starting Camino Frances before SJPP?

[LesR]

I hope to be walking the Camino Frances from mid-September this year, and would like to start two or three days before SJPP to allow the legs and pack to settle in before tackling the SJPP to Roncesvalles leg...

Will be travelling from Paris to SJPP to in the first instance, but would like to'back-up' the track a little to acclimatize ...

Am looking for a suitable starting point that is easy to get to from SJPP and allows two or three days of 20 - 30 km walking. Simpler is better and am flexible on accommodation options.

Any suggestions?

 

[mspath]

Check out these earlier forum threads for some ideas.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/starting-in-st-palais-instead-of-st-jean.30127/

and

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/dax-to-sjpdp-accommodation-issue.17162/

Happy research and Buen camino!

 

[Felipe]

Starting some days before SJPP makes a lot of sense.
I have been looking at the Voie (Way) de la Nive , from Bayonne to SJPP -three good days, starting easy, steeper at the end. See here Some forum members have done it, use the "search" function.
Another option is the Piedmont way, from Mauleon-Licharre. Two days to SJPP, with a very pleasant mountain landscape. I walked it (from Lourdes), it was great; cooler in September than other ways, too. And provides a bit of a solo experience, before the crowds of CF

 

[SYates]

Or you could start somewhere on the Le Puy route, for example in Navarrenx. Important: You do not need to go to SJPdP first to travel to a point earlier on the way in France! Buen Camino, SY

 

[FLEUR]

Check out these earlier forum threads for some ideas.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/starting-in-st-palais-instead-of-st-jean.30127/

and

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/dax-to-sjpdp-accommodation-issue.17162/
I've just added a comment on the first link posted by mspath
Happy research and Buen camino!

 

[Kevin Considine]

I hope to be walking the Camino Frances from mid-September this year, and would like to start two or three days before SJPP to allow the legs and pack to settle in before tackling the SJPP to Roncesvalles leg...

Will be travelling from Paris to SJPP to in the first instance, but would like to'back-up' the track a little to acclimatize ...

Am looking for a suitable starting point that is easy to get to from SJPP and allows two or three days of 20 - 30 km walking. Simpler is better and am flexible on accommodation options.

Any suggestions?

I agree with SYates that the Chemin du Puy route would be an excellent alternative for acclimatizing and fun to experience some walking in France. Also, there is one of the best gites on the entire Chemin du Puy in Ostarbat with a pool and an owner waiter who will sing "Ultreia" at their communal dinner and some Basque songs as well. Wish I could remember the name but it's a short walk past the village on the Camino.

 

[Kitsambler]

Another vote for Navarrenx. You can get a credential there; the local pilgrim association hosts a welcome every afternoon. And it's not unusual to begin there, so it must have decent transit connections getting in.

 

[FLEUR]

I agree with SYates that the Chemin du Puy route would be an excellent alternative for acclimatizing and fun to experience some walking in France. Also, there is one of the best gites on the entire Chemin du Puy in Ostarbat with a pool and an owner waiter who will sing "Ultreia" at their communal dinner and some Basque songs as well. Wish I could remember the name but it's a short walk past the village on the Camino.

http://pratique.tourisme64.com/hebe...me/gite-d-etape-izarrak/HCOAQU064014YRYJ.html

Agree with everyone else this a great place to stay "gite-d-etape-izarrak" . Owners are fun, the wife cooks an excellent meal and her husband (a jolly Basque farmer complete with the Basque beret) entertains visitors pre dinner with his Basque songs.

 

[Luka]

Excellent idea! My vote goes to Navarrenx too. I really liked the albergue l'Alchimiste in Navarrenx. Very nice hosts, a wonderful vegetarian dinner. With a bit of 'vegetable art'

The host in Navarrenx pouring tea after a very rainy walk.

And here is the Bask singer in Ostabat

Just be prepared to speak French!

 

[LesR]

Thnak

I hope to be walking the Camino Frances from mid-September this year, and would like to start two or three days before SJPP to allow the legs and pack to settle in before tackling the SJPP to Roncesvalles leg...

Will be travelling from Paris to SJPP to in the first instance, but would like to'back-up' the track a little to acclimatize ...

Am looking for a suitable starting point that is easy to get to from SJPP and allows two or three days of 20 - 30 km walking. Simpler is better and am flexible on accommodation options.

Any suggestions?

Thank you all for your advice - would love to be able to do as you have all advised - but, at this stage, "fresh legs" wins out over "different experiences" on the Camino - at my age, always a chance that it would end in tears if I tried the SJPP to Roncesvalles in one day, so the game plan is take it slowly and steady, see how the body holds up and if it allows me, can quicken up the pace on latter stages...

Maybe next time...

Starting SJPP on 12 September and overnight at Orisson...

Excellent idea! My vote goes to Navarrenx too. I really liked the albergue l'Alchimiste in Navarrenx. Very nice hosts, a wonderful vegetarian dinner. With a bit of 'vegetable art'

The host in Navarrenx pouring tea after a very rainy walk.

And here is the Bask singer in Ostabat

Just be prepared to speak French!

I hope to be walking the Camino Frances from mid-September this year, and would like to start two or three days before SJPP to allow the legs and pack to settle in before tackling the SJPP to Roncesvalles leg...

Will be travelling from Paris to SJPP to in the first instance, but would like to'back-up' the track a little to acclimatize ...

Am looking for a suitable starting point that is easy to get to from SJPP and allows two or three days of 20 - 30 km walking. Simpler is better and am flexible on accommodation options.

Any suggestions?