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I walked it in May this year and was surprised to get to the Albergue in Villavieja & it was almost full, mainly Spaniards & a Dutch couple. When you start with very low numbers percentages don't mean much, there will have to be consistency over many years & the major problem is the lack of facilities. It certainly ticks all the other boxes with magnificent scenery but to get large numbers from the Camino Frances to walk a further 56 kms from Ponferrada is particularly hard.
I am surprised to hear you say that. Did you have problems finding a place to stay? I’ve never had a problem, and even have been able to mix the stages up a bit with the new albergues open along the route.
No there's no problem in the set stages, the problem lies in the in between with villages that have fewer than 50 inhabitants with no facilities. As an off track hiker in Australia I personally loved the solitude and the longer stages but the Invierno is made for the more devoted peregrino, so numbers will increase but the mainstream will find it too difficult.
May it be so. A modest increase wouldn't be detrimental, but please, God, not the hoardes.
And perhaps that's a good thing, I still have fond memories of the Lebaniego & the Vadiniense but I notice that the equally impressive Primitivo is drawing large numbers
I walked in September/october. Started with 6 others in Villavieja and added ten more by A Rua then another one in Vilarino and again in Chantada. And yet plenty of solitude time!
I agree entirely the Camino Invierno is one of the best of the 14 Caminos I have done. My comment was that the yearly numbers are tiny & an increase of even 100% would have to be repeated over a long period of time. The mention of a lack of facilities puts a lot of potential future pilgrims in doubt to only those that are driven by the Camino spirit rather than what's popularI didn't have any problems with a lack of facilities last year.......
But ... as I struggle to walk distances above 25 kms day after day, I did some quite extensive research on the stages, accommodation etc. That probbaly helped.
Also having just come off the VdlP I was used to not finding food or water during the day. Not that that is really a big problem on the Invierno. But I was carrying a day's water most of the time + a snack meal.
I suppose it's what we are comparing the Invierno with? Which is very important for those trying it for the first time or who are used to routes like the Frances with so many facilities along the way.
I would suggest that there are 'enough' facilities, if you plan ahead a bit. That can be as simple as looking at google maps for open bars/cafes.
But for those who might switch to the Invierno from the Frances, as an alternative ending. Expect it to be 'very' different. Very. Don't expect second breakfasts, or coffee along the way, or a wide choice in accomodation. But when you do find them it's a nice bonus.
Interesting to hear that Villavieja was almost full.
I was all alone there last year.
A night in a beautiful mountain top Albergue, with a thunderstorm outside.
I had the window next to my bed wide open to watch it all.
A cherished Camino memory.
One of my best Camino days so far I reckon.
It's the luck of the draw with Villavieja, below my bunk was a photographer that had spent a whole week in the Albergue and he returned very late to see the Albergue full & he said that in the whole week only one person had stayed in the Albergue.The Invierno is a magnificent Camino so is the Lebaniego, Vadiniense, San Salvador but few people do these Caminos one of the main reasons is that it's popular with people who don't mind not having a second breakfast or a coffee every couple of kms but unfortunately most people want those comforts.I didn't have any problems with a lack of facilities last year.......
But... as I struggle to walk distances above 25 kms day after day, I did some quite extensive research on the stages, accommodation etc. That probably helped.
Also having just come off the VdlP I was used to not finding food or water during the day. Not that is really a big problem on the CaminoInvierno. But I was carrying a day's water most of the time + a snack meal.
I suppose it's what we are comparing the CaminoInvierno with? Which is very important for those trying it for the first time or who are used to routes like the Frances with so many facilities along the way.
I would suggest that there are 'enough' facilities, if you plan ahead a bit. That can be as simple as looking at google maps for open bars/cafes.
But for those who might switch to the CaminoInvierno from the Frances, as an alternative ending. Expect it to be 'very' different. Very. Don't expect second breakfasts, or coffee along the way, or a wide choice in accommodation. But when you do find them it's a nice bonus.
Interesting to hear that Villavieja was almost full.
I was all alone there last year.
A night in a beautiful mountain top Hostel, with a thunderstorm outside.
I had the window next to my bed wide open to watch it all.
A cherished Camino memory.
One of my best Camino days so far I reckon.
Edited. It keeps translating/converting CaminoInvierno to Winter
For many people connecting to other pilgrims IS the spirit of the Camino.
It does seem to be mainly Spanish pilgrims. Of the 10 or so I came across all were Spanish except one Brazilian and one from the Netherlands.
I
