Unmissable Sections of the Frances Route?

[Poppy]

Hello there,

My boyfriend and I are currently walking the Frances route, and have arrived in Logrono. We are hoping to make it to Santiago, but due to time and money constraints, we would like to walk the most beautiful sections of the route - preferably not beside the highway! What are the highlights?
We would also like to know where the 100km point is before Santiago - can anyone help us with this info?

Happy travels!

 

[sillydoll]

Missing parts

Many people skip the meseta - the 230 kms between Burgos and Astorga – as it can be hot, dusty and not much to see in the way of monuments.
From Logrono yiou walk across Navarra and the La Rioja vineyards with several hill ranges to cross.
From Astorga to Sarria – 145kms - there are two mountain ranges to cross taking you to the highest point at 1500m.
The last 115 kms from Sarria are surprisingly arduous with short sharp up hills and steep descents through green subsistence farming, stone walls and eucalyptus forests.
Hope this helps!

 

[Peter Robins]

huh? no monuments in Castrojeriz, Fromista, Carrion, Sahagun, Mansilla, Leon, the bridge at Orbigo . . . ? On the contrary, the meseta section is the most interesting in terms of monuments, and at this time of year probably very attractive too, with flowers bursting out of every corner and birdsong on all sides. Depends on what you mean by 'beautiful' of course; as the cliche has it, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I have always found that most places have something to recommend them. If you want woodland, for example, the meseta section is not the place to go; on the other hand, if you want wide-ranging views to distant mountains, then it is. If you like luscious greenery (and rain), then Galicia is ideal. On the meseta section, there are also long stretches along the Roman road, and yes away from the highway.

My recommendation would be to take your time, see as much as possible, and if you don't have time to get to Santiago come back some other time to finish it off.

The 100km is around a little hamlet called Ferreiros between Sarria and Portomarin. Those wanting to only walk the 100km generally start in Sarria, which can easily be done in a long weekend.

 

[sillydoll]

Unmissable Parts

Oops! Sorry Peter - I boobed on the importance of the monuments between Burgos and Astorga.
One of the highlights for me was Hospital de Orbigo as there was a medieval fiesta on the day we arrived there with decorated horses, knights, maidens in beautiful dresses and dozens of colourful little tents with pennants flying everywhere. We felt as though we had stumbled into a twilight zone!
Personally I loved the meseta from the flat, wide horizons, wheat fields and large flocks of sheep and even to the white plane trails in the sky.
But, generally speaking this seems to be the section that pilgrims with limited time to walk skip.
For some pilgrims, walking the camino is a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience and not everyone has the opportunity to go back and redo parts missed the first time. For those pilgrims, getting to Santiago and earning the compostella will be important. If this is the case for Poppy and her boyfriend, I would stay with my suggestion that they skip the meseta and start again from Astorga.
Buen camino,

 

[Poppy]

Thank you so much!

I really appreciate all of the advice that you kindly offered us. Many thanks.

Such generosity with your time!

All the best -

Poppy

 

[sillydoll]

Unmissable parts

You are welcome Poppy!
A Portuguese priest (who has now walked the Camino twice) told us that “Solitude is necessary and often welcome but there are times when we need com-pan-eros, the ones we share bread with; not just the edible type but also the bread of our experiences and the many insights, revelations and learning that we consume as we walk along the Way.”
So, I am pleased to have had the opportunity to share bread with you.