Start VDP on the coast south of Sevilla?

[Willdtrout]

I’m researching a potential trip for VDP. Looking at a map a start in Sevilla is seductively close to the coast. Is there pilgrim support between a coastal start somewhere south of Sevilla (maybe even Gibraltar?) for peregrinos joining the main route in Sevilla?

And since I’m asking Via questions I’ll add… is a winter walk on the Via feasible with a start in December?

 

[Flog]

The Camino Via Augusta begins in the port city of Cadiz and ends in Sevilla, 150km or so to the North. Others will know better, but it doesn't appear to be a very popular way with limited but adequate infrastructure for pilgrims.

December might be a bit late starting out with limited daylight walking hours and many albergues closed, but could be nice if you want solitude.

 

[Tassie Kaz]

Great question/s @Willdtrout...& thanks for answering them @Flog!

 

[Madrood]

The Via Augusta goes from Cadiz to Seville via Utrera. The Camino Estrecho goes from Algeciras to Cadiz. There's an albergue in Tahiville on the Estrecho, but otherwise nothing. You can read up about them on the Augusta amigo website.

I walked the Estrecho recently, though I really just made my own way between Algecrias and Cadiz. There were some yellow arrows about, but you need gps. Because you won't meet any other pilgrims and will stay in private accommodation It's far more like a regular hike than a camino, I posted about it here if you'd like to follow my route.

Since you would be staying in regular accommodation on those two routes, the season doesn't make much difference, avoid summer for the best prices and to not get cooked on the Guadalquiver plain. The only point against winter would be that the area around Algeciras will be very wet which could make for a rough first day.

There are a few accounts like Yoah's or the more recent one by Karin309 who walked in winter. It'll be quiet, often cold, and you'll have less daylight for long walking days, but it's quiet doable.

 

[jungleboy]

There is also the Vía Serrana from Gibraltar (La Línea) to Sevilla. I walked it last December; here is my live thread.

 

[MesaWalker]

We're doing the Via Serrana this fall - roughly 10 days from La Linea de la Concepcion (on the northern outskirts of Gibraltar) to Sevilla. Sounds like a beautiful route. Jungleboy (above) inspired us. Via Augusta from Cadiz is shorter.

 

[Alister M]

I have walked the Via Augusta from Cadiz to Seville twice, most recently in March/April this year. My opinion is that there are some very nice towns like Jerez along the way but the actual walking is flat and featureless, pretty boring. No albergues but no problem getting hostels/simple hotels. In the 6 days of walking this year I saw just one couple walking the route so it is very quiet.

 

[Willdtrout]

There is also the Vía Serrana from Gibraltar (La Línea) to Sevilla. I walked it last December; here is my live thread.

Thank you for the description. Thinking I’ll be taking this route

 

[Willdtrout]

The Via Augusta goes from Cadiz to Seville via Utrera. The Camino Estrecho goes from Algeciras to Cadiz. There's an albergue in Tahiville on the Estrecho, but otherwise nothing. You can read up about them on the Augusta amigo website.

I walked the Estrecho recently, though I really just made my own way between Algecrias and Cadiz. There were some yellow arrows about, but you need gps. Because you won't meet any other pilgrims and will stay in private accommodation It's far more like a regular hike than a camino, I posted about it here if you'd like to follow my route.

Since you would be staying in regular accommodation on those two routes, the season doesn't make much difference, avoid summer for the best prices and to not get cooked on the Guadalquiver plain. The only point against winter would be that the area around Algeciras will be very wet which could make for a rough first day.

There are a few accounts like Yoah's or the more recent one by Karin309 who walked in winter. It'll be quiet, often cold, and you'll have less daylight for long walking days, but it's quiet doable.

Thank you very much for the detailed reply

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Thank you for the description. Thinking I’ll be taking this route

Hoping to do exactly that in Feb 2024 ...

 

[MesaWalker]

I've found a map for the Via Serrana, partially reprinted in Johnny Walker's guide, that shows a split of the trail on the last long stage from Utrera to Sevilla - one route goes a bit straighter through Dos Hermanas, and the other curves to the northeast a bit and goes through Alcala de Guadaíra. Any sense from anyone which of the two routes is more scenic, interesting or involves less walking on major highways or streets?

It looks like Johnny Walker's guide has you go through Dos Hermanas.

Thanks!

 

[jungleboy]

I've found a map for the Via Serrana, partially reprinted in Johnny Walker's guide, that shows a split of the trail on the last long stage from Utrera to Sevilla - one route goes a bit straighter through Dos Hermanas, and the other curves to the northeast a bit and goes through Alcala de Guadaíra. Any sense from anyone which of the two routes is more scenic, interesting or involves less walking on major highways or streets?

It looks like Johnny Walker's guide has you go through Dos Hermanas.

Thanks!

The search function is your friend

Vía Serrana/Augusta: which path from Utrera to Seville?

 

[MesaWalker]

Goodness. My bad.

Nick, the advice looks perfect. I'll plan on the route recommended by Gerald Kelly and that you took.

Thank you!

 

[MesaWalker]

Quick Via Serrana question, and this really is not a big deal. But I wondered if anyone else has dealt with this.

I pre-registered for a compostela QR Code using the SdC Pilgrim Office website. However, I didn't see any drop down menu that recognizes La Linea de la Concepcion as a starting point or the Via Serrana as a recognized "camino", so I claimed the next best city available (Sevilla) and the Via de la Plata as the camino. If I want a certificate in SdC stating that I started in La Linea de la Concepcion, is that even possible? It looks like the whole process has become automated, so I suspect that I can't just go up and talk to someone at the pilgrim office in SdC. If anyone has experience with this, please let me know. Otherwise, life can go on happily without another compostela.

We start in less than a month!

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Quick Via Serrana question, and this really is not a big deal. But I wondered if anyone else has dealt with this.

I pre-registered for a compostela QR Code using the SdC Pilgrim Office website. However, I didn't see any drop down menu that recognizes La Linea de la Concepcion as a starting point or the Via Serrana as a recognized "camino", so I claimed the next best city available (Sevilla) and the Via de la Plata as the camino. If I want a certificate in SdC stating that I started in La Linea de la Concepcion, is that even possible? It looks like the whole process has become automated, so I suspect that I can't just go up and talk to someone at the pilgrim office in SdC. If anyone has experience with this, please let me know. Otherwise, life can go on happily without another compostela.

We start in less than a month!

I have exactly the same question and am curious about responses ... but not so much hurry for me as I probably cannot walk next year as planned but must wait until 2025 ...

 

[peregrina2000]

You will definitely qualify for a Compostela with Sevilla as your starting point. The compostela does not indicate your starting point. All that is added to the printed certificate is your name in Latin and the date.

I have never gotten the distance certificate, so I can’t help with that, but I have read many times on the forum how pilgrim office personnel is happy to input a starting point and your own calculation of kms walked. But maybe that changed with the automation.

Good luck!

 

[JabbaPapa]

I’m researching a potential trip for VDP. Looking at a map a start in Sevilla is seductively close to the coast. Is there pilgrim support between a coastal start somewhere south of Sevilla (maybe even Gibraltar?) for peregrinos joining the main route in Sevilla?

The number of potential starting points is very large, potentially nearly every coastal village, town, and city -- though the ones that stick out as more obvious are Ayamonte/Isla Cristina, Punta Umbría/Huelva/Palos de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda/Jerez de le Frontera, Cádiz, some other "de la Frontera" places, Tarifa, Algeciras/La Línea de la Concepción, Gibraltar, Estepona, Marbella, Fuengirola, Torremolinos, Málaga (via Pizarra > Álora > El Chorro > either of two hiking trails from there to Ronda).

Though Málaga would be a stretch, as the normal route from there is the Camino Mózarabe ...

If it were me, I'd probably start from the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe in Gibraltar, though the idea of a start from Cádiz is tempting !!