life and I carry the memories with me at all times!

 

[pelerine]

Laurie (Peregrina2000) has posted lots of info about the Norte which you find via Search on this forum. I particularly appreciate the one about coastal alternatives to asphalt:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/coastal-alternatives-to-the-nortes-asphalt.49578/

Happy planning and buen camino!

 

[shantideva]

I walked pretty much the same route. I left Irun last April 6th. I got as far as Luarca before I sprained an ankle pretty bádly. I then left the del Norte, went to Oviedo, and did the primitivo and on to Finistere. Took a total of 43 days. 3 days off for sightseeing, and 4 days off for the sprained ankle. Actual walking time was 35 days.
It was VERY wet! So be prepared to be damp/wet....bring wool! I had no problems with accomodations until the Primitivo merged with the Frances. At that point the entire character of the experience changed for me. I definitely plan to walk more Caminos, hopefully many more, but I will avoid the main way (Camino Frances) as much as possible. I much prefer the quieter, more introspective, less traveled Caminos.
There are threads in the Del Norte forum on how to spend as much time as possible walking along the coast and minimizing the distance walking on the Spanish highway system. I would strongly encourage you to investigate and plan accordingly. I used Magwood’s online blog and the Wise Pilgrim app on my iphone and it was adequate.
By all means plan to do “el purgatorio” on the way out of Irun.
Be aware that a fair number of Albergues will NOT be open anytime during the month of March, and some do not open till May 1st. Also I would suggest you look very carefully at where you will stay over Easter weekend!
Buen Camino...the del Norte/Primitivo experience was one of the highlights of my life and I carry the memories with me at all times!

Hello David, thank you very much for all the information, especially about the Albergues and the Easter weekend. I will check that thoroughly before leaving as I didn't expect that there might still be some Albergues closed in March.

 

[shantideva]

Laurie (Peregrina2000) has posted lots of info about the Norte which you find via Search on this forum. I particularly appreciate the one about coastal alternatives to asphalt:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/coastal-alternatives-to-the-nortes-asphalt.49578/

Happy planning and buen camino!

Hi Laurie, thats lots of information. Thank you very much!