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Some of you may remember that last year that we spent 10 days walking parts of the Camino Lebaniego. We live in SW France so we were able to drive to an apartment partway along the route. Each day we chose a section of the camino and walked approx. 10km from our car, then we turned around and walked back. We took picnics and drinks so we were totally self sufficient and we stayed away from towns and tourists. It wasn't a conventional camino, finding places to start where we could park was tricky, but nonetheless we were very grateful for the opportunity and it was a very special walk.
We are camino dreaming again and considering doing a similar walk in July along the Aragones, maybe starting from Oloron-Sainte-Maire? We will (as before) drive to an apartment, take our own bedding and food and keep to ourselves... and we will have both received our vaccinations by July. And of course we'll only go if guidance, cases and restrictions allow.
IF we go... we'll have about 11 days to walk. Conventionally this would be plenty of time to walk the Aragones but as we'll be walking 'there and back' each day (and driving to and fro the start points) we know that there will be sections that we will miss.
I know there are a few Aragones experts out there so I was wondering... if you were us, what sections would you 100% include in your walk?
(p.s. I totally appreciate that we're just camino dreaming at the moment... but... we're staying optimistic)
Strange you should ask just now. I just came back from there this afternoon!
If I were you I would start at Oloron and walk down as far as San Juan de la Pena and/or Leyre, depending on your mileage. The huge and haunted train station at Canfranc Estacion is a must; museum of Romanesque at Jaca cathedral is not to be missed; neither is the hideaway church in San Juan. The abandoned village of Ruesta is also intriguing.
All that said, you could spend your whole 11 days hiking the network of trails around Somport Pass. It is spectacular country, with lots of tourism infrastructure.
I hope you enjoy, whatever you choose.
Been there, done that.... I honestly didn't enjoy the walk west from Sanguesa very much (but then, by that time, having stated in Lourdes, I was tired and my back hurt!) ... If I were to walk the Aragones again, I think that I would just finish at Sanguesa and push on directly to Pamplona.Thanks Rebekah! That's really helpful... we love the mountains so that sounds perfect.
Do you know what the walk is like from Sanguesa? We've driven down from Pamplona to Madrid and loved the area and the wide open views around Soria but if we had to miss a day or two would this be a good place? It's so difficult... and I don't like to miss anything but it's a compromise
I really hope we can do this... we don't have a crystal ball of course but... a girl can dream
Plus you can catch the bus from Jaca to the Monastery and back. Worth doing.Been there, done that.... I honestly didn't enjoy the walk west from Sanguesa very much (but then, by that time, having stated in Lourdes, I was tired and my back hurt!) ... If I were to walk the Aragones again, I think that I would just finish at Sanguesa and push on directly to Pamplona.
Give Jaca a chance to impress you. Lot's there -- including the world-class Cathedral Museum, as per Rebekah Scott, supra.
Been there, done that.... I honestly didn't enjoy the walk west from Sanguesa very much (but then, by that time, having stated in Lourdes, I was tired and my back hurt!) ... If I were to walk the Aragones again, I think that I would just finish at Sanguesa and push on directly to Pamplona.
Give Jaca a chance to impress you. Lot's there -- including the world-class Cathedral Museum, as per Rebekah Scott, supra.
Plus you can catch the bus from Jaca to the Monastery and back. Worth doing.
After Sanguesa, take the Foz de Lumbier option instead of the Rocaforte route, as the trail through this river canyon is spectacular. Or you could likely find a circular route to return via Rocaforte.
Walkers going east to west through the canyon do not pay. Visitors entering from the west side have to pay an admission fee.
I walked from Oloron in a wet May 2012 and did a lot walking along the road in heavy rain up to Somport.Some of you may remember that last year that we spent 10 days walking parts of the Camino Lebaniego. We live in SW France so we were able to drive to an apartment partway along the route. Each day we chose a section of the camino and walked approx. 10km from our car, then we turned around and walked back. We took picnics and drinks so we were totally self sufficient and we stayed away from towns and tourists. It wasn't a conventional camino, finding places to start where we could park was tricky, but nonetheless we were very grateful for the opportunity and it was a very special walk.
We are camino dreaming again and considering doing a similar walk in July along the Aragones, maybe starting from Oloron-Sainte-Maire? We will (as before) drive to an apartment, take our own bedding and food and keep to ourselves... and we will have both received our vaccinations by July. And of course we'll only go if guidance, cases and restrictions allow.
IF we go... we'll have about 11 days to walk. Conventionally this would be plenty of time to walk the Aragones but as we'll be walking 'there and back' each day (and driving to and fro the start points) we know that there will be sections that we will miss.
I know there are a few Aragones experts out there so I was wondering... if you were us, what sections would you 100% include in your walk?
(p.s. I totally appreciate that we're just camino dreaming at the moment... but... we're staying optimistic)
Agreed! The walk down from Somport to Canfranc Estacion is about as good as it gets.I walked from Oloron in a wet May 2012 and did a lot walking along the road in heavy rain up to Somport.
Was warned about some of the path up to Somport but from there I followed the path. I would100% include the strech from Somport to CanfrancEstatión and on to Jaca. You might be tempted to take the bus through the tunnel to Canfranc instead of taking the path up the mountain, but if you do, don´t get off at Canfranc but take the bus up to Somport and walk down.
I wouldn't skip anything. If you have your own transport, the monasteries of San Juan de la Peña and Leyre (which are off the main camino route) will be very easy to get to. Neither is to be missed. The Lumbier gorge will also be accessible from Sanguesa. If you want to experience a little bit of camino life, walk from Jaca to Arres - a volunteer-run albergue, then back next day. Starting from Oloron Sainte-Marie also is a good idea, beautiful little city. You live in SW France so you probably know the region and all about the gites. The station at Canfranc is nearly restored and gives guided tours. The stretch from Monreal to Obanos was broken up a little with limestone quarries but you can take your time and choose your route. Finally, there is the little gem of S.Eunate, just before Obanos. Enjoy. Latest news from Spain (RTVE) is saying that Spain could be open to tourism in Spring if they achieve 40% vaccination. Tentative, but encouraging. Buen Camino.Some of you may remember that last year that we spent 10 days walking parts of the Camino Lebaniego. We live in SW France so we were able to drive to an apartment partway along the route. Each day we chose a section of the camino and walked approx. 10km from our car, then we turned around and walked back. We took picnics and drinks so we were totally self sufficient and we stayed away from towns and tourists. It wasn't a conventional camino, finding places to start where we could park was tricky, but nonetheless we were very grateful for the opportunity and it was a very special walk.
We are camino dreaming again and considering doing a similar walk in July along the Aragones, maybe starting from Oloron-Sainte-Maire? We will (as before) drive to an apartment, take our own bedding and food and keep to ourselves... and we will have both received our vaccinations by July. And of course we'll only go if guidance, cases and restrictions allow.
IF we go... we'll have about 11 days to walk. Conventionally this would be plenty of time to walk the Aragones but as we'll be walking 'there and back' each day (and driving to and fro the start points) we know that there will be sections that we will miss.
I know there are a few Aragones experts out there so I was wondering... if you were us, what sections would you 100% include in your walk?
(p.s. I totally appreciate that we're just camino dreaming at the moment... but... we're staying optimistic)
Me, it was the stretch leading into Sangüesa I didn't much care for, but that's mostly from getting lost in the middle of it and then it started pouring down with rain when I started backtracking.Been there, done that.... I honestly didn't enjoy the walk west from Sanguesa very much
Hi Les Brass,Some of you may remember that last year that we spent 10 days walking parts of the Camino Lebaniego. We live in SW France so we were able to drive to an apartment partway along the route. Each day we chose a section of the camino and walked approx. 10km from our car, then we turned around and walked back. We took picnics and drinks so we were totally self sufficient and we stayed away from towns and tourists. It wasn't a conventional camino, finding places to start where we could park was tricky, but nonetheless we were very grateful for the opportunity and it was a very special walk.
We are camino dreaming again and considering doing a similar walk in July along the Aragones, maybe starting from Oloron-Sainte-Maire? We will (as before) drive to an apartment, take our own bedding and food and keep to ourselves... and we will have both received our vaccinations by July. And of course we'll only go if guidance, cases and restrictions allow.
IF we go... we'll have about 11 days to walk. Conventionally this would be plenty of time to walk the Aragones but as we'll be walking 'there and back' each day (and driving to and fro the start points) we know that there will be sections that we will miss.
I know there are a few Aragones experts out there so I was wondering... if you were us, what sections would you 100% include in your walk?
(p.s. I totally appreciate that we're just camino dreaming at the moment... but... we're staying optimistic)
Hmmm ... seems like you‘ve missed and left out the canyon section at Foz de Lumbier.Been there, done that.... I honestly didn't enjoy the walk west from Sanguesa very much (but then, by that time, having stated in Lourdes, I was tired and my back hurt!) ... If I were to walk the Aragones again, I think that I would just finish at Sanguesa and push on directly to Pamplona.
Give Jaca a chance to impress you. Lot's there -- including the world-class Cathedral Museum, as per Rebekah Scott, supra.
Hi Les Brass,
I wouldn‘t skip and like to miss any part of the C‘aragones.
When I did the aragones in 2012 every part was worth walking.
Did you think about taking public transport from your end point of the day back to your starting point. There are busses circulating between Oloron Ste.Marie and Canfranc Estacion, as well as from Canfranc to Jaca and, last but not least, between Jaca and Pamplona.
Agreed. Skipping it was a great mistake, one which I will not repeat if I ever do that part of the CA again.Hmmm ... seems like you‘ve missed and left out the canyon section at Foz de Lumbier.
You should do it again.
I had the same experience in wet May 2018, I tried to walk along the narrow road in heavy rain up to the Somport but it was very dangerous with all those heavy trucks...It was a relief to get to Canfranc, afterwards it went better.I walked from Oloron in a wet May 2012 and did a lot walking along the road in heavy rain up to Somport.
Was warned about some of the path up to Somport but from there I followed the path. I would100% include the strech from Somport to CanfrancEstatión and on to Jaca. You might be tempted to take the bus through the tunnel to Canfranc instead of taking the path up the mountain, but if you do, don´t get off at Canfranc but take the bus up to Somport and walk down.
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