Len Nugent
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2017
Camino Frances Jan 2017
Camino Portuguese Nov 2017
Camino Frances return route Dec 2017
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I walked the route in 2014. I had limited time, so I powered through it in two days. I slept alone in Helette at the end of day one in the gite municipal, which was basic but had a good kitchen. Then I continued on to SJPdP the next day. I used this site for maps and instructions.
For the most part, the routing was straightforward. Some bridge repair made a mess of things outside of Bayonne, but I suspect that will be resolved by the time you walk. I lost the route around 10km before St. Jean, but that may have been my fault. It was no problem, though--I just followed a local road for a few km and got back on track.
On the whole, it's not the most exciting walk, and there's a lot of time on asphalt. But, it has its moments. Note that if you're interested in walking from the airport, you can follow the Voie Littorale from the Biarritz train station (very close to the airport) back to Bayonne, and then carry on from there on the Nive (the two routes split outside of Bayonne).
Walking from Bayonne to Hendaye and then back to SJPdP would take a full week. It's more spectacular, as you can follow the coast south and then the Pyrenees inland via the GR-10 (or a lower level trajectory north of it), but the GR-10 in particular is much more demanding.
If you're just interested in getting in a few days of walking before the Pyrenees, I might suggest traveling from Bayonne to Navarrenx and then following the Le Puy route from there. That's three easy days of walking with some gradually increasing foothills.
Have you tried the Gronze website? They have one for every Camino path I France & Spain. Usually I could dial the gîte or albergue directly from the listing, and I used it frequently when reserving. I just looked at the site, and it doesn’t list winter closing dates, but a phone call will confirm that one way or the other.
Regards,
Morning JillHi Len and Mary, (I also posted this on the other thread that you queried) I walked from Soulac (on the coast near Bordeaux) to Bayonne, on the Voie Littorale, which is an alternative route for you to consider, going in reverse. This was my route:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/bordeaux-to-ir%C3%BAn-on-the-voie-littorale-to-connect-with-the-norte.44436/
Jill
From St Jean to Bayonne you can walk along the GR10 and Voie de la Nive - and then as Jill says on the Voie Littorale.
Here is a post form an earlier thread with some links:
Batzan would be a good suggestion for moderate climate but it sounds like they want to walk in the winter, it is already cold and snowy as of 29/11/17. I would not suggest any of the mountain routes this time of year but rather drop down to Bilbao, San Sebastian or Irun from Pamplona or Logrono and continue on the coastal route to Biarritz and beyond, plenty of lodging using that route.Or....another more direct option, if you ave not yet left Pamplona (I hope not).
Walk the Camino Baztanes backwards! 5 days will get you direct to Bayonne. Check here for Forum thread links, and there is a very good downloadable app that Editorial Buen Camino did here.
Several of us walked it this Spring and it's very special.
Whatever you choose, Buen Camino you two!
Oh! Thanks for the correction, Don. I had understood that Len and Mary intended to walk to St Jean - and assumed (obviously incorrectly) that if the Valcarlos route is open, the col at Belate would also be fine.Batzan would be a good suggestion for moderate climate but it sounds like they want to walk in the winter, it is already cold and snowy as of 29/11/17.
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