Norte vs Primitivo

[EL LECHERO]

Hola,
I was looking for insight as to the difference/pro's v cons of walking the the Norte vs the Primitivo....... I won't be walking all the way to Santiago as I only have 10-12 days to walk......

 

[jungleboy]

Well, if you have 12 days you could walk the entire Primitivo and indeed walk all the way to Santiago, so I’d opt for that (although I haven’t walked the Norte).

I walked the Primitivo in 13 walking days but if you didn’t do the Narranco variant on the first day, I believe you could combine my first two days into one, cut out the Lugo rest day and then it would be Oviedo-Santiago in 12 days.

Here are my stages (for some reason I only marked distances for the first five days):

Day 1 - Oviedo to Escamplero (via the Naranco Site) = 17.2kms (Albergue Municipal del Escamplero)

Day 2 - Escamplero to San Juan de Villapañada = 17.8kms

Day 3 - Villapañada to Bodenaya = 28kms

Day 4 - Bodenaya to Campiello = 24kms (Casa del Ricardo)

Day 5 - Campiello to Berducedo = 29kms (Casa Marquez)

Day 6 - Berducedo to Castro (Albergue Juvenil)

Day 7 - Castro to Fonsagrada (Cantábrica)

Day 8 - Fonsagrada to Cádavo Boleiro (Porta Santa)

Day 9 - Cádavo to Lugo (Muralla Romana)

Day 10 - Rest Day in Lugo

Day 11 - Lugo to Ferreira (A Nave)

Day 12 - Ferreira to Boente (Os Albergues)

Day 13 - Ferreira to Santa Irene

Day 14 - Santa Irene to Santiago

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I did a "half and half", probably the best of both caminos from my understanding...I loved the variety!
Oh, I did end my camino in beautiful Lugo for a rest day before taking a bus straight away to Santiago as I had read after Lugo it was a bit more mundane and I was a bit limited on time. That said, I did not qualify for a compostela that year.

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

If in the future you would come back for another camino ( and perhaps have more time) I would do the primitivo now and return another time for walking the norte and staying on the coast after Villaviciosa. If this is not the case: If you walk the Norte I would opt for starting in Irun. I think that this is the most beautifull, but also the hardest part of the Norte. An advantage would be that in the future it would be easy to "pick up where you left". The comparison with the primitivo is difficult, the Primitivo is also very beautifull. If you are fond of sea views the norte is obviously your choice, on the Norte you will pass through more big cities and tourist places and you will walk more on asphalt. The primitivo is more rural and mountainous. I myself cannot decide which I liked best

 

[Jean Russell]

I did a "half and half", probably the best of both caminos from my understanding...I loved the variety!
Oh, I did end my camino in beautiful Lugo for a rest day before taking a bus straight away to Santiago as I had read after Lugo it was a bit more mundane and I was a bit limited on time. At said,I did not get a compostela that year.

 

[Jean Russell]

Where did you start and finish.? I am planning something similar but only have 10 days available. I will be flying into Oviedo

 

[Jean Ti]

Hola,
I was looking for insight as to the difference/pro's v cons of walking the the Norte vs the Primitivo....... I won't be walking all the way to Santiago as I only have 10-12 days to walk......

You might go ider starting your Norte at Gijón or loaned. Nice view and good mix of terrain!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Where did you start and finish.? I am planning something similar but only have 10 days available. I will be flying into Oviedo

If you start from Oviedo the Norte will take approx. 14 days to Santiago. If you choose the Primitivo it should take you approx. 10 days. You could consider ending earlier in Lugo, spend a great day sightseeing there, then bus to Santiago for a couple of nice days... my personal preference.
Maybe a few others will chime in with ideas to help you decide.

 

[Jean Russell]

If you start from Oviedo the Norte will take approx. 14 days to Santiago. If you choose the Primitivo it should take you approx. 10 days. You could consider ending in Lugo, spend a great day sightseeing there, then bus to Santiago for a couple of nice days... my personal preference.
Maybe a few others will chime in with ideas to help you decide.

 

[EL LECHERO]

If you start from Oviedo the Norte will take approx. 14 days to Santiago. If you choose the Primitivo it should take you approx. 10 days. You could consider ending earlier in Lugo, spend a great day sightseeing there, then bus to Santiago for a couple of nice days... my personal preference.
Maybe a few others will chime in with ideas to help you decide.

You were reading my mind about ending my hike at Lugo. I hiked from Astorga to SDC in 2016 and the "Sarrian Hordes" as I came to call them put me in a bad mood. I know it shouldn't had but I'll learn from that experience.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

You were reading my mind about ending my hike at Lugo. I hiked from Astorga to SDC in 2016 and the "Sarrian Hordes" as I came to call them put me in a bad mood. I know it shouldn't had but I'll learn from that experience.

I had read that the portion of the Primitivo after Lugo was as not nearly as special as the first part starting in Oviedo. Spending an extra day i Lugo and walking the intact city walls was a highlight for me.

 

[EL LECHERO]

I had read that the portion of the Primitivo after Lugo was as not nearly as special as the first part starting in Oviedo. Spending an extra day i Lugo and walking the intact city walls was a highlight for me.

I'm somewhat in a quandry as to whether to do the primitivo or the first part of the CF.

 

[Tincatinker]

I had read that the portion of the Primitivo after Lugo was as not nearly as special as the first part starting in Oviedo. Spending an extra day i Lugo and walking the intact city walls was a highlight for me.

Chrissy, you could have taken the Verde to Sobrado dos Monxes, very special. And as dear Janis Joplin nearly said "It's all £&()(^&%£ Camino".

 

[Bob Calver]

If in the future you would come back for another camino ( and perhaps have more time) I would do the primitivo now and return another time for walking the norte and staying on the coast after Villaviciosa. If this is not the case: If you walk the Norte I would opt for starting in Irun. I think that this is the most beautifull, but also the hardest part of the Norte. An advantage would be that in the future it would be easy to "pick up where you left". The comparison with the primitivo is difficult, the Primitivo is also very beautifull. If you are fond of sea views the norte is obviously your choice, on the Norte you will pass through more big cities and tourist places and you will walk more on asphalt. The primitivo is more rural and mountainous. I myself cannot decide which I liked best

I, too, am torn between the two routes. I have walked the Norte (in 2019) and loved it so am really keen to revisit it but am also drawn to the Primitivo. One question is abut accommodation. How does the Primitivo compare in that sense?

 

[Tincatinker]

Where did you start and finish.? I am planning something similar but only have 10 days available. I will be flying into Oviedo

You'll actually be flying into Asturias which is a long bus-ride or exciting taxi-ride ( we hit 115 kph one evening) from Oviedo. 10 days gets you Oviedo to Lugo. 10 days well spent.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Chrissy, you could have taken the Verde to Sobrado dos Monxes, very special. And as dear Janis Joplin nearly said "It's all £&()(^&%£ Camino".

@Tincatinker, In 2020 I was planning to finish the Norte beginning in Oviedo and walk on to Muxia and Finesterre. I booked every night possible that I could and was sooo looking forward to staying at Sobrado dos Monxes on May 4, 2020, (but not sure what the Verde is that you speak of)...as soon as I am officially allowed to walk once again in Spain this is my plan...I am not planning to change anything and still hope to get a bed in that monestery.

 

[trecile]

I hiked from Astorga to SDC in 2016 and the "Sarrian Hordes" as I came to call them put me in a bad mood. I know it shouldn't had but I'll learn from that experience.

The best way to deal with the "hordes" is to anticipate them, and to train yourself to see them as a positive (except when one of them buys the last chocolate croissant in the bar just before you can get one ) instead of a negative.
I think of them as bringing fresh energy and a sense of renewal to the Camino, and it's nice to be considered the "old pro." Remember that you are lucky and priviliged to have the time to walk a longer Camino, and be humble. And when you start to get annoyed by the group ahead of you stopping for the umpteenth time to take a picture in front of a Camino marker, remember this sign and how you felt when you started your journey.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

The best way to deal with the "hordes" is to anticipate them, and to train yourself to see them as a positive (except when one of them buys the last chocolate croissant in the bar just before you can get one ) instead of a negative.
I think of them as bringing fresh energy and a sense of renewal to the Camino, and it's nice to be considered the "old pro." Remember that you are lucky and priviliged to have the time to walk a longer Camino, and be humble. And when you start to get annoyed by the group ahead of you stopping for the umpteenth time to take a picture in front of a Camino marker, remember this sign.

View attachment 100174

Wise words, @trecile, so true.

 

[peregrino_tom]

Hi EL
I'd walk the Norte from the start at Irun and finish at Santander. Pretty good transport links for both. Some fascinating Basque coastal culture at the start - to say nothing of the irrestible Pinxos food.. also some good hills to get you in shape. Beautiful San Sebastian/Donostia and intriguing Bilbao's Guggenheim. Lots that's easy on the eye, including Castro Urdiales and Laredo beach. Much loved Guemes albergue near the end. And on the last day a memorable coastal walk, which starts with cliffs like Co. Antrim, becomes a walk along surfing beach and finishes with a ferry across the bay (which will be the third boat journey of your trip...). Job done. And if you like it, you can come back another time and continue from where you left off - and deal with the Norte/Primitivo dilemma then. FWIW some people don't decide until they reach the actual fork in the road

 

[Tincatinker]

@Tincatinker, In 2020 I was planning to finish the Norte beginning in Oviedo and walk on to Muxia and Finesterre. I booked every night possible that I could and was sooo looking forward to staying at Sobrado dos Monxes on May 4, 2020, (but not sure what the Verde is that you speak of)...as soon as I am officially allowed to walk once again in Spain this is my plan...I am not planning to change anything and still hope to get a bed in that monestery.

Camino Verde, runs from Lugo to Sobrado. Two days of delight. Try the search function for clues

 

[GuyA]

This must have been answered before…my apologies if it has. If I walk the Camino Primitivo to Lugo then the Camino Verde to Sobrado and then on to Santiago de Compostela will I still be entitled to receive a Compostela?

My detailed map of the various Camino routes recently received does not list the Camino Verde as an official route which is why I am asking.

Thanks

Guy

 

[Bob Chambers]

Before this nasty Covid, we were planning to walk the Verde to cross from the Primitive to the Norte from Lugo and again turn off the Norte at Biomorto and walk parallel to the Primitivo to join the Frances hoards near the Santiago Airport. Can provide a gpx file if needed. Cancelled by an unexpected seizure event at the end of 2018 when almost ready to leave Sydney. Mass flight etc cancellations ensued.

 

[Šaruška]

I did a "half and half", probably the best of both caminos from my understanding...I loved the variety!
Oh, I did end my camino in beautiful Lugo for a rest day before taking a bus straight away to Santiago as I had read after Lugo it was a bit more mundane and I was a bit limited on time. That said, I did not qualify for a compostela that year.

Where did you start when you did the "combination"? How many days did you need for that?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Where did you start when you did the "combination"? How many days did you need for that?

We started in San Sabastian from 4/21-5/11, then switched to the Primitivo at Oviedo 5/11- 5/24 ending in Lugo. We then bussed to Santiago, spending almost another week which included visiting Muxia and Finesterre.
I hope this helps you, but we are all different.