All the gear but no idea

[Tonylash]

Hi to all on this forum , i have been reading threads for about 6 months now without really getting involved , well now is the time . Myself & a friend (both newbies to caminos) are planning on walking something between the 13th March & 27th March . We will be travelling from the North of England , nearest airports Liverpool /Manchester a 2hr drive or a 6 hr drive to Stansted . We are both used to mountain walking as we have walked in the Lake district for many years , although not so fit at the moment we still have 6 weeks to get in shape . If we assume 3 of the 15 days are spent travelling to & from , what do you suggest we walk with the remaining 12 days . I do not want end up in Santiago on this trip & so we would be walking a section , i did think of starting in SJPDP or Madrid .( I am trying to learn some basic Spanish ) We have all the equipment needed for this trip & just need your valuable advice , thanks for reading & looking forward to your replies , regards Tony

 

[Kitsambler]

...12 days . I do not want end up in Santiago on this trip ...

If you are just beginning to walk Camino sections, I suggest starting at one of the traditional beginning points: SJPP or Le Puy. Given the early spring weather, SJPP probably wins for your timeframe. Take your time, savor the difference between pilgrimage and hill-walking, see how far you get, and then pickup there next time.

 

[Tia Valeria]

If there is a flight to Santander then you could walk part of the Norte. The return to Santander could be by bus or the (slow, twice daily) FEVE train which touches the Camino along the Norte in may places.

 

[followyourdreams]

You could walk from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Logrono. Take a rest day in Pamplona and extra night in Logrono. Please let me advise you that March is only starting the season and some places are not open yet and also there could be some snow around.

 

[Tincatinker]

Fly to Oviedo, walk the Primitivo, fly back from Santiago.
Fly to Madrid, walk the Madrid, get a bus back to Madrid.
Fly to Bordeaux, walk the.....
Oh @Tonylash have you got some choices to make.

Still, you've found the right place to do some serious research and ask any question you come to. No-one has pointed you here yet: https://www.gronze.com/#todos And even the blessed Gronze and its todos los caminos (all the caminos) misses out quite a few possibilities.

Got a fortnight? I'd probably walk the Ingles and out to Fisterra, but thats my kink. You probably could do the Primitivo in your time span. Or, you could start wherever you can get a reasonable flight to and come back and do some more once the addiction hits. Hey, thats my best suggestion: find out where you can get to from your nearest airport, go there and start walking

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

On the Camino Frances the meseta, Burgos to Astorga, is about 10 days and you might be able to do it faster to give you tourist stopovers in Burgos, Leon and Astorga. I'm not sure what you will get for weather but it won't be as hot as summer when many don't care for the heat. Well, many don't care for this section anyway but then probably as many love it.

 

[HedaP]

Welcome to the forum. For that time of year my suggestion would be the Frances starting at Roncesvalles or Pamplona and walking to wherever you get. Best of luck in choosing. They will all be beautiful in one way or another.
Buen camino, peregrinos.

 

[HedaP]

I’ve just remembered Easter is early this year. Semana Santa (25 March - 1 April) will have begun by the end of your walk. If planning to finish in a large centre such as León it might be wise to book that night’s accommodation in advance. Hope you get to enjoy a parade and other Easter celebrations.

 

[Tonylash]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far , plenty of food for thought

 

[Kitsambler]

plenty of food for thought

Here's the thing: there are no wrong answers here. You will be bitten by the bug. There are plenty of years and other choices in the years ahead of you.

 

[Tonylash]

Thanks Kitsambler , i had not thought of it that way .

 

[David Manzo]

You might also want to consider the Camino Portugese - leave from Porto, Portugal and 10 days of walking later you're in Santiago.

 

[wisepilgrim]

Adding this here in case it helps you to visualize the connections.

 

[Tonylash]

Thank you wisepilgrim

 

[Ellen the Pesto]

Speaking as an Americana, it's my opinion that the Camino starts at your own front door.

 

[henrythedog]

The Ingles and the Finisterre/Muxia circuit is good, as referenced above. Also worth looking at the ‘easy’ train connections to and from Madrid as convenient start and end points: Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos and Leon as well as Santiago.

 

[trecile]

The OP of this thread was in 2018, and it appears that @Tonylash walked the Camino de Madrid that year.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-de-madrid-march-2018.51777/#post-600023

 

[Marbe2]

If you decide on starting from SJPdP be advised that the Napolean route will not be open in March. You would then take the Valcarlos route.