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Olivares,
I have walked both many times and the alternate route is my favorite........
Margaret Meredith
Be prepared (if the spirit moves you) to catch the local bus from the centre of Leon 7k's to 'La Virgen del Camino'However, be prepared for dreary walking right out of Leon.
Very easy to get out of Leon, if you walk from bus station to bridge , you are on camino, turn left and 1 hour to la virgin, I was there at 10am, kept walking to hospital de orbigo , stay away from road stage or you will be deaf from traffic noice , Buen caminoI am studying the French Way (Camino Frances) route maps after Leon. It appears that heading out of Leon you can bare right towards Valverde de la Virgen or you can bear left towards Fresno del Camino. Eventually, both routes converge on Hospital de Orbigo, approximately 32 Kms from Leon.
I want to shoot for Hospital de Orbigo (HdO). WHICH route would you recommend? Say that I want to walk less that day, which town would you recommend as a good stop before HdO?
but if you want to experience one of the best albergues on the C.F. carry on 3 km past H de O to Villares de Orbigo where Pablo and Belen offer a true pilgrim welcome with one the best dinners on the whole way.
I highly recommend going left, via Villar de Mazarife, after Virgen del Camino. Having walked both routes twice, I can confirm that the trail via Villadangos del Paramo is dreadful, while the other way is quite pretty despite being mostly flat. Mazarife has three good albergues and is just 14 kilometers before Hospital de Orbigo. In Hospital de Orbigo you can stay at the FABULOUS Albergue Verde, a true oasis on the Camino.
I am studying the French Way (Camino Frances) route maps after Leon. It appears that heading out of Leon you can bare right towards Valverde de la Virgen or you can bear left towards Fresno del Camino. Eventually, both routes converge on Hospital de Orbigo, approximately 32 Kms from Leon.
I want to shoot for Hospital de Orbigo (HdO). WHICH route would you recommend? Say that I want to walk less that day, which town would you recommend as a good stop before HdO?
There are a number of bus stops on the plaza. You want the one closest to the cathedral, right by a bank. Just ask the driver. It's well worth "missing" the walk out of Leon but it doesn't get much better if you don't take the alternate route. If I could have added an extra day I think I would have chosen to avoid that "car dealer - factory - unfinished condos" stretch.There is a large plaza/roundabout west of the cathedral and your hotel, Plaza San Domingo, lots of traffic, lots of bus stops; that's where you will find the bus to Virgen del Camino.
Sraaen-- this is one of the BEST Google maps focused on the Camino that I have seen (...and there has been several worthy attempts!). Definitely a keeper!! Many thanks for sharing!!!
Mighty kind of you to say so. Buenas todo!Sraaen-- this is one of the BEST Google maps focused on the Camino that I have seen (...and there has been several worthy attempts!). Definitely a keeper!! Many thanks for sharing!!!
Sraaen-- this is one of the BEST Google maps focused on the Camino that I have seen (...and there has been several worthy attempts!). Definitely a keeper!! Many thanks for sharing!!!
I agree to that. One of the very best on the whole Camino. Take a foot bath with salt as well.
What is the name of this Alberque ?
You're welcome and thanks for the compliment!YEEESSSS, thanks for this map - amazing.
I did not stayed there, but heard good things. There are only 26 beds, you can ask if they accept reservations and how far in advance at info@alberguevillaresdeorbigo.comMany thank's,did you make a pre booking ?))
I did not stayed there, but heard good things. There are only 26 beds, you can ask if they accept reservations and how far in advance at info@alberguevillaresdeorbigo.com
or call them at 34 98 713 2935. Buen Camino!!
Thanks for this great info for catching the bus to Virgen del Camino. I found the bus stop right in front of the bank, asked a driver for help and was told by him to wait for the blue line. I had a little difficulty distinguishing the bus colors but a woman waiting helped me out.There are a number of bus stops on the plaza. You want the one closest to the cathedral, right by a bank. Just ask the driver. It's well worth "missing" the walk out of Leon but it doesn't get much better if you don't take the alternate route. If I could have added an extra day I think I would have chosen to avoid that "car dealer - factory - unfinished condos" stretch.
Albergue Pablo y Belen was also one of our favorites, although we stayed there on a Monday night and they do not cook on Monday. We had dinner at that café/bar across the street. We did have a great American-style breakfast of bacon and eggs on Tuesday morning, though. Coincidentally we stayed in the same room as you, overlooking the street. The large room was occupied by a family group of 8 persons, and the smaller private room was occupied by a lovely Japanese couple with whom we scotch-hopped the rest of the Camino, eventually sharing a glass of champagne in Santiago. It was one of the cleanest albergues we stayed at; the bathrooms were immaculate.
Of course the same could be said for many kilometers before this stretch and many kilometers after it. Don't let that be a deterrent. The worst part of the alternate route, IMO and as someone else mentioned, is the 5.8 km between Vilar de Mazarife and the crossroads called Cruce. It's an arrow-straight, foot pounding stretch of asphalt pavement with hardly any shoulder to walk on. Fortunately there was very little traffic when we walked it.The only drawback to the alternate route is the lack of shade...
Mighty kind of you to say so. Buenas todo!
This link doesn't appear to work any longer. Do you possibly have a new link?Hi Olivares, I've been playing with programming maps and put this together. It has a kml track and if you select from the upper left box it will zoom into a village and display street view. Drag the yellow "Peg Man" to change street view. It's just a hobby but maybe it'll help. It's meant to work on a desktop/laptop browser and am told it looks okay on a tablet. It doesn't work well on my phone.
http://steveport.com/caminodesantiago
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