Which camino for 2/3 weeks in May?

[BelsizePark]

I'm thinking of walking the camino for the first time this May.

I have 2/3 weeks (I can't get any more holiday from work) and was wondering what route would be best for this time of year and time period.

* I will probably be walking alone but would like to meet some other English speakers along the way (I did Spanish at school but am quite rusty). But not so busy that it's hard to find beds (or occasional peace and quiet).
* I'd like to do something that feels like a complete route in its own right, rather than the last few stages of a longer route (or one broken up by public transport).
* I'd like a route with beautiful scenery and interesting towns/buildings along the way (including religious buildings like monasteries and churches/cathedrals - the religious aspect of the pilgrimage is quite important).

Does anyone have any recommendations? I have thought about Salvador/Primitivo and the Portugues, or doing a stretch of the coastal route. Or maybe the first part of the Frances (although it would be nice to end up in Santiago I wouldn't mind ending in another city along the way, and finishing the camino another year).

Thank you,

Andrea

 

[CaptBuddy]

My wife and I did Sarria to Santiago last year. Also with a time constarint, it was what we could do and end up in Santiago.

If I had more time (2 or 3 weeks), I'd start in Leon or Astorga on the Camino Frances, and walk to Santiago, then to Muxía. That will probably be our next Camino.

Leon is a modern-esque city that is easy to reach, has everything you need, and the cathederal would be an amazing place to start from.

In the end, it is your Camino, and you'll have an amazing experience no matter what way you choose.

Buen Camino

 

[BelsizePark]

Thank you very much - starting in Leon (or even a bit further back if I have more time) sounds great.

Andrea

 

[sillydoll]

Oooh! Choices, choices!!

± 2 weeks

Via de la Plata: From Salamanca to Santiago 319km
Camino Norte: From Gijon to Santiago 350km
Camino Primitivo: Oviedo to Santiago 369km

Camino Ingles & Fistera/Muxia: 240km

Lourdes to Somport (130km ) and Somport to Pamplona (180km) 310km

 

[peregrino_tom]

Andrea
'BelsizePark' suggests you might be in London, so you could always go to the CSJ's Practical Pilgrim day in Blackfriars on the 23 Feb and discuss ideas with loads of other pilgrims in the planning stage. But my vote'd be for the Primitivo and then on to Finisterre.

Sil - you say 250k from Gijon to Santiago. That doesn't look right to me as Gijon is 25k 'behind' Oviedo.
I'd reckon it's at least 350k on the Norte?

 

[sillydoll]

Ooops! Typo.

It should be 350km - but it doesn't go through Oviedo. It continues on the Coastal route which joins the Camino at Arzua. There are aa couple of variants on the route from Gijon. One is about 278km and the other around 350km.

A really good website to check these variants is http://www.jacobeo.net/. They give a stage by stage description of each. http://www.jacobeo.net/

 

[Deleted member 3000]

starting in Leon (or even a bit further back if I have more time) sounds great.

Andrea

Leon to Santiago is a good choice. I have found it a comfortable 15-day walk, but it can be shortened by a day fairly easily. Add some time for staying in Leon and Santiago, and three weeks can fly by! If you walk faster than you originally think you can, you can use the extra time in Santiago to walk to Muxia or Fisterra.

Buen camino!