Diverting to Norte

[DowtyCamino]

We are in the planning stages for our May/June17 Camino. We will likely be starting in SJPdP on the Frances. However I'm interested in possibly leaving the Frances along the way and walking some/all of the Norte.

1) What's the closest to Santiago along the Norte that you can begin and receive your Compostella?
2) My primary interest is to walk along coastal portions of the Norte (or any other route for that matter). What would be a good transition point? (from where - to where)

Mark

 

[Castilian]

What's the closest to Santiago along the Norte that you can begin and receive your Compostella?

I think that Baamonde but wait for confirmation for someone with first-hand experience.

My primary interest is to walk along coastal portions of the Norte (or any other route for that matter). What would be a good transition point? (from where - to where)

It depends on how much you want to walk on the Francés and how you want to change (if walking or taking public transport). You can easily change from Pamplona to San Sebastián (or even to Irún if you want to walk all the Norte) or to Bilbao. From Logroño and Burgos you can easily change to San Sebastián and Bilbao as well as to Santander. From Frómista you could go to Santander easily too. From León you could walk the Camino del Salvador to Oviedo and once in Oviedo walk to Avilés to pick the Norte there... Or you could take a bus or train from León all the way to Gijón and continue on the Norte from Gijón onwards.

 

[DowtyCamino]

I think that Baamonde but wait for confirmation for someone with first-hand experience.



It depends on how much you want to walk on the Francés and how you want to change (if walking or taking public transport). You can easily change from Pamplona to San Sebastián (or even to Irún if you want to walk all the Norte) or to Bilbao. From Logroño and Burgos you can easily change to San Sebastián and Bilbao as well as to Santander. From Frómista you could go to Santander easily too. From León you could walk the Camino del Salvador to Oviedo and once in Oviedo walk to Avilés to pick the Norte there... Or you could take a bus or train from León all the way to Gijón and continue on the Norte from Gijón onwards.

I think that Baamonde but wait for confirmation for someone with first-hand experience.

Thank you for the fast reply. I know there are many ways to go, but I was looking for personal insight or recommendation. The question is from my sister who will be joining us for her first Camino. She has a desire to walk a portion of her Camino near the sea. We can switch off the Frances and onto Norte, but I know not all the Norte is by the sea and, like the Frances, not all of it is beautiful.

I thought switching to the Norte "for a few days" and then back to the Frances might be to disruptive - but having never done that I'm not sure - so I was recommending we search for a place to switch from the Frances early enough to have time by the sea, but not so late to miss getting a Compostella and just complete the Camino on the Frances.

There is so much I want to see again on the Frances, but also would like to experience something new.

Love to hear from folks about their advice.

It depends on how much you want to walk on the Francés and how you want to change (if walking or taking public transport). You can easily change from Pamplona to San Sebastián (or even to Irún if you want to walk all the Norte) or to Bilbao. From Logroño and Burgos you can easily change to San Sebastián and Bilbao as well as to Santander. From Frómista you could go to Santander easily too. From León you could walk the Camino del Salvador to Oviedo and once in Oviedo walk to Avilés to pick the Norte there... Or you could take a bus or train from León all the way to Gijón and continue on the Norte from Gijón onwards.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

If it's the coast of the Norte that interests you, you may want to pass on the last 100 km of the Norte as they are inland.

Visit the Eroski site, it lists the "main" etapas with distances, and you can work them back and see where that is on the map.

http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/mobile/los-caminos-de-santiago/del-norte/

https://www.google.ca/search?q=camino+del+norte+map&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#imgrc=-h8npKC-FyxrKM:

Hope this helps a bit.

Perhaps you would consider starting in the Norte, going back to the Frances when you get to Santander for example, jump on a bus to Burgos and pick up the Frances there. The first 7-1o days of the Norte are beautiful.

 

[Castilian]

An option you might consider is to get off the Norte in S. Vicente de la Barquera, walk the Camino Lebaniego to the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana (next year is a Holy year there) and continuing on the Camino Vadiniense all the way to the Francés (you would join the Francés in Mansilla de las Mulas).

 

[DowtyCamino]

Thanks All