Ella Minnow
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2022
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I highly recommend the Variante Espiritual. This is an article I wrote about the highlights of the VE if you're interested.I'm very drawn to the Variante Espiritual, it sounds like just the sort of experience I'm craving, but the legs seem quite long.
As a total novice, it would be great to hear some of your experience and wisdom. Would it be possible to break the route down into more manageable stretches (I think 15km per day would be my maximum, and even that might be ambitious!).
It depends on the specific situation but I doubt you would ever need to sleep on the road on the CP! Standard end-of-stage places on your route like Tui, Redondela, Pontevedra and Padrón have a lot of pilgrim accommodation so you should be able to find a bed. If all albergues are full, some might have a basic mattress to put on the floor or be able to help you find alternative accommodation at a budget hotel or similar. If you are doing shorter stages, it might be worth booking ahead for those in-between destinations that won't have as many options.I've also little concept of how the accommodation works. If I'm late to an albergues and it's full, what happens? I have anxiety about having to sleep on the road! Are there other options without booking?
I would definitely recommend doing it without a tour company if you're able to. Good luck and buen camino!A tour company gave me an itinerary for the CP (not the VE) but to be honest I'd prefer to have a more authentic pilgrimage experience. I really want to do this whole my mobility still allows me!
The variante espiritual is not flat, on the contrary. It is nice but not flat. I think it has one of the steeper days on the camino, the day out of Combarro.I have MS and was recommended the Camino Portuguese from Tui as its relatively flat and I think I can do shorter daily legs. I also hope to build in at least one rest day.
I'm very drawn to the Variante Espiritual, it sounds like just the sort of experience I'm craving, but the legs seem quite long.
Hi Ella,Would it be possible to break the route down into more manageable stretches (I think 15km per day would be my maximum, and even that might be ambitious!).
Yes, I can well imagine! Even when you start from the Os Castaños Taberna, that trek to Vilanova de Arousa is taxing if you're walking in full sun. While the ground is flat and scenic, with all the vineyards on both sides, there's not much shade, particularly in the second half after Pontearnelas. So we were very happy to book at the tavern, which has about five or six rooms, as I recall, and a very good restaurant. It's also located alongside the Camino. In fact, there's a tourist office kiosk right across the street that will book your ride on the Vilanova ferry. At least that was the case in 2019. Hard to say what the situation will be post-Covid.Glad to hear there's lodging in Ribadumia now - there was not - despite assurances from google, the Pontevedra tourist office, and the Armenteira monastery that there was, when I hiked it in 2016. After hiking 20km from Combarro to Ribadumia, I was NOT up for another 18km to Vilanova when I got that unfortunate news!
I assume this is Armenteira-Vilanova. The good news is that the best part of this stage - the 'Water and Stone Route' (a forest trail past a gushing stream and many ruined water mills) - is the first 7km from Armenteira. It was the most beautiful stretch of the entire CP from Lisbon for me. The rest of the stage is nice as well but pales in comparison to this first part, so it's great that you will get to experience this.Sadly, the Spiritual Way did add a 24 km day, but I intend to just see how far I can get, and take a taxi the rest of the way.
Linda thank you so much for this. So useful to know it can be done. I'll shake your hand and even give you a hug for that!Hello Ella!
I think we can shake hands. I intend to walk the Portuguese Coastal Route with the Esperitual variant this September (fingers crossed!), with a progressive congenital myopathy, so I definitely know your worries and questions. I ended up booking the Portuguese Coastal Easy Camino through CaminoWays. They book accomodation and can even arrange luggage transfer. They also have an option to add the Spiritual Way, which I added. As you can see from their itinerary, their stages are around 10km per day, with a 15 day max. Sadly, the Spiritual Way did add a 24 km day, but I intend to just see how far I can get, and take a taxi the rest of the way.
I was originally thinking of doing it my own way, but eventually I decided to book through a tour company anyway. This way I will be certain of having a good place to stay (no climbing into a top bunk at the end of a long day for me!) and someone to fall back on if things go pearshaped. They were very helpful and approachable as I worked out my itinerary, trying to decide on dates, etc.
Here is a previous post I made with my (hopeful) itinerary. Hope that helps any!
Hi Ken,Hi Ella,
That is definitely possible. My wife and I did the Spiritual Variant in 2019 and here are the stages with lodging:
Pontevedra to Combarro, 13.2 km, Hotel Xeito
Combarrao to Armenteira, 12 km, Monastery
Armenteira to Ribadumia, 8.5 km, Os Castaños Taberna
Ribadumia to Vilanova de Arousa, 18 km, Albergue A Salazon
All of this territory is relatively flat EXCEPT for the climb up Mt. Castrove from Combarro to Armenteira, where you ascend from sea level to 423 meters. That will be your major challenge. But I think it's doable for you if you take your time. It took us four hours and we tend to saunter.
Good luck!
Thanks so much Woody.HI!
Googled it and this is link to there homepage use google chrome it will translate to English
Woody
Hotel rural en Ribadumia – Restaurante en Ribadumia
En Hospedaje Rústico Os Castaños encontrará una gran opción de alojamiento rural en Ribadumia. Disponemos de hotel rural y también de restaurante.www-xn----oscastaos--r6a-es.translate.goog
We stayed there in 2019. Rooms comfortable and food in the tavern downstairs quite good.I am planning to walk this route In September. Has anyone got details of the os Castanos Tabera please.
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