Feedback on the Norte: Late June - Aug

[Mugatu]

For those that have walked during these months, I’d love to hear your perspectives and experience on weather and crowd size. Seems like the majority of those who do the CN start well before this time of the year or just after it.

I’ve been referencing tutiempo.net on weather, and it seems last year was a wet one during these months.

I’ll be on trail by 28 Jun - Aug 7

 

[agu]

Last year I started on 04. of July from Irun. It was quite nice weather up to 19. of July. Only little bit rain two or three mornings. Then it started to rain and I had to give up my Norte in Santander due to my health problems.
I then walked French way from Burgos up to Santiago de Compostela without much problems and no rain.
So the rest of the Norte I don't know, was it wet or not.
This year I am giving the Norte another try in August. And I hope the weatherman will support me this time.

 

[Dave]

Hi Mugatu,

I've walked the Norte/Primitivo a few times in the range of that timeline, as that's when we have our school summer holidays and it's the easiest time to get a group of students on the road. We'll be back out there again this summer, starting from Irún on June 26.

Crowds are at their peak then and there can be a particular crunch in the first week through the Basque Country as there are a lot of people doing a short holiday. On the plus side, a number of summer-only albergues also open at that time, to help accommodate the masses. It's tight, but workable, especially if you avoid the major pinch-points.

It's hard to generalize from the past with great confidence on the weather front, but my experience has been that it's quite pleasant on the coast, often fairly cool in the morning, before heating up in the afternoon. It can get very warm in the afternoon, but the cooler evenings and mornings help to offset it. And besides, it's more fun to swim if it's hot.

Dave