Walking from Le Puy for a week - and transport links.

[Simon]

Hello fellow pilgrims
Having completed the Camino Frances in 'chunks' over a few years, some friends and I are planning to walk for 7 or 8 days days from Le Puy, later this year. Can anyone suggest where would be the logical place to finish this section?
I'm presuming we will get to St Chely d'Aubrac, or Espalion. But we will then need to get back to Lyon for train or flight back to the UK.
Can anyone offer any advice, please?
Thank you!

 

[NavyBlue]

Hello,

A nice project !

Le Puy to Espalion in 7 days is manageable, but a bit strenuous. I did it but had to stop in Espalion with a stress fracture . Your mileage may vary, of course.

Another challenge will be to leave Espalion and reach Lyon. Involves a bus (or taxi) to Rodez, then some 8 hours in the train (Rodez --> Toulouse --> Montpellier --> Lyon). Faster, by air from Rodez to Lyon... or London. From Saint-Chely, you have to reach Espalion first.

More details here http://www.tourisme-espalion.fr/fr/outils/plan-d-acces.php and here
http://www.stchelydaubrac.com/siteot2004/introduction/introduction.htm

Aumont-Aubrac is generally preferred for a short leg from Le Puy, with (somewhat) faster connection to Lyon.

As you will be a small group, you will have to book your gites in advance, as the French do.

 

[Simon]

Thanks for these suggestions - this is very helpful and looks like a more realistic option. It looks like there a rail connection from A-A to Paris.

 

[NavyBlue]

It looks like there a rail connection from A-A to Paris.

Yes, you can reach Paris from Aumont-Aubrac by rail, via Clermont-Ferrand, in abt. 6 hours.

 

[BShea]

I find it difficult and even stressful to determine an exact ending point. There are just so many variables along the way. I prefer the freedom of just walking as far as I can get, then using local transportation to get me to where I need to be on my return date.

This is a good planner to help determine your stages:
http://www.godesalco.com/plan/podense

There are several transportation options for returning to Lyon. Here are two shuttle services along the route:
http://www.lamallepostale.com/fr/randonnees/chemin-de-saint-jacques-de-compostelle
http://www.bus-chemin-compostelle.com/

There is also a taxi service: (I’m sure there are many others – this is just one I found on-line)
http://www.transports-lample-conques.fr/tarifs/

There is also the possibility of finding a ride share as well:
https://www.blablacar.fr/

Bon chemin!

 

[Magnara]

When we needed to cut out 100 km because of shortage of time, we went to the local bus station and the man there was extremely helpful, checking bus connections and (oh so French) assuring us that at each stop there would be time to eat. We laughed about that so much. But just in a little town, when we needed it there was good advice about public transport from there to where we needed to go.