only three weeks on the VdlP

[Kiwi-family]

Looks like I'm taking the youngest four kids to walk the VdlP. Hubby will join us for three weeks, but work commitments prevent him coming for any longer. Grandpa has said he will come too and so we will need somewhere that he can take busses/taxis as he may only manage to walk 10km in a day. For that three week block it would be good to limit distances to 20ish km. So what do you think would be the most interesting 300km stretch? - interesting = fabulous scenery and fascinating architecture.......
Would you say Casar de Cáceres to Zamora is preferable to Zamora to Santiago?
Psychologically for the kids it would be better for Daddy to come at the very end and we all go home together, but we'd like for him to see some great things too!
What do you advise?

 

[grayland]

The walk from Zamora on the Sanabres is really outstanding with good albergues and walking trails. You miss the conga line through Astorga and see something different in the " mountains".
You didn't indicate (or I missed it) when you are planning the trip..
Gets pretty hot in the south...but is also a good route.

 

[FelixBC]

Merida, Caceres, Salamanca would be gorgeous. Roman, medieval, Renaissance, if you're interested in history, art and architecture. Zamora is also lovely, although I wasn't thrilled with the walk from Salamanca (flat, highways). Walking the 'via pecuaria', ancient paths for droving animals north/south, and bits of Roman road with the ancient milestones, was fascinating. You're walking history.

 

[Kiwi-family]

Leaving Seville at the beginning of May and not needing to get to Santiago until the end of June. Planning on stopping 2-3-4 days in towns of particular interest. The three week portion that Daddy and Grandpa would join us for would be at a slower pace than our usual 25-35km days.
Seville to Merida
Merida to Salamanca
Casar de Cáceres to Zamora
Zamora to Santiago
These seem to be the choices. Santiago as an end point is not important for the guys, and my husband has walked through that part of Galicia so in some ways is keen to see something else - but then Grayland says that bit is nice!

 

[Kiwi-family]

Would it be anathema to bus Caceres to Banos de Montemayor?
This would avoid the long stretches that Grandpa is unsure about and the places with few beds (there will likely be 8 of us!) It would mean missing Grimaldo/Carcaboso/Aldeanueva del Camino - will we be missing out on anything that would be a real pity?
Should mention we would walk to Casar de Cáceres and spend a couplf days there, then walk back to Caceres to catch the bus.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Would it be anathema to bus Caceres to Banos de Montemayor?
This would avoid the long stretches that Grandpa is unsure about and the places with few beds (there will likely be 8 of us!) It would mean missing Grimaldo/Carcaboso/Aldeanueva del Camino - will we be missing out on anything that would be a real pity?
Should mention we would walk to Casar de Cáceres and spend a couplf days there, then walk back to Caceres to catch the bus.

Of course not! And there is a very good region al radio taxi service throughout the route. Whilst I agree with Grayland about the Zamora - Santiago half some of the etapas have serious elevations and are really quite demanding.

 

[LTfit]

This is a tough one! I've walked the Plata twice and the Sanabrés 3x and wouldn't want to miss anything but I guess that I would probably say Mérida - Salamanca.

Spring is the only season in which I haven't walked the Plata/Sanabrés...who knows, if I join Laurie next year from Almería we may meet up.

Happy planning.

 

[Donna Sch]

Ooh, tough question. I really like Merida and Salamanca and you have Caceres inbetween...so that would be one of my favourites. I also love the Sanabres. How good is Grandad on really tough hills? Albergueria is a tough slog for anyone.