Marking of the Camino Madrid

[Anton Muhlbock]

Is the Camino Madrid well marked??

 

[lettinggo]

Is the Camino Madrid well marked??

Hola

Marked well enough.
I walked it 6-7 years ago and I had no problem finding my way, but I had walked some Caminos before which helps.
Will it be your first Camino?
What time are you planning to go?

You could download some track from Wikiloc.com so you have better knowledge about where you are and where you want to go.

Wikiloc | Trails of the World

Find the best outdoor trails for mountain hiking treks, bike tour itineraries, MTB rides, and up to 80 activities. Discover the most beautiful places in the world, download GPS tracks and follow the top routes on a map. Record your own trail from the app, upload it and share it with the community.

www.wikiloc.com

CAMINO DE MADRID

CAMINO DE MADRID Hiking trail in Palacio, Madrid (España). Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. Track completo del Camino de Madrid; desde Madrid a Sahagún. Toda la información de este Camino: etapas, distancias, pueblos, servicios, albergues, alojamientos, mapas, perfiles...

www.wikiloc.com

Have a look at other tracks as well to find the one you think is the best.

--

One thing. I was worried about leaving Madrid as exiting any major city may be difficult, but it was really easy following the discribtion and before you know it you are out in the landscape, so I can recommend to start your walk from the Iglesia de Santiago.
They have a morning prayer for pilgrims so you may want to look into this option and see if you can make it fit with your plans.

Santiago Church

This church, in neoclassical style, was built in the 19th century and is set in Hapsburg Madrid.

www.esmadrid.com

The credential you can pick up at the Cathedral which is close by.

--
Information on Albergues on the Camino de Santiago.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-de-madrid-albergues-2017.50551/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-de-madrid-albergues-2017.50551/

--

There is a guide that many has used over the years from The Confraternity of St. James, but it seems out of stock at the moment.

Camino de Madrid

From the Spanish capital due north through Segovia to join the Camino Francés at Sahagún.

www.csj.org.uk

Camino Pilgrim™ Guides: Camino de Madrid 2019/2020 £6.99

25% off with the code JW2023. Our 2019/20 guide to this picturesque route, now with excellent way marking. This is the very direct route curated by the Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Madrid, with one major climb, very little road-walking and plenty of history.

www.csj.org.uk

You can keep an eye open to see if it becomes available again.

--

Lastly, walking the Camino de Madrid is through central Spain, farm land with sunflowers, plantages of trees where they harvest resin, smaller towns where the youth has left for the cities for work or studies and so on.
It is truely farmland and the locals will look at you with a different eye than most of the other Caminos.

People are friendly but not so accustomed with pilgrims, but as always if you ask for help the locals will help you.
There were only a few pilgrims on route - most evenings I was sharing an albergue with a spanish woman I meet on the way or being alone with some cyclist.
it was during august I walked and had temperatures up to 38C, and cars would stop and ask me if I had enough water.
People care about pilgrims.

Do remember to carry a little more water than you are used to.
The first days up to Segovia can be sparse on water.

All in all, the Camino de Madrid provides a view into what the Frances and the other Caminos were like in older times.
I had a great time and when I arrived at Sahagun, it was going from a solo experience to be walking with the masses.
Comparable with connecting to the Frances from the Primitivo.

I hope this helps.

Buen Camino
Lettinggo

 

[timr]

Hello @Anton Muhlbock

Although it is a while since I walked the CM in 2017 I would say it was very well waymarked at that time. The siingle proviso would be that if you want to start in central Madrid (at the church of Santiago y Juan Bautista) you will need to use a roadmap or Google maps or GPX to find your way from there to Plaza Castilla (with the leaning towers) where you make a turn left for Tres Cantos. See here.

You will see opinions divided on this forum about whether to start from central Madrid or to take the metro out part of the way. I really enjoyed the section through the busy city myself.

The only problem I had, I think, was getting out of Tres Cantos on the morning of the second day and does in fact mark the first time ever I (tried to) use a GPX track. But I reverted to yellow arrows for the rest of that trip and from then on I had no problem.

It is probably my favourite route. I prefer solitary routes and it is certainly that, but I found it had just the right amount of infrastructure. It is cared for by an enthusiastic team of voluteers I think. I have noticed a few posts recently suggesitng that a few lodgings have not reopened after Covid. I guess it is worth checking out with Gronze.com. I never booked ahead more than one day.

Buen camino!

PS. The above post from @lettinggo came in while I was responding. i agree with all they say!!

 

[henrythedog]

Sufficiently. You are remarkably quickly out of central Madrid and into the countryside.

I strongly recommend having a look at @timr ‘s historic thread on the route. I found it invaluable.

 

[peregrino_tom]

Is the Camino Madrid well marked??

I walked last October. Picked up my credential from the Santiago church (aka Parroquial de Santiago y San Juan de Bautista, office opened 10am, I think).
Single most crucial resource for me for successfully achieving this camino was Mapy.cz which shows the camino path and allows you to check your position against it with GPS. If you download the relevant map you use no internet data. Overall the waymarking is patchy and without the ability to make a map/GPS check you will sometimes lose the path.
Second most important resource was Gronze. Accommodation was accurate. I reviewed all the places I stayed at on Gronze.
Third resource was the feedback and list provided by chrisje in this post
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-de-madrid.76462/
PS From centre of Madrid I spotted first yellow arrow after about 9km up at Colonia de San Cristobal. There's then an intricate set of paths through Fuencarral, mostly marked, but not completely!
PPS Single best decision I made was taking the detour to San Ildefonso just before Segovia

 

[timr]

PPS Single best decision I made was taking the detour to San Ildefonso just before Segovia

Agree absolutely about San Illdefonso! Although i have just checked and seen that the lovely Hostel Camino de Lis is 'permanently closed'. But Gronze shows a handful of places. And there is always the Parador there if you want to splash out.

It is a lovely little town. And a very easy short walk into Segovia the next day.

 

[Anton Muhlbock]

Hola

Marked well enough.
I walked it 6-7 years ago and I had no problem finding my way, but I had walked some Caminos before which helps.
Will it be your first Camino?
What time are you planning to go?

You could download some track from Wikiloc.com so you have better knowledge about where you are and where you want to go.

Wikiloc | Trails of the World

Find the best outdoor trails for mountain hiking treks, bike tour itineraries, MTB rides, and up to 80 activities. Discover the most beautiful places in the world, download GPS tracks and follow the top routes on a map. Record your own trail from the app, upload it and share it with the community.

www.wikiloc.com

CAMINO DE MADRID

CAMINO DE MADRID Hiking trail in Palacio, Madrid (España). Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. Track completo del Camino de Madrid; desde Madrid a Sahagún. Toda la información de este Camino: etapas, distancias, pueblos, servicios, albergues, alojamientos, mapas, perfiles...

www.wikiloc.com

Have a look at other tracks as well to find the one you think is the best.

--

One thing. I was worried about leaving Madrid as exiting any major city may be difficult, but it was really easy following the discribtion and before you know it you are out in the landscape, so I can recommend to start your walk from the Iglesia de Santiago.
They have a morning prayer for pilgrims so you may want to look into this option and see if you can make it fit with your plans.

Santiago Church

This church, in neoclassical style, was built in the 19th century and is set in Hapsburg Madrid.

www.esmadrid.com

The credential you can pick up at the Cathedral which is close by.

--
Information on Albergues on the Camino de Santiago.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-de-madrid-albergues-2017.50551/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-de-madrid-albergues-2017.50551/

--

There is a guide that many has used over the years from The Confraternity of St. James, but it seems out of stock at the moment.

Camino de Madrid

From the Spanish capital due north through Segovia to join the Camino Francés at Sahagún.

www.csj.org.uk

Camino Pilgrim™ Guides: Camino de Madrid 2019/2020 £6.99

25% off with the code JW2023. Our 2019/20 guide to this picturesque route, now with excellent way marking. This is the very direct route curated by the Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Madrid, with one major climb, very little road-walking and plenty of history.

www.csj.org.uk

You can keep an eye open to see if it becomes available again.

--

Lastly, walking the Camino de Madrid is through central Spain, farm land with sunflowers, plantages of trees where they harvest resin, smaller towns where the youth has left for the cities for work or studies and so on.
It is truely farmland and the locals will look at you with a different eye than most of the other Caminos.

People are friendly but not so accustomed with pilgrims, but as always if you ask for help the locals will help you.
There were only a few pilgrims on route - most evenings I was sharing an albergue with a spanish woman I meet on the way or being alone with some cyclist.
it was during august I walked and had temperatures up to 38C, and cars would stop and ask me if I had enough water.
People care about pilgrims.

Do remember to carry a little more water than you are used to.
The first days up to Segovia can be sparse on water.

All in all, the Camino de Madrid provides a view into what the Frances and the other Caminos were like in older times.
I had a great time and when I arrived at Sahagun, it was going from a solo experience to be walking with the masses.
Comparable with connecting to the Frances from the Primitivo.

I hope this helps.

Buen Camino
Lettinggo

Hi Lettingo
Great info you have sent me thank you so much it will be my fifth Camino but it will be a different one because less people I did Francés twice Northe and de la plata with more people on it.
I also will do San Salvador and Primitivo this time.
Thanks again for your good info greetings from Perth Western Australia
Anton

 

[Anton Muhlbock]

Agree absolutely about San Illdefonso! Although i have just checked and seen that the lovely Hostel Camino de Lis is 'permanently closed'. But Gronze shows a handful of places. And there is always the Parador there if you want to splash out.

It is a lovely little town. And a very easy short walk into Segovia the next day.

Thanks very much for your great info

 

[Larry OHeron]

Just to offer contrary opinion, I used all trails pretty consistently. Although true that it is marked in a lot of places I would sometimes find the occasional screwball turn and being in the mid-thirties centigrade for temperature I was not in the mood to get lost or wonder if I was on the track.

 

[Rushie]

Is the Camino Madrid well marked??

walked this way last year , not very well marked I found it difficult in places but the experience was wonderful, buen Camino

 

[HeyRobin]

I just walked it last year and found it to be not very well waymarked. I got lost a couple of times and had to rely on GPS to get me on the correct route. I used the Buen Camino app which showed my position in relation to the route. I also used Johnnie Walkers book on the Camino Madrid and found it to be more helpful than Barrera’s book. If you are interested, here’s a link to the videos I made along the way:

, if the link doesn’t work my channel name is Hey Robin. I’d have to say thus far, it’s been my favorite trek because of the challenge and beautiful scenery. I’m one that loves the solitude and wide open spaces and this route provides plenty of that. I hope you enjoy this route as much as I did! Robin

 

[Anton Muhlbock]

I just walked it last year and found it to be not very well waymarked. I got lost a couple of times and had to rely on GPS to get me on the correct route. I used the Buen Camino app which showed my position in relation to the route. I also used Johnnie Walkers book on the Camino Madrid and found it to be more helpful than Barrera’s book. If you are interested, here’s a link to the videos I made along the way:

, if the link doesn’t work my channel name is Hey Robin. I’d have to say thus far, it’s been my favorite trek because of the challenge and beautiful scenery. I’m one that loves the solitude and wide open spaces and this route provides plenty of that. I hope you enjoy this route as much as I did! Robin

Hi Robin
Thanks very much for your reply I think you was the one who motivated me to do the Madrid l have watched many of your videos I think you very balanced with your voice and music .
I have done some Caminos before and will walk on the 6th of April many thanks for your help
Buen Camino Anton
Greetings from Perth Western Australia

 

[Laurie Sanantone]

Hi Anton, I’ll follow your tracks in May! I hope you’ll provide some feedback to this forum, if you have time. Have a wonderful walk and Buen Camino!

 

[LTfit]

Agree absolutely about San Illdefonso! Although i have just checked and seen that the lovely Hostel Camino de Lis is 'permanently closed'. But Gronze shows a handful of places. And there is always the Parador there if you want to splash out.

It is a lovely little town. And a very easy short walk into Segovia the next day.

Sorry to hear about Hostel Camino de Lis, stayed there too.

I had no problem walking the Madrid by only following the arrows/signage but did indeed take notes from the Forum about where to take the cutoff to San Ildefonso.

 

[Anton Muhlbock]

Hi Anton, I’ll follow your tracks in May! I hope you’ll provide some feedback to this forum, if you have time. Have a wonderful walk and Buen Camino!

I am not sure but I will try thanks for your comment

 

[lettinggo]

Hi Robin
Thanks very much for your reply I think you was the one who motivated me to do the Madrid l have watched many of your videos I think you very balanced with your voice and music .
I have done some Caminos before and will walk on the 6th of April many thanks for your help
Buen Camino Anton
Greetings from Perth Western Australia

Hola
Seems you are starting today so have a great walk and enjoy the silence of the Madris.
Buen Camino
Lettinggo

 

[J2j]

Hola
Seems you are starting today so have a great walk and enjoy the silence of the Madris.
Buen Camino
Lettinggo

Is the Camino Madrid well marked??

I started on the CdM on April 3rd and other than using Komoot to leave Madrid I found that after reaching the tennis center on the outskirts of the city I have found the route so well marked that I haven’t used

Is the Camino Madrid well marked??

I found the markings leaving Madrid poor and I used Komoot in the city but once you get to the tennis center the route is so well marked and I have had no need for the Komoot mapping app, or similar, since.