Thinking of a 'crowded-summer-camino-frances-backup-plan'

[flippinkittin]

Hi!

So my plan is to walk from Oloron to SJPP, and then walk the camino frances. I am a bit concerned that the CF will be crowded and hot. So, for both of those reasons I was thinking that the camino norte might be a nice change of pace.

Any thoughts on the weather comparing the two regions? Number of peregrinos? Thanks!

-Katrina

 

[AJ]

Depends on when you plan to walk. Avoid the Norte in August because there are not enough albergues to cope with the numbers, unless there has been a significant increase in the past few years.

 

[flippinkittin]

I plan to start walking from SJPP somewhere between June 23rd and June 28th.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There were 17, 289 Compostelas issued last year to pilgrims on the Camino del Norte, about the same number as the last Holy Year in 2010. There were 176,075 for the Camino Frances, about 13,000 fewer than 2010. The infrastructure is adequate on the CF, but the CdN has not grown to accommodate the increasing numbers. The average growth rate on the CdN has been 12% the last few years.

If April 2017 is any indicator for the summer, crowds will be up on both.

As to the weather, it can be hot on both. Pick the one on which you think you will have the most fun. Crowds and weather will not be significantly different.

 

[Sue Kranz]

I read somewhere that the cost is significantly higher on the Norte, with less cafes/markets to buy food and/or supplies.

Thoughts about this?

Also, does anyone know whether is looks like a dry May/June this year?

Gracias!
Sue

 

[Felipe]

Oloron to SJPP is great! Some tough stages, also.
Uhm....a note: I am a very slow walker, and in the Albergue Municipal at Mauleon I got the last bed. As far as I know, there are not reservations there.
Two pilgrims who arrived later had many problems to find a place, even hostals were completo. This was in late September.
Buen camino!

 

[giorgio]

As you plan to start in Oloron would suggest to walk up to Col du Somport and continue on the Camino Aragones to Puente de la Reina where you will join the Camino Frances . Fantastic route !
IMHO being this your first camino the Frances would be a better option than Camino del Norte....

 

[Annalisa]

I plan to start walking from SJPP somewhere between June 23rd and June 28th.

I will be starting on the 26th!

 

[Tincatinker]

I read somewhere that the cost is significantly higher on the Norte, with less cafes/markets to buy food and/or supplies.

Thoughts about this?

Also, does anyone know whether is looks like a dry May/June this year?

Gracias!
Sue

Sue, costs on the Norte can be higher because there are fewer Albergues and the coast is a popular holiday destination for Spaniards and other European nations. The pilgrim dedicated infrastructure does not exist in the way that it does along the Frances but people live there and pilgrims pass through. The local population still depend on their markets and tiendas and bars and cafes. The Norte passes through quite a few significant cities, industrial centres and significant fishing ports - probably more than the classic CF route (particularly when it comes to fishing ports ). You will not find quite so many 'menu peregrinos' but many will suggest that that is no bad thing.

The weather? Ha; who knows. It has been a very dry winter for much of Maritime Europe. We are into near drought conditions in the UK. Galicia has severe drought conditions. There are forest fires in Asturias. Next month it might p*ss down. Nobody knows and even the professionals can only look at their climate models and scratch their heads. Take an umbrella - they make great sun-shades

 

[Lucy Keenan]

Depends on when you plan to walk. Avoid the Norte in August because there are not enough albergues to cope with the numbers, unless there has been a significant increase in the past few years.

Well I walked in August last year and had absolutely no problem

 

[scowie]

Well I walked in August last year and had absolutely no problem

I am hoping to do at least part of it from second week in May and have been looking at the advice posted, my last venture on the Camino Portugues in 2013 sounds similar, nowhere near the amount of cafes or albergues, however, what we found were excellent and the people were the most generous and welcoming even though many of them had very little. The Camino Frances sounds too busy these days...