George Copp
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Francés
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Helen above makes some very good points. The Vdlp is very well signposted from Seville is amazing in spring and is probably the route that would best meet the aims you state in your origional post. The Levante from Valencia is also well marked, but not from Cartehenga where we started, as it crosses the centre of Spain it can be very hot, but then I would not advise doing either of these routes in summer.Many thanks indeed @hel&scott & @MTtoCamino for your quick feedback! I will definitely look in to the Levante and & Vdlp routes tomorrow and see how they fit with what I'm planning. Are these routes as well waymarked as the French way? I am up to speed with my map reading but it felt like a nice safety net to have big yellow arrows leading the way for me on this popular route. I don't want to cause any concern to farmers by using their land inappropriately so maybe a more obscure route would be a better option. I'm glad to know that I can take my time, I had a worried idea that I might have to blitz from town to town to pick up sellos in time! Thanks for the tip on changeable camping terrain, I have had my share of muddy, rainy festivals in the UK and would rather avoid waking up in a swamp, ha. I don't think I could say no to a four legged companion, I'm too soft hearted
Thanks again for your help folks, I will almost certainly be back soon when I have more queries! Is it bad form to revive old threads on this forum or is that OK? (I've been on others where people are pretty insistant on starting new threads for each new question).
All the best,
George
Although you don't really say your current citizenship status, I will raise this point for the benefit of other readers following. If you are not a resident of a Schengen Agreement state, then you are limited by the duration of your entry visa. For North Americans, that's 90 days out of every 180. I don't know the limits for UK residents (either pre- or post-Brexit)....my main query is whether there is a time frame within which you are obliged to complete the journey ...
I've read in more than one seemingly reliable source that camping in Spain is illegal outside of registered campground. However, I've run across at least five tents, one next to the Camino and two visible from it. The one on the Camino, right outside of Santiago said he had asked a policemen and gotten the OK. So either what I read is not true or the police don't care. The ones not visible from the Camino: one was in a churchyard with the priest's knowledge. The other was on top of Monjardín and I may have been the only one who knew.Secondary query is about camping along the way.
Good day kind reader,
I've decided to undertake the Camino Francés at the end of March/beginning of April 2018. I won't have any great time constraints as I'll be leaving my job prior to embarking on the journey to work on my writing whilst on the road. I guess my main query is whether there is a time frame within which you are obliged to complete the journey because I have read a lot about having to get daily stamps (or twice daily after Galicia) and I'd rather be dawdling along at my own pace to fully immerse myself in the scenery without having to worry about jeopardising my certificate in the process (realistically I imagine spending 2/3 months on the road). Any info on this would be a huge help!
Secondary query is about camping along the way. I am making this journey with a fairly solo mindset and camping lends itself to the kind of experience I am looking to achieve. I have read varying threads and articles on the subject, some saying go for it, others saying no chance, others saying that in practice it is actually very easy to wander off the beaten path each night and find a spot to get your head down for a few hours. I assume I'll definitely stop at a few refugios along the way but want to view these as a "luxury" to break up a mostly solo hiking/camping experience. I'd love to hear from anyone with knowledge or advise on the subject.
That's it for now but I'm sure more queries will spring to mind. A huge thank you in advance to anyone who lends a helpful word!
All the best,
George
When I return with my wife in March we will do the Portuguese Camino since the starting point is farther south. If you walk the CF & are concerned with weather mid April to Mid may will be plenty warm. But you will have a lot of company.Good Day,
I am relatively new to the forum and have not posted before. I am not sure if I should start a new thread or if it is ok to "tag along" on yours. I read your post with great interest as, I too, am planning my Camino for April 2018, hoping to tent it most of the time and am leaving my job before I depart. I hope to leave SJPdP Monday April 9. My concerns are about the weather. I am not an experienced hiker and have read the Camino Frances should not be attempted in inclement weather. Then, reading more, early spring is full of rain & possible snow, fog.....lots of inclement weather. I read of 1 alternate route, but the book said it was for experienced hikers only - that's not me. Is there another option? Joining the forum has been a wealth of information and from reading, I understand I can plan and plan, plan some more....and then begin and all bets are off. Even so, I was planning to make a reservation at Refuge Orisson for April 9th, now I wonder if that's wise. Will I be able to get to Orisson that time of year?
Thank you, any info will be appreciated.
I hope to leave SJPdP Monday April 9. My concerns are about the weather. I am not an experienced hiker and have read the Camino Frances should not be attempted in inclement weather. Then, reading more, early spring is full of rain & possible snow, fog.....lots of inclement weather. I read of 1 alternate route, but the book said it was for experienced hikers only - that's not me.
Ok, Thank you!If the weather is bad then the alternative is a lower-level route via Valcarlos. Less popular but quite straightforward and it should be no more difficult than the Route Napoleon. For the winter months it is the only route as the Route Napoleon is officially closed from November until the end of March.
The Camino Frances is often said to start in SJPP, in France. However, the route goes all the way to Santiago, and many people start at different points along the way - including Roncesvalles and Pamplona.Camino Frances should not be attempted in inclement weather. Then, reading more, early spring is full of rain & possible snow, fog.....lots of inclement weather
Yes, you will be walking on a paved a road. Orisson is only 800 m high and isn't likely to be snowed in, although I'm confident it has happened in history. The tricky areas are higher up and more isolated.Will I be able to get to Orisson that time of year?
Ok - good to know - Thank youThe Camino Frances is often said to start in SJPP, in France. However, the route goes all the way to Santiago, and many people start at different points along the way - including Roncesvalles and Pamplona.
Probably what you have read refers mainly to the first 27 km from SJPP to Roncesvalles crossing over the Pyrenees. Other than that stage, there are not likely to be any hazardous conditions in mid to late April. On day one, if the conditions over the higher Napoleon pass are not good (and they will tell you in the Pilgrim Office) then you should walk the Orisson route instead. After that, virtually everyone will be on the same path. There are a few optional routes but they are clearly marked in any guide book and occur much later in the journey.
Yes, you will be walking on a paved a road. Orisson is only 800 m high and isn't likely to be snowed in, although I'm confident it has happened in history. The tricky areas are higher up and more isolated.
Across the north of Spain in April (which I would call "mid" spring rather than early spring) may include fog and rain, but that could be true any time. I think April and October are the best months for walking there.
Majority? Animosity? You must have read a different thread than I did.As for camping, do not be put off by the majority in this group who are against it. I have never known a hiking group to have so much animosity towards camping!
Majority? Animosity? You must have read a different thread than I did.
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