Norte Mountain Route - Soto to Cadevedo

[mb4869]

Hi, Im currently on the CDN at Sam Martin de Laspa. Has anyone done the Mountain route recently between Soto de Luina and Cadavedo. Some guides say it’s impassable but others say it’s not? Would appreciate some recent experience.

Buen Camino

 

[Paul-CH]

Hi check this tread Mountain route from Soto de Luiña it may help you here is another one
Alert WARNING ️: Las Palancas on the Camino del Norte

 

[mb4869]

Thanks

 

[Mananath]

I did it last July and it was great except for a few terrifying encounters with guard dogs. If the weather is bad I would skip it, it's very exposed on top.

 

[Rosway]

Hi, Im currently on the CDN at Sam Martin de Laspa. Has anyone done the Mountain route recently between Soto de Luina and Cadavedo. Some guides say it’s impassable but others say it’s not? Would appreciate some recent experience.

Buen Camino

Hi I did on Sept7 last year and it was a bad experience. The paths were overgrown and almost impassable. I lost signal for awhile and missed a way marker. As the route was little used the steep decline was more challenging. I remember that when I got down to the road I crossed the road to take the official path into Cadavedo. That was also overgrown and difficult to walk on. I was sorry I didn't just stay on the road for the last few kms. I would not take that route again. Buen Camino

 

[barryfr]

I can't speak to the mountain route, but I did the coastal variation almost exactly a year ago. We walked close to the coast whenever possible and it included some of my favorite vistas of the whole trip.

 

[LTfit]

It's a great route if you don't mind some tough patches and walking it alone but I did it summer 2022 so the information is not current. The hospitalero at the municipal albergue tells everyone, every year, to take the coastal route. I personally would not take it if raining.

 

[mb4869]

Looks like rain again tomorrow so will probably take the coastal route. Thanks everyone for comments

 

[Miki Goldie]

Have just done the costal route, stayed on the road all the time, as advised by Pepe. He marked the costal way and I got into town at 6pm. Got a fantastic apartment further out of town for €25. Overall a great ending to a long day on the Norte. Two restaurants are the red casa and the camping ground . Miki Goldie

 

[Vacajoe]

Our hospitalera had video of the mountain route from last summer: very overgrown, missing signs, but a beautiful view. She said only to do it if it’s absolutely clear and you have gps. As for the costal route, it’s poorly maintained. If it’s raining or been raining, stay on the road.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Our hospitalera had video of the mountain route from last summer: very overgrown, missing signs, but a beautiful view. She said only to do it if it’s absolutely clear and you have gps. As for the costal route, it’s poorly maintained. If it’s raining or been raining, stay on the road.

I almost never opt for taking roads to avoid Camino trails. I took the coastal route on that stretch on a somewhat foggy day and it was an up and down slog through seemingly endless eucalyptus forests, with not many views of the sea. In hindsight, I would have preferred the road unless it was one with much traffic.

 

[tjz]

I almost never opt for taking roads to avoid Camino trails. I took the coastal route on that stretch on a somewhat foggy day and it was an up and down slog through seemingly endless eucalyptus forests, with not many views of the sea. In hindsight, I would have preferred the road unless it was one with much traffic.

We took the endless up and down through the eucalyptus forests in a pretty steady rain this March. There were a few shin deep streams to cross with all the water, and the muddy eucalyptus debris was out to trip you up the whole time. At the junction we stared wistfully at the sign for the mountain route, looked at the weather, and re-read the warnings on Gronze and decided Balotas was the better choice. We started in Cudillero (much recommended!) and it might have been our hardest day this trip. But Cadavedo was great, and dinner and bed that night sure was welcome!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

We also spent time in Cudillero and it was a highlight, and we also stayed in Cadavedo.
Your experience in lots of rain in the Eucalyptus forests sounds much like ours, but even worse.

 

[ohhiphoebe]

Question—this is my first camino and it looks like straight rain every day. Does it actually rain all day? I’m considering re-scheduling my trip if so. I don’t want to hike in rain only for weeks.

 

[Vacajoe]

I’ve been walking for two weeks from Bilbao. It’s rained probably 1/3 of those days. On the days it did rain, it lasted from minutes to hours. It’s weather - hard to predict what you are going to get.

 

[tjz]

Question—this is my first camino and it looks like straight rain every day. Does it actually rain all day? I’m considering re-scheduling my trip if so. I don’t want to hike in rain only for weeks.

There's no way to predict the future, but in my experience, it almost never rains all day. I personally would not and have not adjusted my plans because of predictions which may or may not be accurate.

More often than not the forecast shows some rain every day, and over the 10 or so weeks I've walked the Camino (Frances and Norte), if I had to guess it's something like:

• 60% of the days either no rain, or at most a slight drizzle for an hour or two. You might not even want to put on a rain jacket or poncho if it's warm enough.
• 20% of the days rain for an hour or two steady enough or cold enough we've put on rain gear
• 15% of the days rain for maybe half the day and we've put on rain gear for that half
• 5% of the days, it rained most of the day and we just mucked along and extra enjoyed a nice hot shower, a dry roof, and dinner afterwards

I think the longest stretch I can remember is 4 days in a row in those last 15% and 5% buckets combined.

As we walk in March, some of that rain above was sometimes snow. I actually love walking in snow, so these are usually magical bonus days!

Try not to be discouraged. With good attitude (and reasonable gear), I've found it's just a part of the journey and it adds to the depth of my experience and memories. Some of those memories may be "wow, I remember that day along the coast with the wind blowing rain right into my eyeballs and wasn't that something".

 

[mb4869]

Just seen all of these comments! The coastal route was beautiful. Wild flowers everywhere. Yes it’s ups and downs and a number of stream crossings but the eucalyptus forests are maginificent and the coastal views great. Make sure you visit the Playa del Silencio, it’s off route but well worth the visit. Those people that have commented they would rather take the pavement pounding are missing out on the most amazing Camino experiences