Babyboomergirl
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 2017
Primitivo 2018
Finisterre/Muxía 2018
Norte 2019
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HiDue to family commitments my planned start date in April after Easter has been delayed.
I’d still like to walk this year if possible but am worried that a mid May start might be too hot.
We have just had the hottest summer on record in Western Australia so I’m used to hot days .
Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated.
The other Camino I’m considering is Camino Madrid.
Sorry, just dawned on me you were talking about the VDLP. If you find its too hot in Seville you could start further up like Salamanca. It will get cooler as you go north and the Sanabrese is amazing.Hi
I have started the Frances and the Norte in mid May before and it was ok, had some hot days on the CF but nothing like the horrible, hot summer we have just had in WA. However I do think the Camino Madrid would be too hot for me.
Yes perhaps starting in Salamanca is a better option.Sorry, just dawned on me you were talking about the VDLP. If you find its too hot in Seville you could start further up like Salamanca. It will get cooler as you go north and the Sanabrese is amazing.
I can tolerate the heat but prefer walking in cooler weather so I might consider starting elsewhere than Seville.Hard to say what the weather will be like. I started from Malaga in early April, had a fair bit of rain and not too much heat.
By contrast I started the Levante from Valencia mid May and had lots of hot days. One day I took the bus because of the heat.
As a sandgroper, you may be able to handle the heat better than I. Heat didn't use to be too much of a problem for me, but since passing 60, I find it can be.
Keep hydrated (carry at least 2litres) and consider an umbrella against the sun.
It is a most enjoyable route.
Seville is such a beautiful city that it would be too sad not to enjoy it. Remember that you will be walking from South to North - you will be walking towards the cooler area. You can also plan your days by starting at sunrise and most days will see you done by 13:00.Due to family commitments my planned start date in April after Easter has been delayed.
I’d still like to walk this year if possible but am worried that a mid May start might be too hot.
We have just had the hottest summer on record in Western Australia so I’m used to hot days .
Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated.
The other Camino I’m considering is Camino Madrid.
The Norte was the last Camino I walked in March/ April 2019 and it was really beautiful.My suggestion is to scrap the VDLP and walk the Norte instead. It will be cooler and really beautiful.
I started VDLP on 10 May. At times it was hot but the sun rises early so it was ok in the mornings and you can get most of your walking done before the afternoon. Certainly doable but it is Mother Nature. And if it gets unbearably hot just head north and get on another Camino. For example, I was on Camino Levante last July reaching Toledo when temperatures soared to 44C, we bussed to Ponferrada and walked the Invierno.Due to family commitments my planned start date in April after Easter has been delayed.
I’d still like to walk this year if possible but am worried that a mid May start might be too hot.
We have just had the hottest summer on record in Western Australia so I’m used to hot days .
Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated.
The other Camino I’m considering is Camino Madrid.
I hope all works out for the best. I think it may be pretty hot leaving Madrid too but I am sure not as hot as Sevilla. Hopefully the Camino Gods will be with you and keep the temperature down. The VDLP is unlike any of the other Caminos I have walked. It will be a unique experience. If you have any questions about albergues or anything else that I may have knowledge about please feel free to write to me. Buen Camino peregrina.The Norte was the last Camino I walked in March/ April 2019 and it was really beautiful.
I wanted to walk a different path this time.
Thanks you for all the advice on the VdlP
Thank you so much for your detailed response.I started on June 7, 2015 arriving in Santiago 0n July 23. It was hot but I acclimatised easily coming from Darwin. The heat is like Central Australia with that dry heat where the sweat evaporates off you quickly. Parts of the Sanabres remind me of Central Otago in NZ. There was a heat wave that year but I seemed to find the one cloud in Spain on quite a bit of my trip so it was cloudy and on one occasion, drizzly. But it was also stinking hot especially on stretches when there are big road stretches. Northern Extremadura is the worst in that respect and it is really important to get your stops and distances right otherwise you will cop short or very long distances. You cannot take too much water and it is really important to manage water well otherwise you will be more prone to blisters. I was averaging about 250 ml per hour of water and would also take every opportunity to drink. I found that I felt cooler wearing sunnies and not having a hat because my dark hair traps heat. Since then I use a visor when hiking as shade over my eyes makes my brain think it is cooler. I also carry a silver reflective umbrella and it is like carrying your own portable shade treat and takes the temp down a couple of degrees which can save your arse on horror days. Heat index is worth a read in that respect. Well worth being out the door at dawn so that you have finished for the day by 3 pm at the latest as that is the hottest time of the day. I try to avoid walking when it is hotter than body temp. I tend to average 4 km per hour which includes toilet stops, breaks and taking lots of photos. Cafe con hielo becomes your favourite form of coffee. The good thing is that you are very unlikely to need heavy gear so you can travel much lighter compared to Feb/Mar when you have to consider late winter storms (been there, done that).
https://weatherspark.com/ is a great site because you can work out the range of likely conditions for where you will be based on historical records.
I did a Live from the Camino thread which gives a bit of detail. Everything is very golden in June and July and I find photos of a green VDLP quite weird. Summer is definitely doable with caution and good planning.
Here it is.I will look for your Live thread.
Thank you
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