Which Camino to take

[Nicole Beaudoin]

I am planning to walk at the beginning of May 2017.

Can someone please tell me which of the caminos is the most natural. As much as possible we want to walk along dirt trails, not on paved roads, not near road traffic. We don't mind higher altitudes or greater challenges than the less demanding routes.

Thank you for your guidance.

 

[JohnMcM]

I am planning to walk at the beginning of May 2017.

Can someone please tell me which of the caminos is the most natural. As much as possible we want to walk along dirt trails, not on paved roads, not near road traffic. We don't mind higher altitudes or greater challenges than the less demanding routes.

Thank you for your guidance.

I can only speak as a 'novice Caminoist' from the point of view of number of routes walked.

Have a look at the Camino Primitivo Nicole. It may be what you are looking for.

Buen Camino

 

[Anniesantiago]

Hi Nicole.
Consider flying into Madrid and walking directly from there.
It's about two weeks to get up to Sahagun, where you can then decide to join the Camino Frances or jump down to Zamora and walk the Ourense route to Santiago.

 

[jsalt]

I am planning to walk at the beginning of May 2017.

Can someone please tell me which of the caminos is the most natural. As much as possible we want to walk along dirt trails, not on paved roads, not near road traffic. We don't mind higher altitudes or greater challenges than the less demanding routes.

Thank you for your guidance.

Hi Nicole
You might like Le Chemin du Puy in France. That follows the GR65, which is more of a hiking trail going up and down and roundabout, rather than being a direct route from A to B. Spectacular scenery and lovely trails. Jill

 

[AML]

Leon to Oviedo - Camino de San Salvador followed by Primitivo to Santiago. San Salvador is very mountainous and quite challenging but short, most beautiful!

 

[BeatriceKarjalainen]

Leon to Oviedo - Camino de San Salvador followed by Primitivo to Santiago. San Salvador is very mountainous and quite challenging but short, most beautiful!

I agree. The loveliest walk of the caminos I have done. I showed my photos from there to a pilgrim in Santiago today and I think he is going to go there right now.

 

[OzAnnie]

I agree. The loveliest walk of the caminos I have done. I showed my photos from there to a pilgrim in Santiago today and I think he is going to go there right now.

And another vote from me. I felt your wish list described these two routes (El Salvador to Oviedo, followed by Primitivo ).
Buen Camino.

 

[Draganban]

Hello. This news is heaven sent - I have been struggling with finding the right path for my camino in September and a combination of the Frances, del Salvador and Primitivo caminos may be the answer. I can start from SJPP and do as much of the Frances as I can, busing to Leon when necessary to join the del Salvador camino and continuing on the Primitivo. Looking at Gronze.com it seem the del Salvador (Leon - Oviedo) takes about 5 days and the Primitivo seems to take around 11/12 days - is this right from you experience ?

 

[AML]

Hello. This news is heaven sent - I have been struggling with finding the right path for my camino in September and a combination of the Frances, del Salvador and Primitivo caminos may be the answer. I can start from SJPP and do as much of the Frances as I can, busing to Leon when necessary to join the del Salvador camino and continuing on the Primitivo. Looking at Gronze.com it seem the del Salvador (Leon - Oviedo) takes about 5 days and the Primitivo seems to take around 11/12 days - is this right from you experience ?

Hi Draganban, yeah it took me 5 days on Del Salvador and 12 on Primitivo, average daily distances around 25km. Good idea to combine these caminos!
Buen Camino

 

[HeidiL]

Camino de Madrid is 95 % footpaths, according to our downloaded guide - lots of sandy forests and green fields.