- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23
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you are kind of stuck to the available albergues and can't choose too much. still, it was a fantastic experience.We are in the early stages of planning stages for the Camino de Madrid.
We? Yes, Pat is joining me for this one.
So I need to be careful with the stages. I can do a 30km if I have to. But prefer to keep to 20-25 kms if I can.
Pat won't cope with a 30 km.
Just looking at the stage from Cercedilla to Segovia.
There doesn't seem like any obvious way of breaking that up.
It starts with a 600m ascent too.
No way Pat could do this stage in one go, and frankly, I would struggle too.
Whilst planning I would normally look at trying to do a bit of the stage added to the previous day, or likewise at the end of the day. i.e. Stop short of Segovia. But it seems there are no intermediate stops.
Any thoughts from those who have walked it?
All Good. I think I found the answer here! (via La Granja) Sorry
From Cercedilla to Segovia, the way climbs to over 1800 metres (I beleave the highest point of all spanish caminos) above sea level. The route (+-30km) is very long and strenuous and there is probably no reliable overnight accommodation in between. I walked the Madrid route at the end of April and at that time there was still a lot of snow above. I cheated and travelled from Cercedilla to Segovia by train.We are in the early stages of planning stages for the Camino de Madrid.
We? Yes, Pat is joining me for this one.
So I need to be careful with the stages. I can do a 30km if I have to. But prefer to keep to 20-25 kms if I can.
Pat won't cope with a 30 km.
Just looking at the stage from Cercedilla to Segovia.
There doesn't seem like any obvious way of breaking that up.
It starts with a 600m ascent too.
No way Pat could do this stage in one go, and frankly, I would struggle too.
Whilst planning I would normally look at trying to do a bit of the stage added to the previous day, or likewise at the end of the day. i.e. Stop short of Segovia. But it seems there are no intermediate stops.
Any thoughts from those who have walked it?
When are you going on the Madrid. I will probably start about October 20 after I finish the Aragones. I was planning on going to Valsain or La Pradera. The problem for me is that detour will probably cost me about 90E which is a 3 day budget for me. If you are going before me I would love to hear a route description of your stage. Buen CaminoAll Good. I think I found the answer here! (via La Granja) Sorry
We are in the early stages of planning stages for the Camino de Madrid.
We? Yes, Pat is joining me for this one.
So I need to be careful with the stages. I can do a 30km if I have to. But prefer to keep to 20-25 kms if I can.
Pat won't cope with a 30 km.
Just looking at the stage from Cercedilla to Segovia.
There doesn't seem like any obvious way of breaking that up.
It starts with a 600m ascent too.
No way Pat could do this stage in one go, and frankly, I would struggle too.
Whilst planning I would normally look at trying to do a bit of the stage added to the previous day, or likewise at the end of the day. i.e. Stop short of Segovia. But it seems there are no intermediate stops.
Any thoughts from those who have walked it?
I have been many times in Fuenfria and always found somone there ( cyclists or/and wallkers). From first July the parking in Las Dehesas is limited to 240 cars and you must previously reserve on internet and pay a fee to park there.The path was isolated and somewhat desolate when I walked it but was an extraordinary experience. A very different kind of Camino and great. Always have food and water on you. Peace, Bob
We walked the Madrid last april. We had diner in Las Dehesas and afterwards walked on to the youth albergue. Saves a few km next day.Exactlly. We´re planning to go next Spring and have the following stages planned between Madrid & Segovia:
Madrid to Tres Cantos - 25.2
Tres Cantos to Mazarenes el Real - 25.3
Manzanares el Real to Las Dehesas - 25
Las Dehesas to La Granja de San Ildefonzo (with the big climb) - 22.5
La Granja de San Ildefonzo to Segovia - 12
Just looking at the stage from Cercedilla to Segovia.
There doesn't seem like any obvious way of breaking that up.
It starts with a 600m ascent too.
What time of the year? We found the lack of infrastructure in late Autumn...November time frame.We are in the early stages of planning stages for the Camino de Madrid.
We? Yes, Pat is joining me for this one.
So I need to be careful with the stages. I can do a 30km if I have to. But prefer to keep to 20-25 kms if I can.
Pat won't cope with a 30 km.
Just looking at the stage from Cercedilla to Segovia.
There doesn't seem like any obvious way of breaking that up.
It starts with a 600m ascent too.
No way Pat could do this stage in one go, and frankly, I would struggle too.
Whilst planning I would normally look at trying to do a bit of the stage added to the previous day, or likewise at the end of the day. i.e. Stop short of Segovia. But it seems there are no intermediate stops.
Any thoughts from those who have walked it?
Probably September.What time of the year? We found the lack of infrastructure in late Autumn...November time frame.
Maybe Sep next year.....When are you going on the Madrid. I will probably start about October 20 after I finish the Aragones. I was planning on going to Valsain or La Pradera. The problem for me is that detour will probably cost me about 90E which is a 3 day budget for me. If you are going before me I would love to hear a route description of your stage. Buen Camino
If you are trying to be kind to your body, that first stage out of Madrid even though it’s only 25km is a lot of hard concrete walking. When I did it last year all the Spaniards I met started either in Tres Cantos or Colemnar Viejo to skip the concrete. When I go back again in a couple of years I’ll do the same.We are in the early stages of planning stages for the Camino de Madrid.
We? Yes, Pat is joining me for this one.
So I need to be careful with the stages. I can do a 30km if I have to. But prefer to keep to 20-25 kms if I can.
Pat won't cope with a 30 km.
Just looking at the stage from Cercedilla to Segovia.
There doesn't seem like any obvious way of breaking that up.
It starts with a 600m ascent too.
No way Pat could do this stage in one go, and frankly, I would struggle too.
Whilst planning I would normally look at trying to do a bit of the stage added to the previous day, or likewise at the end of the day. i.e. Stop short of Segovia. But it seems there are no intermediate stops.
Any thoughts from those who have walked it?
Miles And Miles of Bugger-All
I would walk that again but earlier.Probably September.
Why earlier?I would walk that again but earlier.
Thats what I want to do next time as I went directly from Cercedilla to Segovia, and that was my third time visiting Segovia.yes .. taking train out of Madrid to Tres Cantos is worth it...plus we did following -
Cercedilla - Fuenfira Pass - Valsain - San lldefonso O La Granja
Was a long day and last part into San Ildefonso next to just tarsealed road so was smelley n hot at the time but do-able.
Have a spreadsheet for our stages if it helps as we aimed at 20-25 a day.
Segovia is definitely a big highlight - give it 2-3nights.
Cheers
Tres Cantos to Colmenar has no concrete. But in summer Tres Cantos - Manzanares is not beautiful, so starting in Colmenar you can shorten it ten kms.Tres Cantos or Colemnar Viejo to skip the concrete. When I go back again in a couple of years I’ll do the same.
We are in the early stages of planning stages for the Camino de Madrid.
We? Yes, Pat is joining me for this one.
So I need to be careful with the stages. I can do a 30km if I have to. But prefer to keep to 20-25 kms if I can.
Pat won't cope with a 30 km.
Just looking at the stage from Cercedilla to Segovia.
There doesn't seem like any obvious way of breaking that up.
It starts with a 600m ascent too.
No way Pat could do this stage in one go, and frankly, I would struggle too.
Whilst planning I would normally look at trying to do a bit of the stage added to the previous day, or likewise at the end of the day. i.e. Stop short of Segovia. But it seems there are no intermediate stops.
Any thoughts from those who have walked it?
No taxi to Fuenfria. An alternative to avoid the climb and get there is: bus from Cercedilla station to Puerto de Navacerrada, if train continues closed for works, and walk from there to Puerto Fuenfria on Camino Schmidt - Senda de los Cospes - fuente and puerto Fuenfria. One hour and a half walkI guess another option to get Pat 'up the hill' at least, would be to taxi to the top.
Means we avoid the climb, shorten the stage, get to see the view, have the nice walk down hill and don't have to skip the stage.
I might keep that hidden in my back pocket as a Plan B or C.
That’s one of the things that makes this stage and the spot so beautiful — no motorized transport in sight! No tourist buses with people hopping on and off for the view. No way to get there but by walking.No taxi to Fuenfria.
Well I guess you can ask me what I thought hahaMaybe Sep next year.....
A SUV could get there but is prohibited. Also motocycles.That’s one of the things that makes this stage and the spot so beautiful — no motorized transport in sight! No tourist buses with people hopping on and off for the view. No way to get there but by walking.
You could take a taxi from Cercedilla to the parking lot at the top of Ctra. De las Dehesas called parking Majavilan and its next to the Camino path. Its where hikers park that want access to the area.I guess another option to get Pat 'up the hill' at least, would be to taxi to the top.
Means we avoid the climb, shorten the stage, get to see the view, have the nice walk down hill and don't have to skip the stage.
I might keep that hidden in my back pocket as a Plan B or C.
I broke it up with a stay in La Granja de San Ildefonso. It is a bit of a detour off Camino, but there is a beautiful early 18th century royal palace and gardens, if that's your kind of thing.We are in the early stages of planning stages for the Camino de Madrid.
We? Yes, Pat is joining me for this one.
So I need to be careful with the stages. I can do a 30km if I have to. But prefer to keep to 20-25 kms if I can.
Pat won't cope with a 30 km.
Just looking at the stage from Cercedilla to Segovia.
There doesn't seem like any obvious way of breaking that up.
It starts with a 600m ascent too.
No way Pat could do this stage in one go, and frankly, I would struggle too.
Whilst planning I would normally look at trying to do a bit of the stage added to the previous day, or likewise at the end of the day. i.e. Stop short of Segovia. But it seems there are no intermediate stops.
Any thoughts from those who have walked it?
I broke it up with a stay in La Granja de San Ildefonso. It is a bit of a detour off Camino, but there is a beautiful early 18th century royal palace and gardens, if that's your kind of thing.
Edited to add: I see you've already found this. I will add my support to the idea of stopping at one of the youth hostels between Cercedilla and Fuenfria.
The red pin on this map is where we stayed on the outskirts of town closer to the pass. The place further north and even closer to the pass looks like cabin-type accommodation. The town centre is where the yellow stars are.Edited to add: I see you've already found this. I will add my support to the idea of stopping at one of the youth hostels between Cercedilla and Fuenfria.
Yes I agree with @jungleboy I stayed in the "first" YH/AJ, the one on the left. It is called Villa Castora. I had a room to myself with two beds, ensuite. There was a group of teenage children in but they were very well behaved! It is a smartish place but a bit soulless? They served a basic evening meal and provided packed lunch. Coffee and drinks etc from machines.Which is the one that has private rooms in a separate building away from the kids dorms?
I stayed at Hostal Longinos as well and it wqs decent accommodation.The red pin on this map is where we stayed on the outskirts of town closer to the pass. The place further north and even closer to the pass looks like cabin-type accommodation. The town centre is where the yellow stars are.
The point of all this being that there are options other than youth hostels that can shorten the next day by a couple of kms.
View attachment 176548
I walked The Madrid last fall, but started from Segovia after spending three nights in that awesome city before walking. I had broken my shoulder in the spring and was still in "healing mode" so wanted a physically less challenging and overall flatter route, and the Madrid was perfect. I was able to shorten some of the longest stages, and stayed approximately half in pre-booked hotels/pensions and half in a variety of albergues.Probably September.
Robo, I can’t comment on all the suggestions above because I did the stage on a bike. However, I do agree with @jungleboy that it would be a great pity to miss out on this stage. I remember that I had to push my bike up most of the climb, but do not remember it as being prohibitively difficult, and it is certainly beautiful. We (my son and I) stayed in Cercedilla, but I remember wishing we’d chosen the youth hostel suggested by others. Of course the downhill was particularly easy for us, so I’m not entitled to suggest strategy for that.We are in the early stages of planning stages for the Camino de Madrid
Did you follow Carretera de la Republica from Las Dehesas ? It is much easier with a bike.Robo, I can’t comment on all the suggestions above because I did the stage on a bike.
Sorry, what does that mean?Pat must not know it is an option to miss the Roman Road.
Hopefully they will miss the "deposits" the horses' leave behind!We even heard horses’ hooves clip-clopping on the stones. You don’t want to miss that!
That's where I stayed. The cook was very nice.Myself and some other forum members stayed in the youth hostel furthest from town but it was almost at the start of the Roman rd. so was great for the morning. Dining room reminded me of school dinners and we were given packed breakfasts as we wanted to leave early. I would go there again. it was very friendly.
Are there any particular aspects related to staying at a Youth Hostel that we should know about?
They are both owned by the Comunidad de Madrid. On the web pages I’ve linked to, you can see that all users need to show a Spanish ID card or passport. Discounts are given to those who have hostel cards. I take that to mean that there is still no requirement that you get a youth hostel card.
The website also goes through the reservation process, which requires a downpayment or a bank transfer, but that is unlikely to apply to pilgrims.
I'm pretty sure I didn't have to do a bank transfer. I've never done one on Camino. Either I didn't need a down payment in June when I was walking or they found another way to handle it.I walked the Madrid more than ten years ago, but since no one else has jumped in, here is my experience. I was walking with two Spaniards and none of us had a hostel card. I stayed at the same place as @DoughnutANZ, which is the Albergue Juvenil Las Dehesas. I also had a private room, and my two companions shared a room with two single beds. We were in a different wing than the large bunk rooms. The place was filled with energetic young teens, running and shouting around the (very nice forested) grounds in the late afternoon, but after dinner we heard not a peep.
The albergue located about 1.5 km further on is the Albergue Juvenil Villa Castora. Some forum members have stayed there too.
They are both owned by the Comunidad de Madrid. On the web pages I’ve linked to, you can see that all users need to show a Spanish ID card or passport. Discounts are given to those who have hostel cards. I take that to mean that there is still no requirement that you get a youth hostel card. The website also goes through the reservation process, which requires a downpayment or a bank transfer, but that is unlikely to apply to pilgrims.
I have written to ask for information and will let you know if I learn anything more.
At certain times of the year, e.g. April, it seems that they require a minimum 2-night stay. You see this when you go into the reservation system.there is a nice rural hotel in between the two albergues, right on the camino.
That is sometimes true. For example, Rural Agoga in Las Medulas on the Invierno, has a two night minimum on Booking com, but Laurie was able to secure me a single night in late September.At certain times of the year, e.g. April, it seems that they require a minimum 2-night stay. You see this when you go into the reservation system.
Yes, some places make exceptions for pilgrims, so it is worth asking.That is sometimes true. For example, Rural Agoga in Las Medulas on the Invierno, has a two night minimum on Booking com, but Laurie was able to secure me a single night in late September.
@Robo,
I know that you are not averse to an occasional splurge, and I just saw on googlemaps that there is a nice rural hotel in between the two albergues, right on the camino.
Hotel rural en la sierra de Madrid - Las Rozuelas
Un lugar acogedor…, …en un entrono natural increíble…, …a una hora de Madrid Nuestros clientes opinan en Google: «Trato familiar entorno precioso habitación inigualable. Un lugar idílico para ir.» D.J., «Estuvimos el fin de semana mi pareja y yo y fue una experiencia increíble.» J.G...lasrozuelas.com
View attachment 177087
The albergue located about 1.5 km further on is the Albergue Juvenil Villa Castora. Some forum members have stayed there too.
I think that there is the option of a local train. Someone with more knowledge may be able to supply the detailsBut we'll play it by ear on the day, and I'll have some options up my sleeve.
Divert to Navalhorno, or La Granja, or worst case; Bus/Taxi the last bit into Segovia.
Yes I think there is. But I’d like us to try it. The hill.I think that there is the option of a local train. Someone with more knowledge may be able to supply the details
It means don't tell her that there is a way to avoid the Roman road, because then she might choose to avoid it and would then miss out on a great experience.Sorry, what does that mean?
She doesn’t know the route…
Diverting to La Granja worked for me, but it is also perhaps a bit of a splurge as there is no albergue there. On the other hand, if you like 18thC royal palaces and gardens, there is a nice one there.So every km I can shave off that day will help.
Won't exactly be easy for me either!
25 kms is my normal maximum.
But we'll play it by ear on the day, and I'll have some options up my sleeve.
Divert to Navalhorno, or La Granja, or worst case; Bus/Taxi the last bit into Segovia.
Yes, there is a train, it’s a Cercanías, but you have to get on in Cercedilla and go to Segovia, so it misses the entire ascent to Fonfría.I think that there is the option of a local train. Someone with more knowledge may be able to supply the details
That won’t be an option thenYes, there is a train, it’s a Cercanías, but you have to get on in Cercedilla and go to Segovia, so it misses the entire ascent to Fonfría.
Ask Peg; she might think it's the perfect option.That won’t be an option then
I have......Ask Pat; she might think it's the perfect option.
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