Help with a Winter Way (no not Invierno… well maybe that will be included 🤷‍♂️)

[Willdtrout]

So I am blessed with a lot of free time but at the cost of losing time in summer for winter freedom. I am well walked on winter caminos and all have been winter or shoulder seasons.

I am very comfortable with this during Spanish caminos but this year I want to get off the beaten route and seem to keep hitting dead ends. As an American I get 90 days in Schengen and want to use them all walking with a start in mid-late January

First dream was Via Francigena London to Rome but remote areas and mountain passes make this a non-winter way. Even at the advice of the cofraternity to Rome

Another option, I know not a pilgrimage, is the Lycian Way in Turkey. I thought this would be a beautiful walk on the Mediterranean Coast but it gets very high elevation, up to 6,000ft or 2,000m, and snow is likely so not a winter way?

Also Via Podiensis-Camino de Frances but I question a January start from Le Puy. I did meet a pilgrim in SJPdP on Jan 24 who walked this route in dec/January so I know it is possible but not sure how difficult for weather and lodging.

My thoughts are to prioritize walking Podiensis/Frances (about two months) and the Lycian way (not counted towards Schengen) And I would also like to walk into Rome with my extra Schengen time so a start somewhere north of Rome determined by how much time I have left.….

I’m not a planner… I’ll be starting somewhere in two weeks or so. Can anyone recommend which to do first or maybe somewhere I may have missed. It’s a big ask I know.

I’m thinking just start in Le Puy and head to Santiago. Maybe do the invierno alternative. Probably Finisterra/Muxia. If free time after maybe do Ingles and Del Mar at the sacrifice to walking in Italy. But I really want to walk in Italy

Maybe prioritize a start somewhere North of Rome where winter is kind and add more walking in Italy? But I also hear this is difficult in winter because of closed Lodging more than winter weather.

So many questions…. I’m walking somewhere…. Any help figuring where is appreciated

Thank you in advance

 

[roving_rufus]

If Rome is of interest - how about SdeC to Rome using Via della Costa to avoid high passes.
Or as my plan goes is SdeC to Logroño then veer right on Ebro/Catalan/igiaciano to Barcelona and take a ferry like pilgrims of old to Genoa. Then Via della Costa to Sarzana and join VF heading into Tuscany. Which should keep it under 90days

 

[lovingkindness]

Bonjour @Willdtrout

I have walked a number of french pilgrim trails and Grand Randonnées (GR) in winter. Several pass through or near to Bergerac which has an international airport.

These trails are solitary. One rarely meets another soul between villages. In winter many accommodations are closed. I did not pre book. I found places to sleep by talking to people along the way, visiting la mairie, la bibliotech and la pharmacie, knocking on presbytery doors, cafès and other places.

1) The Voie de Vezelay which can be walked all year round, passes close by Bergerac. Here is a link to stages from Perigueux to La Reole:

GR®654 De Périgueux (Dordogne) à La Réole (Gironde)

www.gr-infos.com

2) The GR 654E, a variant Voie de Vezelay passes from Bergerac to Monreal du Gers then continues along the Voie du Puy (GR65).

GR®654 EST De Bergerac (Dordogne) à Montréal-du-Gers (Gers)

www.gr-infos.com

3) Voie de Rocamadour (GR 652). From Rocamadour it arrives at La Romieu on the Voie du Puy (GR 65). I have walked this trail in both directions, in summer and other seasons whilst on my way elsewhere. It's one of my favourites.

Un Chemin de St Jacques : La Voie de Rocamadour en Limousin et Haut-Quercy

Ce site est le complément du guide pratique du randonneur 'La voie de Rocamadour vers Compostelle - un chemin de Saint Jacques en Limousin et Haut-Quercy'.

www.chemin-de-st-jacques-voie-de-rocamadour-limousin-haut-quercy.fr

GR®652 Voie de Rocamadour - St Jacques de Compostelle

www.gr-infos.com

4) GR6, Bergerac to Rocamadour.

I Followed this trail in the opposite direction (Jan- 2020). When I reached Issigeac, near Bergerac, I left the GR6 and followed a local trail to Castilliones. From Castillones I continued on the 654 E (Vezelay variant) to Montreal de Gers then on to Euze (Voie du Puy, GR 65).

There is a PDF with commentary and maps in French & English:

Chemin Bergerac - Rocamadour

180 km entre Périgord et Quercy…sur un chemin oublié ! Les chemins tracés de Bergerac à Rocamadour sillonnent la campagne. Une véritable destination de pleine nature où vous pourrez pratiquer votre activité préférée en côtoyant des paysages et des villages de caractère.

www.pays-bergerac-tourisme.com

Bonne Année!


Rocamadour (Dec. 2024)

 

[Hilary Van Norstrand]

How about maybe consider doing the Walk of St. Francis! Florence to Assisi to Rome should take you 30-40 days and you should expect nicer weather. Challenging but magnificent pilgrimage. Then, with the time you have left, pick any of the others you spoke of. Or vdLPlata? I’m jealous you’re leaving so soon. Buen Camino!!

 

[lovingkindness]

How about maybe consider doing the Walk of St. Francis! Florence to Assisi to Rome should take you 30-40 days and you should expect nicer weather. Challenging but magnificent pilgrimage. Then, with the time you have left, pick any of the others you spoke of. Or vdLPlata? I’m jealous you’re leaving so soon. Buen Camino!!

Hola @Hilary Van Norstrand, @Willdtrout and others...

Walking in winter along the VDLP has its hazzards.... I spent winter 2009-2010 as hospitalera at the Casa Paroquia in Fuenterroble de Salvatierra. I arrived for Christmas. Three months later it was still very cold :

Post in thread 'Walking in winter' https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/walking-in-winter.7253/post-49910

Buen camino!

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

@Willdtrout, what about walking for a few weeks in Portugal? It's certainly appears to be better temperature-wise. You could fly into Faro, bus to Lagos and thence up the Fisherman's trail / Rota Vincentia.

Actually I was told when I originally researched this that you could walk from Faro to Lagos on the Caminho Agricola Avalaches; it shows up on mapy.cz but I've never investigated it further so I have no idea as to facilities along the way. @jungleboy perhaps?

Theoretically the trail ends around Sines, I know people have asked about the possibility of walking from there to Lisbon and hence onto the Caminho, no idea if that is practical or not.

Or you could tack on a week and cut back down on the Historical Way (inland).