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Hi,I fly into Madrid on October 1 and have a train booked to Seville. After reading other threads I am having doubts that I have picked the right time, and there will be nights I will be alone in the albergues. Also I have only walked the Frances once, and others seem to do 3 or 4 other Caminos before attempting the VLDP. Would you recommend I do the Frances again and leave this walk till another time? Thank you.
Thank you Kanga. My other option was the Madrid, SAN Salvador then Primitivo as I have 6 weeks. All my info is on VLDP but it is the long and difficult stages you mentioned and closed cafes in villages. Sounds like I will always have to have a bocadillo hidden in my backpack!Hi @SallyToms, and welcome to the forum. The weather in Seville I expect would be good in October - I'm thinking of walking from Madrid next week and my biggest concern is the heat. If you want to play around with looking at average temperatures, this website is great. You can compare a couple of cities.
The Vdlp is a vastly different beast to the CF. I am suspending judgment until I've walked it all - I started from Salamanca earlier this year but was defeated by plantar fasciitis. Hopefully I'll be able to try it again one spring. In Salamanca I met up with two friends who had walked from Seville, and they were not impressed. They found the stages long and difficult, the infrastructure poor, compared to the CF, and far fewer pilgrims. But other members of this forum, whose advice I trust, absolutely love the Vdlp.
I walked the CF three times before I ventured further afield, for no real reason other than convenience. Each time was quite different - different seasons, different people and I tried to stay in different places. I then walked twice from Le Puy, once in autumn, once in spring, then did two more routes in France before coming back to Spain to the Norte. Since the Norte I've walked the CF again twice - and still love it.
Thank you for your positive report on the vldp and it is your favourite, very good to hear that.The Vdp was our second Camino, we chose it because it is different from the French route, and it remains my favourite. We started from Seville in September and finished before the winter rains set in. The route is more popular in Spring and Autumn so while there will be fewer pilgrims then you are used to, it is unlikely that you would be on your own.
You sound like you are having second thoughts, while I would encourage you to consider alternative routes to the Frances, if you feel the Vpd isn't for you then consider either the Levante (starting in Torledo) or the Portuguese route as its infrastructure and usage has improved considerably in recent years, you'll find plenty of advice and information on these on the forum.
Great to hear positive reports. I tell myself if I am hating it I can go back to the Frances. But once I start am sure I will want to go on, and the towns along the way look spectacular. Will definitely be careful with my packing, my dodgy knee demands it. Thank you.Hi,
I walked from Seville to Santiago in the autumn of 2015. It was my first Camino. I left Seville on Oct.13th. The weather was fine, up to 25 centigrade some days-hot enough for me. I was never alone, there were about 8 peregrinos at the same stage as I was. After Salamanca the numbers increased somewhat. There was a good sense of camaraderie given that we were so few. I experienced rain on 3 days during my entire walk which concluded about Nov. 13th. I never had any problem finding accommodation in the Albergues. Some of the stages are long so have some food and water with you just in case you arrive in a village where the café-bar is closed for one reason or another. Travel as light as possible, I had a light sleeping bag but quite a few Albergues had blankets. The mornings were cool-a sweatshirt was sufficient when setting out but by midday I was usually in my tee-shirt. It is a great Camino-my favourite so far. I did the Portugués in 2016 and part of the Norte in June-July 2017.
Buen Camino!!
Good advice if time is an issue, and a special part of the route, did you spy the Roman Bath just 14kms out of Merida, it's just a normal looking old house on the way,with a discrete Therma sign by the door... But inside a wonderful authentic bathing experience and massage await...Consider starting in Merida, especially if time is an issue. I walked from Seville to Astorga in the spring, enjoying it thoroughly. I especially liked the part from Merida to Salamanca.
I saw the house with its sign, but didn't go in. Maybe next time!Good advice if time is an issue, and a special part of the route, did you spy the Roman Bath just 14kms out of Merida, it's just a normal looking old house on the way,with a discrete Therma sign by the door... But inside a wonderful authentic bathing experience and massage await...
Oh Yes - I spent a whole afternoon wallowing in the lovely water and enjoying the special treat - don't miss itGood advice if time is an issue, and a special part of the route, did you spy the Roman Bath just 14kms out of Merida, it's just a normal looking old house on the way,with a discrete Therma sign by the door... But inside a wonderful authentic bathing experience and massage await...
I have nearly 6 weeks so I will have a lot of options. I think a spring Camino will be next on my bucket list.Consider starting in Merida, especially if time is an issue. I walked from Seville to Astorga in the spring, enjoying it thoroughly. I especially liked the part from Merida to Salamanca. Then if you choose to do so, it is easy to get from Salamanca to Leon or another point on the Camino Frances.
I am functional in Spanish and consider myself fairly self-reliant, so the VDLP really appealed to me.
Thanks LT. I like hearing stories like yours and Thankyou for all the info on weather and stages. I did read one blog where the person said they were the only one in the albergue but that doesn't seem likely. Yes I'm impressed by those who can do 40km stages but that won't be me lol. Longest on Frances was 34, I will just have to plan well for this one.Here is a repeat offender! The Plata was my second Camino after the Francés. I have subsequently returned on three occasions and have done parts in the summer, fall and winter.
Albergues:
Infrastructure has improved over the years (walked first time summer 2011, last time summer 2016). And although there are more albergues, it is nothing compared to the Frances.
Stages:
Should you wish to walk stages of 15 km then the Plata would be a problem. I like long stages but I know that other forum member have walked shorter stages. Check the threads here on the Forum for ideas.
Weather:
I walked during October (arrived in Santiago November 3rd) and had lovely weather up until Santiago! I believe we took out a poncho twice. I always carry a fleece for a cool morning but only needed it further north and as someone already mentioned, only in the morning.
Pilgrims:
Although I have walked in the heat of the summer and in winter (February) I still found pilgrims in albergues, albeit a handful. I was never alone on this Camino. That may not be the case on another less travelled Camino such as the Mozárabe or the Levante - I know from experience!
I'd say go for it and if for whatever reason you decide it is not for you, take a bus elsewhere. ALSA has a fantastic network of bus lines. There is another bus company that runs a route around there but forgot the name.
Don't hesitate to ask anything else you may want to know, there are many members who have walked this Camino.
Cheers
LT
Here is a repeat offender! The Plata was my second Camino after the Francés. I have subsequently returned on three occasions and have done parts in the summer, fall and winter.
A week ago I have finished my albergues and distances list for VdlP and according to gronze.com the longest stage without albergue (or anything else) is from Casar de Caceres to Canaveral with 33,2km. All other stages between the albergues are under 30km.Thanks LT. I like hearing stories like yours and Thankyou for all the info on weather and stages. I did read one blog where the person said they were the only one in the albergue but that doesn't seem likely. Yes I'm impressed by those who can do 40km stages but that won't be me lol. Longest on Frances was 34, I will just have to plan well for this one.
I just did the same. Also on Gronze, etapa 13, I found there was an albergue in Embalse del Ancantara, 600 m off the camino, E25.A week ago I have finished my albergues and distances list for VdlP and according to gronze.com the longest stage without albergue (or anything else) is from Casar de Caceres to Canaveral with 33,2km. All other stages between the albergues are under 30km.
That is not correct unfortunately! (Unless something surprising has happened in the last few months.) It has been closed for years, due to some waste/water disposal issue, and the fishing lodge does not accommodate pilgrims.I just did the same. Also on Gronze, etapa 13, I found there was an albergue in Embalse del Ancantara, 600 m off the camino, E25.
@C clearly has it right. That's why I mentioned it as the longest stage. Don't know for how long the Embalse de Alcantara albergue is closed now but I'm sure it has been two years at least.I just did the same. Also on Gronze, etapa 13, I found there was an albergue in Embalse del Ancantara, 600 m off the camino, E25.
. This is a real shame as that great iron bunker was a a welcome stop after a long day on the road.@C clearly has it right. That's why I mentioned it as the longest stage. Don't know for how long the Embalse de Alcantara albergue is closed now but I'm sure it has been two years at least.
This is a timely question as I have just been debating a similar thing with my daughter as we plan our return to the vdp next year. Points to note are:So here is my question to you, who have walked VDLP - would you recommend Sevilla to Merida or rather Merida to Zamora? .
Definitely Merida to Zamora! (Your 2 options are quite different in length. Merida to Salamanca would be my choice if I had limited time.)would you recommend Sevilla to Merida or rather Merida to Zamora?
Good point, correct me if I am wrong, but it's 230km from Seville to Merida, around 300km from Merida to Salamanca and 70kms between Salamanca and Zamora.Definitely Merida to Zamora! (Your 2 options are quite different in length. Merida to Salamanca would be my choice if I had limited time.)
Nice to see you back on the forum, and getting ready for another Camino. I expect you will like this route, and the 50-day allowance is good.I am also taking the train to Seville on Oct. 1 to walk this route, spending two nights in Seville, then beginning a leisurely 50 day walk to Santiago via the VdlP and the Camino Sanabres
@Albertagirl@SallyToms
You have received much useful advice and information from persons who have walked the VdlP, but as someone who has not yet done so, I think that I can give you what you want. I am also taking the train to Seville on Oct. 1 to walk this route, spending two nights in Seville, then beginning a leisurely 50 day walk to Santiago via the VdlP and the Camino Sanabres. I like to average 20 km a day, so unless you are much faster we are sure to see one another along the trail. I have tentatively planned my stops and am pleased to see that there are very few days when I must walk more than 25 km and, as @KinkyOne says, only one stage where there is no accommodation for more than 30 km. I cannot guarantee that you will enjoy this walk; indeed, I cannot guarantee that I will. But I am still looking forward to it tremendously as my next adventure as a camino pilgrim. I wish you "Buen camino," hoping to do so in person soon. If you want to discuss a possible meeting, send me a pm (personal message) using the inbox function at the top right of the screen. I tried to send you a message, but perhaps you are not familiar with this function.
Mary Louise
Wonderful, Albertagirl, wonderful.I am also taking the train to Seville on Oct. 1 to walk this route, spending two nights in Seville, then beginning a leisurely 50 day walk to Santiago via the VdlP and the Camino Sanabres
Have a nice Camino, Mary Louise!!!@VNwalking
Thank you for your kind greetings. And thank you also to all those whose blogs and other information about the VdlP have made possible my planning and my confidence in walking this route. Among them I thank @peregrina2000, @C clearly, @SYates, @Anemone del Camino and especially @LesBrass, whose blog about her fall VdlP last year encouraged me to buy rainpants, and @KinkyOne for sending me his detailed information on the route. I do not plan to blog or post while walking, but if I find any particular challenges, I shall post about them to help other walkers, following the kind example of so many others. Thanks again.
Mary Louise
P.S.: I am leaving on my travels tomorrow morning, which is why I am posting this now.
...And thank you also to all those whose blogs and other information about the VdlP have made possible my planning and my confidence in walking this route. Among them I thank @peregrina2000, @C clearly, @SYates, @Anemone del Camino and especially @LesBrass, whose blog about her fall VdlP last year encouraged me to buy rainpants....
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