Via De La Plata In November

[Former member 95219]

Hi all. Considering doing this from mid November. I know the current situ with regards to albergue opening but looks like it’s doable! Going to start planning but if anywhere has any ‘must know’ advice off top of head would be great to hear! I guess the weather is key too!

 

[RNC]

Hi Chef66
We walked the VDLP in October/November last year.
While it will undoubtedly be cooler if you start walking in November, you’ll still have to manage the challenges of long distances between any food/water/shelter and linitedin many sections. In particular, watch out for the 28km section on the third day from Castillblanco del Arroy to Almaden De a Plata.
Also, make sure you are prepared for cold and wet weather. We walked with a Lithuanian man who’d started the previous November and had to abandon his Camino because he found himself having to swim across freezing waterways and was unable to get dry and warm. (The most generous way to describe the albergue heating we found in November would be “variable”.)
It’s a wonderful, uncrowded path with incredible historic towns such as Merida, Salamanca and Ourense, although it’s difficult to know how much would still be open due to COVID.
Feel free to message me if you have any questions.

 

[Former member 95219]

Hi Chef66
We walked the VDLP in October/November last year.
While it will undoubtedly be cooler if you start walking in November, you’ll still have to manage the challenges of long distances between any food/water/shelter and linitedin many sections. In particular, watch out for the 28km section on the third day from Castillblanco del Arroy to Almaden De a Plata.
Also, make sure you are prepared for cold and wet weather. We walked with a Lithuanian man who’d started the previous November and had to abandon his Camino because he found himself having to swim across freezing waterways and was unable to get dry and warm. (The most generous way to describe the albergue heating we found in November would be “variable”.)
It’s a wonderful, uncrowded path with incredible historic towns such as Merida, Salamanca and Ourense, although it’s difficult to know how much would still be open due to COVID.
Feel free to message me if you have any questions.

That’s great RNC. Exactly the type of thing that I was looking for. Very much appreciated! May be back in touch!! Thanks again!

 

[geraldkelly]

Starting from Seville in November it's likely to be cold and it will get colder and wetter as you go north. In Galicia in December, the big challenges will be the weather and short days, you'll have to cover a lot of kilometres during about 9 hours of daylight. It would be extremely tough at the best of times, with many accommodations options currently closed it will be as hard as any Camino can ever be. I personally wouldn't advise it.

Have you walked a Camino in winter?
Gerald

 

[Former member 95219]

Starting from Seville in November it's likely to be cold and it will get colder and wetter as you go north. In Galicia in December, the big challenges will be the weather and short days, you'll have to cover a lot of kilometres during about 9 hours of daylight. It would be extremely tough at the best of times, with many accommodations options currently closed it will be as hard as any Camino can ever be. I personally wouldn't advise it.

Have you walked a Camino in winter?
Gerald

Thank you Gerald. Really appreciated!

No not done a camino in winter though have down Everest Base and Kilimanjaro in tough conditions!

i did the Frances amd Portuguesa (from Porto) this summer but they required no prep whatsoever and were very straight forward but I sense this is different so advice well received!

Thanks again!

 

[4 Eyes]

The mud will make it very difficult. There is the sinking mud, and then the hard pack non-sinking but sucking slick mud which will easily cause a pulled hamstring. Then the trail often gets flooded to waist deep. It's not like Everest or Kilimanjaro. It presents a whole different set of challenges.

 

[Rireana]

Hi Chef66. We can't add anything about the Covid situation, but as regards the weather, our experience is that you will be fine. From late October to mid-January (2018/19) we walked the Sureste from Alicante to Benavente, then backtracked on the VDLP from Benavente to Zamora, then took the Portuguese variant of the VDLP to Braganca, and then the southern variant of the Sanabres from Verin to Ourense, and onto Santiago, (and then to A Coruna on the Ingles). Yes there were shorter daylight hours, some rain, water, mud, wind and cold, but nothing that was too challenging, difficult or dangerous. In fact, most days were delightful. We had good equipment and you will probably need to carry a bit more for the winter conditions. Otherwise, we would recommend walking in winter. We have also walked the VDLP from Seville to Santiago/Finisterre/Muxia in October/November and it too was not a problem as regards the weather.

 

[Former member 95219]

Ah thank you Rireana. Very useful. Plenty of think about. Thanks again!

 

[Rireana]

Feel free to message us if you want any more detailed information.

 

[Saint Mike II]

You may, in addition to the rain, run into snow and sleet on the higher hills. Can you start around the last 10 days for October?? Cheers

 

[anthikes]

It would be pretty grim particularly as you head further north. That said, you won't have a problem of extreme heat!

 

[Donna Sch]

Hi Chef66. We can't add anything about the Covid situation, but as regards the weather, our experience is that you will be fine. From late October to mid-January (2018/19) we walked the Sureste from Alicante to Benavente, then backtracked on the VDLP from Benavente to Zamora, then took the Portuguese variant of the VDLP to Braganca, and then the southern variant of the Sanabres from Verin to Ourense, and onto Santiago, (and then to A Coruna on the Ingles). Yes there were shorter daylight hours, some rain, water, mud, wind and cold, but nothing that was too challenging, difficult or dangerous. In fact, most days were delightful. We had good equipment and you will probably need to carry a bit more for the winter conditions. Otherwise, we would recommend walking in winter. We have also walked the VDLP from Seville to Santiago/Finisterre/Muxia in October/November and it too was not a problem as regards the weather.

Now that is a Camino Mixto route I would like to try. Have done the Levante, VDLP (including a detour to Verin) and Invierno so there are a few spots in common.