Spring time departure?

Hi Gilbert

My April-May from Le Puy to Pamplona in 2010 was an unforgettable experience. I left very late March, and I'm told that the Aubrac can be just too brutal before that. I encountered far more cold than warm days, even in late May, but, since I don't handle the heat, that's okay. (Please don't ask why I live on the fringe of the sub-tropics!)

I would recommend taking a Miam Miam Dodo guide and phone, since the route is shared with French holidayers who do portions of the GR65 for weekends and hols. It's nearly always possible to ring ahead in France, and, once you know your rhythm, you can organise quite a few days in advance.

Of course, there are other guides and sources of info. I suppose the main thing to remember is that the Le Puy route is not as busy as the Camino Frances, but is probably the second busiest route, due, as I said, to its being the most popular stretch of the GR65. The good news is that there is an abundance of pilgrim and other accommodation.

I think your plan for a Spring departure in April is a good one. Easter and Paris school hols will create some strain on the accommodation, but one works it out.

Have you checked out the KiwiNomad's blog on her experience of the route? That helped and encouraged me before I left for Le Puy.

Best

Rob

The French walk the Le Puy route in the spring, so there is no reason you can't walk then too. While many lodgings are open all year, many others are only open from Easter (or Holy Week) to All Saints (Paques to Toussaint). Best to check MMD. The French will be out walking in numbers at every holiday and the days between the holiday and the next weekend, so by all means make reservations in advance.

The section from Le Puy to Conques crosses many river valleys, so there are many climbs-and descents to factor in as well as the distance. You will be at the plateau elevation for most of that, so it will be chilly, possibly wet, and perhaps late season snow.

For planning, I used the blogs from Kiwinomad and Slowcamino ... and now mine as linked as well, so you have plenty of resources.

You can look at Miam Miam Dodo (MMD) here:

http://www.chemindecompostelle.com/Sele ... rance.html

You can see the Arles Route there as well.

The maps are schematic (take a look at them in the above link), so they are not the best maps, but the information on stage length and accommodations is the best.

Bon chemin.