November/december again...where to walk?

[Pheilhans]

November on the Camino France is wonderful. Quiet, safe, comfortable with enough pilgrim infrastructure to have a seamless exitance, enough English speaking people to get to know if one wants company, few enough walkers to have solitude when preferred, a wonderful safe landscape decorated in frost where everyone in Spain honours and knows what you are doing. I have done this particular camino many times, maybe to many times, mostly since I walk out of season in winter. Posts in this forum says the other caminoes are difficult to do this time of year.

My last camino was 3 years ago. Walked the Camino France in September, and the Portuguese in reverse down to Fatima and onwards to Lisbon in Octobre. I like the idea of walking south for winter. I guess that does not make my walk this time, a pilgrimage for Santiago de Compostella. Anyone else going out of most peoples usual comfort zone and doing one of the other caminoes this winter?? Del Norte? Via de la plata? de Lana? Anyone else doing other walks this winter? I do look at the GR92 along the Mediterranean coast, but I wonder if there is less "pilgrim mood" along those routes? No "lights out by ten o'clock at the albergue, and out on the road before 0800 in the morning", or? Anyone?!!

 

[Marus99]

I am doing the Frances from Pamplona around Nov 20. Mainly because I like the Frances, esp with fewer people. I did Leon to Santiago in Jan and Feb this year. That was very empty.

 

[Viggo]

I am walking the CF starting mid November from Pamplona, or Zubiri if I find a ride.
Did CF in June, 2015, chose CF again for the infrastructure.

 

[Trish K]

I am walking the Mozárabe from Almería to Merida from 16/11 taking 4 weeks..

 

[Lexicos]

I admire your courage and strength ............... I'm sure it's a special time to walk the CF but I can't imagine walking in such cold and .... well .....isolation! Bravo.
Buen Camino!

 

[Pheilhans]

I am walking the Mozárabe from Almería to Merida from 16/11 taking 4 weeks..

Thanks for your answer Trish. Can I ask, have you booked accommodation in advance, or at least looked at options for where to sleep now that it is off season? Or maybe you're camping? Being a camino France's walker I am not used to prebooking or planning where to sleep at all... I guess one has to plan a bit on the more narrow caminoes like the Mozárabe in November...?

 

[Pheilhans]

I am doing the Frances from Pamplona around Nov 20. Mainly because I like the Frances, esp with fewer people. I did Leon to Santiago in Jan and Feb this year. That was very empty.

Buen Camino! I know the feeling, Camino France is wonderful at wintertime, the silence, the absence of rush and no hordes of people! Maybe I'll see you.

 

[Pheilhans]

I am walking the CF starting mid November from Pamplona, or Zubiri if I find a ride.
Did CF in June, 2015, chose CF again for the infrastructure.

Thanks for sharing! I absolutely understand the "chose CF again for the infrastructure". I must have done the CF 8-9 times last 8 years, so I wish CF was a strong option again, but I fear I need something new. Then again CF is like an old friend one keep revisiting, like a favourite sunday-walk one keeps coming back to and do again and again... Buen camino

 

[David Tallan]

Thanks for your answer Trish. Can I ask, have you booked accommodation in advance, or at least looked at options for where to sleep now that it is off season? Or maybe you're camping? Being a camino France's walker I am not used to prebooking or planning where to sleep at all... I guess one has to plan a bit on the more narrow caminoes like the Mozárabe in November...?

November sounds like a perfect time to do the Mozarabe, south as it is. On this type of Camino it is always best to let the albergue know that you are coming - not out of a need to reserve in case it fills up, but to ensure they are ready to receive pilgrims. For the Mozarabe from Almeria in particular, I have heard there is an excellent local association that will really help to ensure that you have a place to sleep each night and that they know you are coming.

 

[Trish K]

Thanks for your answer Trish. Can I ask, have you booked accommodation in advance, or at least looked at options for where to sleep now that it is off season? Or maybe you're camping? Being a camino France's walker I am not used to prebooking or planning where to sleep at all... I guess one has to plan a bit on the more narrow caminoes like the Mozárabe in November...?

The Mozarabe is a little different and Pilgrims are aided by the Asociacon jacobea de Almería who provide lots of information and more importantly door codes for many of the albergues. They are available via email or what’s ap and will answer any questions you may have.

Their email is: caminomozarabedealmeria@gmail.com and the website is www.caminomozarabesantiago.com.

The website provides all of their contact no’s. I am in touch with Mercedes who has already given me lots of helpful info.

Where I can’t find an albergue I will book a private pension a day or two in advance just to confirm they are definitely open etc. I’ll also use Gronze to find options.