Getting to Oviedo with a combination of walking and transport

[peregrina2000]

I am going to take a break during my summer camino for a happy occasion in Oviedo on Wednesday, June 15. I'm trying to figure out my options, and hope the travel gurus can help.

If all goes well, I will finish up the Ebro/Castellano-Aragonés in Burgos on Saturday, June 11. I have to be in Oviedo the night of Tuesday, June 14. So I have a few days to deal with, and I just can't bear the thought of not walking while I'm on the Camino! The options I've thought of:

Walk from Burgos to Frómista and then get from Frómista to Oviedo (seems best to do that by train, connecting through Palencia).

Take train/bus from Burgos to some place on the Francés a few days' walk outside León, walk into León, and then take train or bus from León to Oviedo (would not be my first choice because I have walked into León several times over the last few years).

Take train/bus from Burgos to somewhere on the Norte and then walk into Oviedo. (I would love to be able to do this, so I could return to the beautiful church at Valdediós).

A few more tidbits: #1. I will arrive in Burgos very early, the day from Mondúbar is 19 km. So I could either keep walking on Saturday, or get my travel done that day (though I know travel options may be reduced on weekends). #2. I like to walk around 28-33 km a day but can do more if need be (and if my knee holds out this year). #3. And finally, after the event in Oviedo, I will be going to León to start the Salvador/Primitivo. If I just had one more day, I could walk the Salvador before the 15th, but I just can't walk the Salvador in 3 days.

I'm hoping there are some of you sitting around in dreary winter weather looking for camino-related projects like this one! Buen camino, y muchas gracias, Laurie

 

[Castilian]

Take train/bus from Burgos to somewhere on the Norte and then walk into Oviedo. (I would love to be able to do this, so I could return to the beautiful church at Valdediós).

Bus from Burgos to Santander and another one from Santander to Ribadesella from where you could walk to Oviedo in 3 days. Bus service from Santander to Ribadesella is limited so if the schedule doesn't suit you, you could look for a bus from Santander to Llanes, stay overnight in Llanes and take a bus or a train (FEVE) from Llanes to Ribadesella early the next day to start your walking. Take a look at the web of Alsa for info about schedules to see if it suits you.

 

[Margaret Butterworth]

The ALSA bus between Leon and Oviedo goes through spectacular scenery!

 

[peregrina2000]

The ALSA bus between Leon and Oviedo goes through spectacular scenery!

Yes, but walking the Camino del Salvador from Leon to Oviedo is even MORE spectacular! Very highly recommended. I'm going back for my third this summer. All caminos are addictive, but this one particularly so. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[camino07]

Laurie ,Just spent a couple of hours going through your blog on Salvador/Primitivo and loved it. Hoping I get to walk them this year
Heather

 

[Al the optimist]

Why not Burgos to Santander on 11th then Alsa to Villavisiosa on 12th? It is then 43k to Oviedo on the start of the Primitivo. A comfortable 2 days into Oviedo?

 

[Al the optimist]

Just realised I may well be starting the Salvador a week after you. Darn it! Missed you again.

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks amigos for the help. I have found that I wouldn't have to go all the way to Santander, but can transfer at Torrelavega and get to Ribadesella, does that sound right to those who are more skilled with ALSA schedules?

From Ribadesella, it would be three days from there to Oviedo. Only problem is that I would have to get into Burgos that morning for an 11 am bus. Since it's a short km flat day, it's possible. Maybe I'll just play it by ear -- wait and see whether I arrive from Mondúbar in time, and if I don't I'll just keep on walking from Burgos for a while on the Francés and go from Frómista to Oviedo.

 

[Al the optimist]

You are right about the ALSA schedule as far as I can tell.

 

[Castilian]

I have found that I wouldn't have to go all the way to Santander, but can transfer at Torrelavega and get to Ribadesella, does that sound right to those who are more skilled with ALSA schedules?

Yes. Torrelavega isn't the nicest town on Earth but to change buses and, if you have some free time, take a quick look, it's OK.

Only problem is that I would have to get into Burgos that morning for an 11 am bus.

That's what it seems because a 5 minutes conection in Torrelavega would be too risky BUT you have an alternative: To take the 13:30 bus out of Burgos (arriving to Torrelavega at 15:55) and the 16:37 FEVE train from Torrelavega to Ribadesella. If the bus arrives (more or less) on time, you would have enough time to walk from the bus station to the FEVE station (if you don't get madly lost along the way, i.e.), get your FEVE ticket and catch your train. If you never took a FEVE train, this could be a good time to get iniciated. Of course, it takes much more time than the bus but you won't be in a hurry, will you?

 

[peregrina2000]

Yes. Torrelavega isn't the nicest town on Earth but to change buses and, if you have some free time, take a quick look, it's OK.

That's what it seems because a 5 minutes conection in Torrelavega would be too risky BUT you have an alternative: To take the 13:30 bus out of Burgos (arriving to Torrelavega at 15:55) and the 16:37 FEVE train from Torrelavega to Ribadesella. If the bus arrives (more or less) on time, you would have enough time to walk from the bus station to the FEVE station (if you don't get madly lost along the way, i.e.), get your FEVE ticket and catch your train. If you never took a FEVE train, this could be a good time to get iniciated. Of course, it takes much more time than the bus but you won't be in a hurry, will you?

Oh, what a wonderful idea! I could never have come up with that. I never have taken a FEVE train, though my walking partner on the Norte once did when her feet gave out, and she thought it was great.

It looks like it´s about a km from the bus station to the train station, so if the bus is on time, I should be able to make that connection! And no, I would not be in a hurry, I would just want to gt to Ribadesella in time to go to the albergue or a pensión.

Thanks a million, Castilian.

and p.s., just thinking about this a bit more, if it should happen that the stars align properly and the bus arrives on time I could hop over to the bus that leaves five minutes later, and if not, walk to the train statioin.

 

[Dinkumdigger]

I have travelled on FEVE trains from Ribadeo to Oviedo to Santander and although slower than the bus,I think it is a much more enjoyable way to travel.
Good luck!

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks for all the great advice, now I have two very good options. I think I will leave this decision till I walk into Burgos, though I've narrowed my choices to two.

One is to continue walking on the Frances (making it to either Carrion or Fromista, depending on how I'm going) and then taking a train or bus to Oviedo. Train from Fromista leaves at 12:09 or 19:02. Bus from Carrion leaves at 11:51.

The other option is to take the bus from Burgos to Ribadasella and walk from there, straight into Oviedo. Bus at 11 or 13:30, with Castilian's terrific fall back way to make it to Ribadasella that day on the FEVE even if I don't get into Burgos early.