Cambridge Pilgrim
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Part walked / part cycled September 2014 SJPdP to SdC
Walked SJPdP to SdC summer 2017
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And the horses, I loved them, just standing on the side of the road in groups, mildly interested in us.Take the yellow arrow, joining up with the traditional route just before reaching the albergue.
Being honest, (now!) I'm not sure why more people don't take the alternative route rather than risk life and limb (... well ankles and knees) through the forest. Much better scenery too!
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On your left through what I can only describe as a garden gate. Does not seem to save much time though as the pilgrims we were with missed it and did not hear us call them. We all arrived within minutes of each otherWe've walked the Camino twice; first time we approached Roncesvalles by the 'traditional' route through the woods. Last year we took the 'alternative' route down the road.
Question... when you get to the bottom of the hill on the road route, is there a marked route which allows you to get to Roncesvalles without walking along the main road? I'm not sure if we missed it or it just doesn't exist.
Planning for number 3 next year...
Thanks in advance.
I believe that it's past just that. Look at the map that I posted above. The alternative trail goes to the right. That's a screenshot from my Buen Camino app. Their website is in Spanish, but you choose your own language for the app. When I was on that part of the Camino last year there were actually two arrows painted on the road, one that said "the hard way", and the other "the easy way."So to make sure, is this col Lepoeder, or a little after?
And to go down the alternate route (instead of the forest) which side would I use?
Don't overthink it, please. You'll ruin the start of your Camino!So to make sure, is this col Lepoeder, or a little after?
And to go down the alternate route (instead of the forest) which side would I use? -- go through the grass or stay on the road?
trecile's second picture confuses me, as to where the split between the path for the forest and the route takes place.
When you follow the left hand side on my picture, you arrive at the small church, but I don't see/can't find the spot on google maps where you go right to get onto the road that leads to ibaneta.(Col lepoeder). I guess it's not on Gmaps..?
We walked along the road for less than 1p0 yds.We've walked the Camino twice; first time we approached Roncesvalles by the 'traditional' route through the woods. Last year we took the 'alternative' route down the road.
Question... when you get to the bottom of the hill on the road route, is there a marked route which allows you to get to Roncesvalles without walking along the main road? I'm not sure if we missed it or it just doesn't exist.
Planning for number 3 next year...
Thanks in advance.
Being honest, (now!) I'm not sure why more people don't take the alternative route rather than risk life and limb (... well ankles and knees) through the forest. Much better scenery too!
Actually those who go to SJPdP through Spain should consider starting from Roncesvalles and walking to St. Jean one way, spending the night and then head back to Roncesvalles the next day by the other route. Choice of order would likely be weather dependent.the whole hike Roncesvalles >> SJPP is delightful, nearly all of it downhill ...
Why the way through the woods petfect apart for first 500mts. Protection from sun or rair or snow or wind. Did you ever try to find the road covered in a few meters of snow buen camino
I love that walk through the woods -- it's actually more enjoyable going upwards in the opposite direction, but then the whole hike Roncesvalles >> SJPP is delightful, nearly all of it downhill ...
Have you done it recently? Asking because in July the Pilgrim Office was issuing a flyer, stating it was dangerous. There had been heavy rainfalls this Spring causing landslides (hence the train being replaced by the bus to repair damage for instance)....
So I would like to know if that walk through the woods has deteriorated (enough) to make it dangerous.... I last walked it in 2013, that’s quite a while ago.... (I didn’t ask the Pilgrim’s Office because I only saw the flyer later....)
Anyone walked it recently?
Thanks!11 times in last 7 years latest end of april 2018. No problems.
500metres is quite a distance when every step feels like walking on a banana skin laid on a bed of greased ball-bearings... as it did one July!!I I have VERY bad knees so the road is definitely the better option for me.Why the way through the woods petfect apart for first 500mts. Protection from sun or rair or snow or wind. Did you ever try to find the road covered in a few meters of snow buen camino
De Nada. I dont like walking on the roads either and the few minutes I spent at Ibañetta, I saw enough traffic to have no desire to get into it. Last April when the river at Puente la Reina wiped out the camino trail leaving the town, the locals told us we must take the road. We started up the road but the traffic was so heavy and close to us, we turned back to the town and got a busThanks tpmchugh.It was more a safety thing really.
De Nada. I dont like walking on the roads either and the few minutes I spent at Ibañetta, I saw enough traffic to have no desire to get into it. Last April when the river at Puente la Reina wiped out the camino trail leaving the town, the locals told us we must take the road. We started up the road but the traffic was so heavy and close to us, we turned back to the town and got a bus
First time I reached Ibañeta, I missed the path.
Yes, it is between the signpost and the panel, click here
Please go to the Pilgrims Office in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port when you arrive. You will get up to date information including an updated illustrated leaflet that shows you clearly which path to take at the point marked as Col de Lepoeder (1410m) so that you don't go through the woods (see below):Which path do you refer to exactly ? I'll be there on the 1st of October and do not wish to go down through the woods, but rather by the scenic ('open') path.
Bon chemin alors!Yes I will, as planned, d'ailleurs. Merci !
Annie, we were talking about the descent from Ibañeta chapel to Roncesvalles, where many pilgrims get confused (or, alternatively, prefer) and take the paved road, instead of the path by the woods.Which path do you refer to exactly ? I'll be there on the 1st of October and do not wish to go down through the woods, but rather by the scenic ('open') path.
Fully agree, @twh and @Rick of Rick and Peg . @twh, you did a splendid job with Google Streetview. While I was looking for something else, I came across the photo below which I think splendidly captures the movements of those who enter the triangle of confusion. If they follow the paved road at this point immediately after the Lepoeder pass as some people do (4 persons on the left in this photo) - and some of those have obviously second thoughts (2 of these 4) - they will quickly come to a sharp bend of the road to the right and the next thing they see are very obvious camino markers that lead them straight down the steep forest path. They never come even close to the multidirectional wooden way marker ...Thank you @twh for those captioned pictures. I have not been at the triangle of confusion but I've done lots of googling (for maps, descriptions, photos) to create something similar but there is no way I could have done the job as well as you. I agree with your directions. The problem is that walkers are directed off the road onto the grassy area and down the path into the center of the triangle of confusion where they find a confusing sign. If this path would be marked as a short cut to be avoided walkers would take the road to end up in the same spot that the confusing easy way path would go. And just before that spot, on the left hand side of the road as they walk, will be the Camino through the woods that causes so many walkers to have so much trouble in bad weather due to tougher trail conditions.
Fully agree, @twh and @Rick of Rick and Peg . @twh, you did a splendid job with Google Streetview. While I was looking for something else, I came across the photo below which I think splendidly captures the movements of those who enter the triangle of confusion. If they follow the paved road at this point immediately after the Lepoeder pass as some people do - and some of those have obviously seconds thoughts - they will quickly come to a sharp bend of the road to the right and the next thing they see are very obvious camino markers that lead them down the steep forest path. They never come even close to the multidirectional wooden way marker ...
I actually think the Forest Route is beautiful. The risky part(I think) are those awful gulleys you have to navigate(I was forced to sit on the edge and slide down into the trench) in order to get going at all. It is pretty rough at the start, I must admit, but that's only at the entrance. The cool forest , birdsong and less human traffic was great after that endless trek from Orisson.Being honest, (now!) I'm not sure why more people don't take the alternative route rather than risk life and limb (... well ankles and knees) through the forest. Much better scenery too!
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