Needed rest area, accommodation etc

[Chase]

Hello, my wife and I have done Frances & Portugese caminos and enjoyed ourselves so much that we are playing with idea of opening a rest area/small accommodation (not albergue). This summer we plan on looking for ideal location wanted to ask you all if you could share your opinion. Basically, as you walked was there a place you remembered saying to yourself " this would be a good place for a rest spot why isn't there one here?

thanks

chase

 

[KinkyOne]

Hello, my wife and I have done Frances & Portugese caminos and enjoyed ourselves so much that we are playing with idea of opening a rest area/small accommodation (not albergue). This summer we plan on looking for ideal location wanted to ask you all if you could share your opinion. Basically, as you walked was there a place you remembered saying to yourself " this would be a good place for a rest spot why isn't there one here?

thanks

chase

Hola!

Which Camino did you have in mind? Because lots of us could give you plenty ideas on less walked Caminos where such places would really be much appreciated due to lack of (pilgrim) infrastructure

 

[Chase]

Well our searching trip this summer will be northern Spain from Astorga to Hondarribia so Frances and above. we will spend a few days in each automous section so Asturias, Castile Y Leon, Cantabria, Basque Country & La Rioja.

thanks

 

[David]

I think that a cafe would be better - and specifically an "English cafe"!
if you want a mobile space then the halt at the top of the steep hill out of Castrojeriz is perfect - not one person would pass without buying an ice cream!!

 

[T0M]

Perhaps consult a topographic map and look at hilltops.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I think that a cafe would be better - and specifically an "English cafe"!
if you want a mobile space then the halt at the top of the steep hill out of Castrojeriz is perfect - not one person would pass without buying an ice cream!!

I passed there on a cold, windy, sleeting day in late April. No ice cream needed for me...brrr!

 

[jpflavin1]

Hello, my wife and I have done Frances & Portugese caminos and enjoyed ourselves so much that we are playing with idea of opening a rest area/small accommodation (not albergue). This summer we plan on looking for ideal location wanted to ask you all if you could share your opinion. Basically, as you walked was there a place you remembered saying to yourself " this would be a good place for a rest spot why isn't there one here?

thanks

chase

Chase:

The CF has filled in so much that there are not a lot of open stretches anymore.

The Hilltop after Castrojerez is a great vista, especially to watch the sunrise. It also follows a short but steep climb and many stop to rest there. That said, it is a short distance from a full service Pueblo.

The stretch after Carrion de los Condes is empty for about 17km's where a David like refreshment stand might be welcome. Especially in the warmer months.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[trecile]

The stretch after Carrion de los Condes is empty for about 17km's where a David like refreshment stand might be welcome.

This stretch is the most obvious place that could use a refreshment stand.

 

[KinkyOne]

That 17km stretch isn't always empty. Approximately halfway there is large (I think made of bricks) shed on the left and on the right are few trees. In 2011 there was a van selling refreshments and snacks. Also in 2016 my friend stopped there. I don't know about rest of the years but I do remember post about walking past it late afternoon and the van was already gone. I don't know what the deal there is and opening hours but the spot might be already taken.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Things come and go along that stretch, it is all privately owned farmland and supposedly not "zoned" for businesses. That is why the hotdog stand that appears there at random comes and goes.
There isn´t potable water or sewerage infrastructure, either, which limits your ability to set up a stable cafe. People with food trucks, vans, and the like come and go, too. It is very seasonal, and the traffic is not steady, so it is tough to form a stable business plan on such a site. It is ideal for people who want to help out for a little while at high season, then move on. For a long-term business, no. It´s just too lonely out there!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

... the David site just before San Justo is open now, according to local lore. David´s left, and the Italian guy who too k over was seen this week in Astorga in a not very good mental state.

 

[KinkyOne]

Things come and go along that stretch, it is all privately owned farmland and supposedly not "zoned" for businesses. That is why the hotdog stand that appears there at random comes and goes.
There isn´t potable water or sewerage infrastructure, either, which limits your ability to set up a stable cafe. People with food trucks, vans, and the like come and go, too. It is very seasonal, and the traffic is not steady, so it is tough to form a stable business plan on such a site. It is ideal for people who want to help out for a little while at high season, then move on. For a long-term business, no. It´s just too lonely out there!

For me personally it would be ideal to have some kind of business right there. I like being in lonely places. Ahhhhh, all the walkers long gone in late afternoon/early evening, my legs stretched on the chair, cold beer in my lap and then that special Meseta light kicks in, what a bliss that would be

 

[Chase]

Thanks for the info... will look into those areas for sure... so right now, in addition to what was mentioned here I am also looking in these areas; Sahagun, Santa Catalina de Somoza, ,Viloria de rioja anyone familiar with these locations?

 

[Aysen Mustafa]

I think a cafe that serves good coffee and cake, and savoury food could become popular and spread by word of mouth. Perhaps somewhere before Astorga, there is the park area with the pilgrim sculptures and before Sahagun, where I got a bit lost finding my way into town.

 

[Chase]

we have those places on our list. What about accommodations? we aren't looking to open an albergue but will have extra rooms for those folks who just couldnt find a place.. we recall meeting people on the camino who were so tired and were walking until they found a place to stay... we wont be advertising it but thought it would be nice to have space for that unlucky person.

 

[KinkyOne]

On one of the early stages of the CF I remember albergue in Zariquiegui closed couple of years ago. Don't remember a bar or restaurant either.

Approximatelly half way from Villamayor de Monjardin to Los Arcos there used to be a "hospital" which is now in ruins. It's the only structure on that stretch of 12km if I remember well. A bit uphill some 50-100 meters in the field on the righthand side of the Camino. Maybe that would be for sale? But I haven't seen any electricity line and agua potable might also be a problem.

On the variante from Azofra to Ciruena (if you want to visit the monastery in Canas) there is quite a lot of road walking although with almost non-existent traffic and I also don't remember any infrastructure a pilgrim can use.

I doubt Viloria de la Rioja would be a good spot for your intentions. It already has two albergues (one of them quite famous because P.Coelho was a godfather) and a hotel and maybe even more important is that Belorado with plenty of infrastructure is just 8 km ahead.

There's a stretch between El Burgo Ranero and Reliegos with nothing, just a long straight senda alongside tarmaced minor road. But there is a village of Villamarco some 200m to the left a bit after the halfpoint of this leg. As I know Villamarco has nothing yet. Might not be the right location because the villages before and after has plenty of infrastructure although I experienced bed shortage in June 2016 in El Burgo Ranero.

Fresno del Camino and Chozas de Abajo after Leon have bar/restaurant but no places to sleep. Might be worth of taking a peek because a lot of people start walking in Leon and both options would make short day for them after a long journey from home, jetlagged etc.

Again I doubt Sta.Catalina de Somoza would be good option. On the stretch from Astorga to Foncebadon (25km) there are 17 albergues not to mention hotels and casa rurales.

Fuentesnuevas, 7km after Ponferrada doesn't have albergue.

I think there might be some interesting places in small villages between Molinaseca and Sarria (on both variants): https://www.gronze.com/etapa/triacastela/sarria

Well, from Sarria on you can search for a village without bar and/or albergue with a magnifying glass


Good luck!

 

[Chase]

wow Kinkyone, , how do you remember all of this? thank you ...

 

[KinkyOne]

wow Kinkyone, , how do you remember all of this? thank you ...

A little bit of photographic memory, a bit more of personal journal, even a little bit more of being on this forum for five years now I think and there's also this HUUUGE Camino bug in me

 

[Chase]

sounds like you should live out there yourself if you aren't already.. thanks again... lots to research...

 

[KinkyOne]

sounds like you should live out there yourself if you aren't already.. thanks again... lots to research...

I should walk at least half of the year every year (in let's say two stints) and that's what I would call really "living" out there

Wish you successfull research in upcoming New Year!

 

[Deleted member 397]

As Others have mentioned the CF is well provided and I suspect you might be stepping on some locals who need cafes or refreshment stops for their livlihood. There would be many other routes where something would be appreciated..the VDLP,Levante,Lana,Catalan etc etc

 

[Chase]

Very true Omar, which is why we are looking for places where there is a need..

thanks

 

[Deleted member 397]

Very true Omar, which is why we are looking for places where there is a need..

thanks

It's a bit of a juggling act..finding somewhere that is needed coupled with enough patronage to make it worth while. The Arch of Capara..comes to mind as its on a long 40km day and is also bit of a tourist spot

 

[Chase]

yes, lots to juggle but we are not in a rush, this is a part of our retirement plan and we are looking to be helpful and active in our retirement... what better way or place...

 

[peregrina2000]

This is on the Primitivo in Asturias — Every time I walk through the nearly if not totally abandoned village of Montefurado, I think it would be a great place for an alberue or café. People will have walked either from Campielo/Borres and over the Hospitales route, or up the steeper climb from Pola de Allande, with no place to stop along the way. Sometimes there is a trailer with some drinks at the top of the climb (puerto de Palo), but that’s about it. It is after a killer descent, down from puerto de Palo and is one of those villages with falling down stone houses that coud be just beautiful with a lot of euros to invest. I have no idea of whether that is feasible or practical, but it would be a popular stop, I am willing to wager.

The Primitivo is getting crowded, and Montefurado is after the merge of the two alternatives, so there would be a lot of pilgrims going by — but no one else!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Villamarco stands out for me, too. The village is about 1 km. off the camino, but the intersection with the camino has a very well-used picnic area where a drinks stand would certainly not go amiss in high season!
In winter, though? No.

 

[mai]

This is an informative and Serious thread providing info about areas might be neglected! I like this thread.

Based on my (limited) experience, from Sarria - Portomarin 22.7km is fine. But the 2nd half of the route is not very easy, and before entering Portomarin we have to climb up a Huge ladder which is scaring.

To avoid the huge ladder, I have to walk further 7.7km to stay overnight at Gonzar. It is impossible for me to walk 30.4km a day. If there is an albergue on the green area after Portomarin, it would be nice. This is just my experience, not any suggestion.

Best wishes for Chase to find your ideal land.

 

[Chase]

Thank you all for info and feed back. All very helpful and included in our plans this summer. We’ve been scoping out each of the areas listed and will have a great time exploring them all... one step at a time toward the dream.....

Thanks

 

[ouroboros]

we have those places on our list. What about accommodations? we aren't looking to open an albergue but will have extra rooms for those folks who just couldnt find a place.. we recall meeting people on the camino who were so tired and were walking until they found a place to stay... we wont be advertising it but thought it would be nice to have space for that unlucky person.

I just finished a large segment of the Frances for the second time and found, yet again, that after climbing O’Cebreiro and trying to continue on is difficult because of lack of accommodations. There is finally an albergue in Linares but it gets filled quickly and I saw many pilgrims forced to move on and find something. It is quite rural and none of the towns before Triacastela have much to offer. It’s surprising really. The top of Alto do Poio is a forlorn place with one bar doing all the business. The other shall not be mentioned after a terrible experience there 7 years ago. Before the new Linares albergue we had to walk on and on after the O’Cebreiro climb until we collapsed on that miserable Alto do Poio.

 

[Aysen Mustafa]

I was lucky to get a bed at Linares but there was no place to eat in town. A small supermarket but the albergue had a good kitchen so the pilgrims cooked that night. There were also quite a lot of leftovers in the kitchen. A great new albergue. Small dorms.

 

[ouroboros]

Yes,Linares needs a restaurant and another albergue with more beds and then that stretch won’t be so fearsome. O’Cebreiro is crowded and touristy and if you don’t relish the municipal albergue, it’s a problem. By that time on my walk, I was in a quiet place within and not in the mood to party on the mountain. This is a culmination point on the Frances for some pilgrims, and it would be wonderful to find a refuge near there.

 

[Chase]

thanks, this is helpful info.. haven't seen anything for sale around there but i will keep looking..

 

[ouroboros]

Wonderful! Glad to hear you are still holding this intention. Will hold you in my prayers.

 

[Chase]

thank you so much... we will be in that area in a two weeks doing our search in person...