Ponferrada to Santiago de Compostela in mid / late March

[andrewellis52]

Hi everybody.

I have long wanted to walk the Camino and have an opportunity to take 10 days off of work at the end of March.

I'm looking to walk from Ponferrada to Santiago and was wondering about the path and weather. I have had a look through the forum and there are lots of people asking about walking in March, however these seem to centre more around a specific point that may be impassable.

Looking at the weather forecast, it looks as if I should expect some rain and it can of course be pleasant in March or unpleasant. However, I did want to ask a few questions, specifically:
- I will be walking over Easter (arriving in Santiago on Easter Saturday). Will I have any problems with places being open on the route or am I likely to be ok this close to Santiago?
- What is the path like on this stretch. Could poor weather prove problematic and make it difficult?
- I don't mind a bit of rain and cold (I'm from Britain!), but would not particularly want to walk for days in sodden rain. Is it rewarding to walk in this time period or would I be better saving it for another time when I can go at a different point in the year?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[sillydoll]

The truth is that the weather is so unpredictable, nobody can say what it will be like in March - especially in the high places like O Cebreiro.

If you read my bog posts on walking in spring and walking in winter (which continue to April) you might be put off!

http://amawalker.blogspot.com/2009/10/w ... inter.html
http://amawalker.blogspot.com/2009/04/w ... pring.html

But, there are links to lots of blogs and article written by people who have walked in March and April. One year there were 16 straight days of sunshine in March and then in April winter came back with a vengence!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There were six days with rain in March of last year in Lugo, about the midpoint of Ponferrad to Santiago, so your chances of good weather are pretty good!

March 2012
1 Thunderstorm
Actual: 60 | 37
Precip: 0.00
Average: 55 | 43
Precip: 0.19

2 Fog
Actual: 62 | 41
Precip: 0.00
Average: 56 | 43
Precip: 0.18

3 Rain
Actual: 59 | 50
Precip: 0.00
Average: 56 | 44
Precip: 0.17
4 Partly Cloudy
Actual: 55 | 44
Precip: 0.00
Average: 56 | 44
Precip: 0.17

5 Scattered Clouds
Actual: 55 | 32
Precip: 0.00
Average: 57 | 44
Precip: 0.16

6 Partly Cloudy
Actual: 55 | 35
Precip: 0.00
Average: 58 | 44
Precip: 0.15

7 Rain
Actual: 57 | 48
Precip: 0.00
Average: 58 | 44
Precip: 0.15

8 Partly Cloudy
Actual: 60 | 46
Precip: 0.00
Average: 59 | 44
Precip: 0.15

9 Clear
Actual: 68 | 37
Precip: 0.00
Average: 59 | 45
Precip: 0.14

10 Clear
Actual: 69 | 39
Precip: 0.00
Average: 60 | 45
Precip: 0.13
11 Clear
Actual: 68 | 42
Precip: 0.00
Average: 60 | 45
Precip: 0.13

12 Fog
Actual: 69 | 39
Precip: 0.00
Average: 60 | 45
Precip: 0.13

13 Clear
Actual: 57 | 37
Precip: 0.00
Average: 61 | 45
Precip: 0.13

14 Fog
Actual: 55 | 41
Precip: 0.00
Average: 61 | 45
Precip: 0.13

15 Fog
Actual: 55 | 48
Precip: 0.00
Average: 62 | 45
Precip: 0.14

16 Fog
Actual: 55 | 48
Precip: 0.00
Average: 62 | 46
Precip: 0.16

17 Rain
Actual: 55 | 44
Precip: 0.00
Average: 62 | 46
Precip: 0.16
18 Rain
Actual: 51 | 41
Precip: 0.00
Average: 62 | 46
Precip: 0.18

19 Fog
Actual: 55 | 35
Precip: 0.00
Average: 62 | 46
Precip: 0.20

20 Fog
Actual: 59 | 33
Precip: 0.00
Average: 62 | 46
Precip: 0.20

21 Fog
Actual: 60 | 33
Precip: 0.00
Average: 61 | 46
Precip: 0.20

22 Fog
Actual: 62 | 35
Precip: 0.00
Average: 61 | 46
Precip: 0.22

23 Clear
Actual: 77 | 42
Precip: 0.00
Average: 61 | 46
Precip: 0.22

24 Rain
Actual: 75 | 55
Precip: 0.00
Average: 60 | 46
Precip: 0.22
25 Clear
Actual: 71 | 53
Precip: 0.00
Average: 60 | 46
Precip: 0.22

26 Clear
Actual: 77 | 42
Precip: 0.00
Average: 61 | 46
Precip: 0.22

27 Clear
Actual: 77 | 46
Precip: 0.00
Average: 61 | 47
Precip: 0.22

28 Clear
Actual: 77 | 42
Precip: 0.00
Average: 61 | 47
Precip: 0.23

29 Clear
Actual: 73 | 41
Precip: 0.00
Average: 61 | 47
Precip: 0.24

30 Clear
Actual: 75 | 42
Precip: 0.00
Average: 61 | 47
Precip: 0.23

31 Scattered Clouds
Actual: 68 | 42
Precip: 0.00
Average: 61 | 47
Precip: 0.23

 

[andrewellis52]

Thanks so much for the replies - both are interesting reads! One puts fear into me but the other gives me great comfort!

Pretty much sums up the unpredictability of it all!

 

[tyrrek]

Yep, unpredictable, but go anyway and just take advice from the locals/hospitaleros. If you have to stay a couple of nights somewhere due to bad weather I imagine that would be fine as albergues won't be packed. Think adventure, and come back to tell us all what happened!

Buen Camino!

 

[andrewellis52]

Great advice - thanks!

Fortune favours the brave and all that!

 

[tyrrek]

Great advice - thanks!

Fortune favours the brave and all that!

Indeed it does! I should have added that you should be sensitive to the time of DAY as well as the time of year. If you're experiencing early morning frosts it might be better to avoid steep slopes that could be a bit icy at the start of the day. There's no rocket science involved - just be aware. Buen Camino!

 

[andrewellis52]

Thanks for all of the responses about the weather.

Any idea on whether most Auberges are open or not over Easter?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Any idea on whether most Auberges are open or not over Easter?

It is a mixed bag. Few actually close for Easter, some open for the year specifically at Easter, a few open after Easter. I doubt you will find Easter closings a problem. Expect fairly large crowds in the last 100 km.