Busing out of Leon but to where?

[Dov of the Galilee]

I heard it mentioned that rather than walking through the industrial section of Leon it was possible to take a bus out of the city....but where to?

 

[trecile]

In my opinion, the walk isn't bad at all, but if you want to take the bus you can take it to Virgen del Camino.

 

[ELHS220]

Virgen del Camino

 

[Tincatinker]

Oh mate, don’t fall for that one. It’s just another of those Camino myths. Sure, Leon is a city. It’s got more bits than the pretty bits. Those bits are still Leon and they are still Camino.

It’s in the “industrial” bits that you’ll find the cafes that are open early in the day to serve the working populations, and the passing pilgrim.

You’ll even get to encounter the Hobbit Holes if you pay attention

 

[Telelama]

Yea, no. That's one of those "stories" that some tell, but walking out of Leon is not at all bad.

 

[henrythedog]

It’s Spain not Disneyland. More real people live and work in the slightly-less-beautiful parts than they do in all the ‘cascos antiguos’. You might as well just take a ‘highlights’ bus tour and not pretend.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I didn't mind the walk out of Leon at all. I didn't find it to be particularly industrial, but seemed more of what I call the "outskirts" of town with small businesses and bars that cater to locals, but aren't we pilgrims lucky to take advantage, too, on our way out.
I also was one who loved those cute "hobbit houses".

 

[trecile]

I didn't mind the walk out of Leon at all. I didn't find it to be particularly industrial, but seemed more of what I call the "outskirts" of town with small businesses and bars that cater to locals, but aren't we pilgrims lucky to take advantage, too, on our way out.

Exactly.

 

[CWBuff]

I didn't mind the walk out of Leon at all. I didn't find it to be particularly industrial, but seemed more of what I call the "outskirts" of town with small businesses and bars that cater to locals, but aren't we pilgrims lucky to take advantage, too, on our way out.
I also was one who loved those cute "hobbit houses".

Same here. Didn't see anything "horrible". Perhaps I was too busy scanning for yellow arrows

 

[C clearly]

I can't remember the reason (there must have been one), but once I did take the bus from Leon to Virgen del Camino.

However, I've walked it several times and didn't find it bad at all.

 

[bestfootforward]

Oh mate, don’t fall for that one. It’s just another of those Camino myths. Sure, Leon is a city. It’s got more bits than the pretty bits. Those bits are still Leon and they are still Camino.

It’s in the “industrial” bits that you’ll find the cafes that are open early in the day to serve the working populations, and the passing pilgrim.

You’ll even get to encounter the Hobbit Holes if you pay attention

So true. I rank that with the too often heard, "The Meseta's boring. Give it a miss". Those that do, don't know what they're missing

 

[VNwalking]

I really enjoyed the eary morning walk out of the old city into a less touristic and very real city full of real people - some just going to bed, some up at a cruelly early hour by Spanish standards.

If you take the bus or walk, either way, do go into the church in Virgen del Camino. A modern box on the outside, but with a beautiful atmosphere inside.

And if you prefer the less busy way, going via Mazarife is definitely more your cup of tea than the 'official' route near the highway.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Perhaps I was too busy scanning for yellow arrows

Really?

 

[Roland49]

I did bus into León from Mansilla de las Mulas with a group of Pilgrims.
The 10mins ride saved us the boring industrial outskirts of León and walking besides highways.

But we did the walk out of León and personally I did found it not as bad as many reporting.
Only the last part before Virgen del Camino you walk through an industrial complex for about 20-30mins, the other parts are residential areas.

 

[VNwalking]

boring

God forbid we should ever be bored.
I say this not as a personal dig at you, @Roland49, but as a general indictment of our culture - which has trained all of us to have the attention span of crickets. Me too, not infrequently. So the boring bits can be used to good effect, undoing a little of that conditioning.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The pavement resulted in Peg developing tendonitis. Well, she might have been okay if we stopped in Virgen when she first complained.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

The pavement resulted in Peg developing tendonitis. Well, she might have been okay if we stopped in Virgen when she first complained.

I thought that church was fascinating and there were bathrooms outside.

 

[Roland49]

God forbid we should ever be bored.
I say this not as a personal dig at you, @Roland49, but as a general indictment of our culture - which has trained all of us to have the attention span of crickets. Me too, not infrequently. So the boring bits can be used to good effect, undoing a little of that conditioning.

Good point.
We had to decide: walk further on at 37°C and middays sun or wait 30mins for the bus.
Only two out of a group of 8 pilgrims walked on towards León. Never met them again

 

[Patrick1970]

Just before Virgin del Camino was a very nice food / refreshments donativo

 

[mattythedog]

I heard it mentioned that rather than walking through the industrial section of Leon it was possible to take a bus out of the city....but where to?

After you cross over the river from Parador de San Marcos, it is an hour walk to Virgin. Just do it

 

[mattythedog]

After you cross over the river from Parador de San Marcos, it is an hour walk to Virgin. Just do it

Do it early in the morning and there is hardly any traffic

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Here it is, with bathrooms behind the church outdoors.

After you cross over the river from Parador de San Marcos, it is an hour walk to Virgin. Just do it

Here is the church Virgin del Camino. I appreciated the bathrooms outdoors.
EDIT- Actually the bathrooms were located in front, opposite the entry to go in to the church.

 

[VNwalking]

the bathrooms were located in front, opposite the entry to go in to the church.

I had no idea the toilets were there. Lucky, I suppose, not to have that as a priority that day.

We had to decide: walk further on at 37°C and middays sun or wait 30mins for the bus

That's another story, not boredom!

 

[Isabelpilgrim]

I didn't mind the walk out of Leon at all. I didn't find it to be particularly industrial, but seemed more of what I call the "outskirts" of town with small businesses and bars that cater to locals, but aren't we pilgrims lucky to take advantage, too, on our way out.
I also was one who loved those cute "hobbit houses".

Last time I walked that section it was my day of 7 breakfasts. I find the first part of that day better than the second part.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I had no idea the toilets were there. Lucky, I suppose, not to have that as a priority that day.

If I recall correctly, those bathrooms had steps downward, almost like a bunker, so I can see why you missed them.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

My son loved this local bar on the outskirts of town after leaving Leon. I think it was even in the morning on a Sunday.

 

[VNwalking]

If I recall correctly, those bathrooms had steps downward, almost like a bunker, so I can see why you missed them.

Also because I was making a beeline to the church doors, in the opposite direction.

 

[williamlittig]

I heard it mentioned that rather than walking through the industrial section of Leon it was possible to take a bus out of the city....but where to?

City bus to Virgin del Camino will get you clear of the commercial and light industry.

 

[Roland49]

Do it early in the morning and there is hardly any traffic

We walked under the full moon out of León.

Camino-0312.jpg

• Roland49
• Aug 17, 2019

Moon on the overpass:

Camino-0316.jpg

• Roland49
• Aug 17, 2019

 

[Anhalter]

I think taking the bus into and/or out of Leon may be one of the parts of the Camino i would consider if i was pressed for time and had to make up some. It is, in my opinion, not horrible, but not pretty either.
But as many have already pointed out, there are not only pretty things in life. I would even go as far as to say that without some "ugliness" you can't really appreciate the beauties out there. So since i thankfully was never that pressed for time i always walked and i am very fine with that. As a plus, you pass the "Babu Afrika" bar, which is a great stop for a coffee (which came with a generous free tortilla and a bit of orange juice as well).

 

[RRat]

Oh mate, don’t fall for that one. It’s just another of those Camino myths. Sure, Leon is a city. It’s got more bits than the pretty bits. Those bits are still Leon and they are still Camino.

It’s in the “industrial” bits that you’ll find the cafes that are open early in the day to serve the working populations, and the passing pilgrim.

You’ll even get to encounter the Hobbit Holes if you pay attention

I remember the Hobit Holes. I forgot, what are they?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I remember the Hobit Holes. I forgot, what are they?

Bodegas, wine cellars.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

As a plus, you pass the "Babu Afrika" bar, which is a great stop for a coffee (which came with a generous free tortilla and a bit of orange juice as well).

Agreed!

 

[AidaYYC]

So true. I rank that with the too often heard, "The Meseta's boring. Give it a miss". Those that do, don't know what they're missing

Exactly, if I had a dollar for every person who told me that one ... yet, it was the best experience of the Camino. Bottom line is, you have to do it ... warts and all as it is part of the experience. Buen Camino

 

[henrythedog]

Exactly, if I had a dollar for every person who told me that one ... yet, it was the best experience of the Camino. Bottom line is, you have to do it ... warts and all as it is part of the experience. Buen Camino

Perfect. You get from A to B by passing through - well …

Let me start that again

You get from A to Z by passing through B to Y. If you’ve any notion of being a ‘pilgrim’ that’s what you do.

It doesn’t matter if A is your home, parish church, an entirely arbitrary but somehow mandatory start point or 100km from Santiago; the point is you pass through what’s in front of you and hopefully you appreciate it.

I lived for the last 12 years in as close to total isolation as England offers, and if I see another picturesque landscape with an attractive flock of sheep I’ll scream. Give me a nice tyre-repair depot, industrial-estate cafe or welding-shop anytime. It’s all real life and it’s the reality of where you have chosen to be.

Clearly those incapable of walking by reason of disability - as opposed to fitness and lifestyle choice - are, in my opinion, excepted.

 

[unadara]

I wasn't going to comment here but! I got very ill my first Camino (2011) and the Hospitalero made me take a Bus into Leon, (skipped Mansilla)
I was very lucky to meet up there with Judy (long story) but we did Taxi to Virgen del camino to resume our caminos (2 days later)
Now this year we (Judy and I) walked the San Salvador out of Leon and I loved every step of every stage. It's not a Big city and it's a blessing to be able to walk out of it on the Camino, no matter where you are going. We are privileged to be able to walk and I am going back to walk more. And walk into Mansilla from the Vadiniese.

 

[Thornley]

I can't remember the reason (there must have been one), but once I did take the bus from Leon to Virgen del Camino.

However, I've walked it several times and didn't find it bad at all.

We were advised many years ago to get bus number 1 which was beside the pension where we were staying .
The city was undergoing extensive roadworks , all on the path out.
Those that elected to walk were not too happy in Mazarife as many got lost .

 

[trecile]

We were advised many years ago to get bus number 1 which was beside where we were staying .
The city was undergoing extensive roadworks .
Those that elected to walk were not too happy in Mazarife as many got lost .

Fortunately, that's not the situation any more.

 

[VeganCamino]

I heard it mentioned that rather than walking through the industrial section of Leon it was possible to take a bus out of the city....but where to?

I bused to the vegan yoga albergue in Hospital and I'm glad I did. The walk is ugly and you don't have to do it if you don't want to.

 

[Tincatinker]

I bused to the vegan yoga albergue in Hospital and I'm glad I did. The walk is ugly and you don't have to do it if you don't want to.

I agree. The walk is ugly. It’s probably better to stay at home but, if you must clutter up northern Spain it’s probably best that you do it by bus. No urban bits, no tedious rural bits, no mud, gravel or anything else that might spoil your trainers and you get to arrive at your destination refreshed and ready for some exercise