Which one to walk in mid October- mid November ?

[Damien Reynolds]

So I have a bit of experience walking the Camino. I've stuck to the major routes mainly, mostly in April / May and September / October. This next time will be Oct 13 or so through Nov. 12, 2022.

I am struggling figuring out which route to take.

I love exercise and a Camino "community".

My first guess is the Frances (again) from SJPdP. I am familiar with the route and I know what to expect that time of year.

My next thought is Norte (again), it's my favorite. I love the northern coast.

The one major I have never done is the Portuguese.

Any thoughts as to where I should head this next time? Thinking about weather and being surrounded by friends.

 

[Tincatinker]

Walk "Pilgrim City"; the Frances. Everywhere else is just hard work. And, hey, they need your business...

 

[roving_rufus]

The CP would work with at least a small trickle of pilgrims all year round, though some accommodation may close for season but that's similar to CF in the off season. (I did Porto to SdeC in January and crossed paths with at least a few before Tui and probably 10-20 in last 100km and in autumn the numbers would be higher)
How about heading south to Via de la Plata as another option with probably better weather?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I would not recommend the Camino Catalan to you. I walked it and the Camino Aragonese mid-October to mid-November. It is nearly pilgrim free.

If you do decide on the CF do consider starting it on the Aragonese; It joins the CF near Puente de Reina. In November I walked most of it with the company of the same two pilgrims each night. In October there may be more company and, if not, it is short enough to be able to put up with fewer people than you want.

Don't miss the old monastery of San Juan de la Peña a bit off the Aragonese.

 

[Larry OHeron]

Via de La Plata from Seville. You'll still find Pilgrims but it won't be a crowd.

 

[Buz Radican]

I have walked the CF mid Oct - mid Nov twice. First 2016 and most recently this past year. I found it a good time to walk but with a few challenges regarding services. No regrets.

 

[kiwicat]

I have walked the CF mid Oct - mid Nov twice. First 2016 and most recently this past year. I found it a good time to walk but with a few challenges regarding services. No regrets.

Buz, challenges meaning accomodation, or ?

 

[Robi Diaz De Vivar]

So I have a bit of experience walking the Camino. I've stuck to the major routes mainly, mostly in April / May and September / October. This next time will be Oct 13 or so through Nov. 12, 2022.

I am struggling figuring out which route to take.

I love exercise and a Camino "community".

My first guess is the Frances (again) from SJPdP. I am familiar with the route and I know what to expect that time of year.

My next thought is Norte (again), it's my favorite. I love the northern coast.

The one major I have never done is the Portuguese.

Any thoughts as to where I should head this next time? Thinking about weather and being surrounded by friends.

Hi there. It is a great time of year to walk the Via de La Plata from Sevilla as long as you bring your wet weather gear. The temperatures are very comfortable although it is usually a wet time of year. However the last couple of years have seen even these dates to be practically totally dry. The Portugues (coastal) is lovely I believe - I have only done Tuy to Santiago and I loved that - we did it at the end of September and the weather was lovely throughout - your later dates are going to guarantee a lot of rain. Buen Camino.

 

[kiwicat]

So I have a bit of experience walking the Camino. I've stuck to the major routes mainly, mostly in April / May and September / October. This next time will be Oct 13 or so through Nov. 12, 2022.

I am struggling figuring out which route to take.

I love exercise and a Camino "community".

My first guess is the Frances (again) from SJPdP. I am familiar with the route and I know what to expect that time of year.

My next thought is Norte (again), it's my favorite. I love the northern coast.

The one major I have never done is the Portuguese.

Any thoughts as to where I should head this next time? Thinking about weather and being surrounded by friends.

Walked the Portuguese via littoral route from Porto starting October 20, 2018 and it was HOT HOT HOT all the way! Accommodation easy to find.

 

[lt56ny]

I would not recommend the Camino Catalan to you. I walked it and the Camino Aragonese mid-October to mid-November. It is nearly pilgrim free.

If you do decide on the CF do consider starting it on the Aragonese; It joins the CF near Puente de Reina. In November I walked most of it with the company of the same two pilgrims each night. In October there may be more company and, if not, it is short enough to be able to put up with fewer people than you want.

Don't miss the old monastery of San Juan de la Peña a bit off the Aragonese.

You will see me in Somport on October 21st, heading down to Canfranc and hopefully with two dear pilgrim friends I met in 2019 from Australia! When I or (we) get to Logrono I (we) will decide whether to continue, head down to do the Madrid or maybe even go to Lisbon to walk the Portugues. Who knows??? The camino will tell us.

 

[frithles]

Planning on doing my first Camino this October, and I think It’ll be the Frances.

 

[lt56ny]

Walked the Portuguese via littoral route from Porto starting October 20, 2018 and it was HOT HOT HOT all the way! Accommodation easy to find.

Buz, challenges meaning accomodation, or ?

You can never tell about weather can you especially these days. Last year I started out about October 20th from Sevilla and it was hot hot HOT for the first week or so. In 2013 when I was on Meseta a little earlier in October it was over 90F every day with the sun just beating me to death. Two years later I was on the Meseta at the same time almost to the day and it was 40-50F with 20-35 mph winds much of every day and a driving rain in my face that continued about the whole time I was on the Meseta. Who knowwwws what tomorrow will bring. One of the very few advantages of getting old is you have the ability to walk a camino when you want and avoid the brutal summers which appear to only be getting worse as each year passes.

 

[Keith H]

I’m looking at walking around this same time so I’ll be keeping an eye on this thread.

 

[aliciag56]

i'm starting CF 10/20 in SJPP, have 25 days, hope to make it to Cruz de Ferro. Third camino this time of year. Works great for me!

 

[kiwicat]

i'm starting CF 10/20 in SJPP, have 25 days, hope to make it to Cruz de Ferro. Third camino this time of year. Works great for me!

Perfect time to walk!!!

 

[Carol PM]

Walk "Pilgrim City"; the Frances. Everywhere else is just hard work. And, hey, they need your business...

"Pilgrim City", the Frances? Is this the French way or something else? I have not heard this term before.

 

[Fr Scott]

So I have a bit of experience walking the Camino. I've stuck to the major routes mainly, mostly in April / May and September / October. This next time will be Oct 13 or so through Nov. 12, 2022.

I am struggling figuring out which route to take.

I love exercise and a Camino "community".

My first guess is the Frances (again) from SJPdP. I am familiar with the route and I know what to expect that time of year.

My next thought is Norte (again), it's my favorite. I love the northern coast.

The one major I have never done is the Portuguese.

Any thoughts as to where I should head this next time? Thinking about weather and being surrounded by friends.

With the amount of time you have, I would suggest the Portugues route from Lisbon, 660 km. You could also take the Fatima detour to make it a bit longer if you wanted.

 

[Levi]

I'm having similar thoughts for October/November: Frances, which I will always love and (almost) ' know like the back of my hand'. Or the Norte, which I've never walked 'properly', although I have travelled along the North of Spain with some short walks on the Norte.

I've walked the Via - wonderful but a major undertaking. And I've walked the Portuguese from Lisbon. Which was my least favourite camino and I've no desire to repeat the experience.

I guess I'll make a decision over the next few weeks....

 

[Tincatinker]

"Pilgrim City", the Frances? Is this the French way or something else? I have not heard this term before.

Maybe just the Tinker being cantankerous but, yes, the Camino Frances. That wonderful 1km wide, 800km long linear city with its 250,000 population all moving in the same direction…
And like London or New York it never sleeps - not with all the snoring

 

[kiwicat]

I'm having similar thoughts for October/November: Frances, which I will always love and (almost) ' know like the back of my hand'. Or the Norte, which I've never walked 'properly', although I have travelled along the North of Spain with some short walks on the Norte.

I've walked the Via - wonderful but a major undertaking. And I've walked the Portuguese from Lisbon. Which was my least favourite camino and I've no desire to repeat the experience.

I guess I'll make a decision over the next few weeks....

I find myself interested in something that is somewhat familiar like the CF, like the CF, yet again (!) at a time when everything else in life seems uncertain!

 

[Rita Flower]

I will be on Via del la Plata starting Sevilla from late September walking slowing. You will probably catch me up if you choose this route.
Portuguese is more expensive for a solo pilgrim. Lovely in its own way.

 

[Buz Radican]

Buz, challenges meaning accomodation, or ?

I booked ahead for the most part. Only one private Albert Gay that I booked was closed when I got there. So I had to go another six or 7 km. Sometimes finding places to eat at night was a little more difficult than the two times I went during May June. A little of this a little of that. Nothing major.

I find myself interested in something that is somewhat familiar like the CF, like the CF, yet again (!) at a time when everything else in life seems uncertain!

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Ronald Boivin]

So I have a bit of experience walking the Camino. I've stuck to the major routes mainly, mostly in April / May and September / October. This next time will be Oct 13 or so through Nov. 12, 2022.

I am struggling figuring out which route to take.

I love exercise and a Camino "community".

My first guess is the Frances (again) from SJPdP. I am familiar with the route and I know what to expect that time of year.

My next thought is Norte (again), it's my favorite. I love the northern coast.

The one major I have never done is the Portuguese.

Any thoughts as to where I should head this next time? Thinking about weather and being surrounded by friends.

I’m going to be on the Via de la Plata then the Sanabrese by October /Nov. The weather should be cooler. Perhaps you can consider these routes

 

[murraydv]

So I have a bit of experience walking the Camino. I've stuck to the major routes mainly, mostly in April / May and September / October. This next time will be Oct 13 or so through Nov. 12, 2022.

I am struggling figuring out which route to take.

I love exercise and a Camino "community".

My first guess is the Frances (again) from SJPdP. I am familiar with the route and I know what to expect that time of year.

My next thought is Norte (again), it's my favorite. I love the northern coast.

The one major I have never done is the Portuguese.

Any thoughts as to where I should head this next time? Thinking about weather and being surrounded by friends.

Hi Damien
You clearly want some activity and company along the way. I have just completed the Portuguese (from Porto) and the Ingles after that,10 days and 5 days respectively. I see that you are travelling for a month. While the Portuguese is fantastic and busy, it's not going to fill your month, unless you start from Lisbon or beyond. I can't comment on the Lisbon - Porto section. The Sanabres is also an option, but at 368 klm, it would likely not fill your month either. You could also look at two Caminos back to back. But it seems that the Frances is calling you again. So, Buen Camino, whatever choice you make. Dave

 

[Vagabonder]

We’re starting from Porto mid-October and hoping for nice weather. I don’t mind the rain as much as I do the heat. Also thinking it won’t be too crowded then.

 

[James X]

I was just about to start a similar thread....

I’ve done 4 Portuguese loved them…
I “need” to do another Camino (10 to 14 days) but I can’t do one till late October/ Early November.

I was planning to do The Primitivo (which looks so beautiful) but I’ve had a busy but physically lazy summer and just don’t feel I’m fit enough and believe the weather will be inclement.

To continue my love of The Portuguese: I'm veering towards a section of The Torres to see Braga and Guimarães and head onwards to PDL and then take in the Spiritual Variant (which I have never done) but have not finally made up my mind...

Just wondering would anybody have any additional recommendation for this time of year ?

Something where there would be a chance of decent enough weather but still reasonably busy.
I do not have to finish in SDC
(I don’t want to do something too solitary and the Sarria to SDC option does not appeal to me.)

 

[Ferga]

I'm having similar thoughts for October/November: Frances, which I will always love and (almost) ' know like the back of my hand'. Or the Norte, which I've never walked 'properly', although I have travelled along the North of Spain with some short walks on the Norte.

I've walked the Via - wonderful but a major undertaking. And I've walked the Portuguese from Lisbon. Which was my least favourite camino and I've no desire to repeat the experience.

I guess I'll make a decision over the next few weeks....

Hello Levi, please could you say why the Portuguese was your least favourite (as it is on my list..)? the littoral or the central ? thanks

 

[Levi]

Hi Ferga - I walked the Portuguese from Lisbon and I was referring to the stretch from Lisbon to Porto. It's six years ago but I found (for me) too much road walking and to me it felt less like a pilgrimage than a hard slog. However, I know others love this route so it's just my own opinion.

 

[Damien Reynolds]

Hi Ferga - I walked the Portuguese from Lisbon and I was referring to the stretch from Lisbon to Porto. It's six years ago but I found (for me) too much road walking and to me it felt less like a pilgrimage than a hard slog. However, I know others love this route so it's just my own opinion.

So like last year (2022) that section was definitely along the lines of a slog, though that is a tough word, but it was let's say, different. Having just walked the Frances (I ended up doing the Frances mid oct - mid nov., and then decided to extend the trip for a few weeks to walk in Portugal...) I didn't mind its more solitary nature, I actually looked forward to it.

@Ferga, This year I also walked the "standard" Portuguese coastal (the 10-12 day one) out of Porto and that one definitely needs to be on your list if you enjoy beaches and beach / fishing towns. The Camino feeling for me was less apparent... though that may have just been a state of mind thing.

 

[Ferga]

Thanks for these responses. I had been told that The Littoral was boardwalks, touristy; and in contrast the Central was more quiet and rural. So the latter sounds more my cup of tea. (After the Via de la Plata! though!)