What's your best non-standard itinerary for the last 100km?

[Ungawawa]

I never tire of doing the Camino Francés (five times and counting!), but the overcrowding in the summer months has made the Brierley stages from Sarria a no-go for me. That's why today I'm interested in your alternative itineraries for the last 100 km of the Francés in the summer!

I want to hear your ideas of how to avoid the worst logjams and keep your serenity. Please post your four or five-day stage suggestions for those last 100km avoiding the most overcrowded spots. Bonus points if you can add in some suggestions of albergues or special things that place has to offer in the summer!

Here's my most recent one to get the ball running:

• Barbadelo: the peaceful alternative to Sarria. Casa de Carmen is a nice spot to eat/stay with a charismatic hospitalera.
• Gonzar (28.7 km) - your choice of three places, one with a pool!
• Melide (32.3 km) - Albergue San Anton is great if you can get it
• Salceda (25.6 km) - enjoy the fabulous Mesón A Esquipa restaurant there with the best churrasco and pulpo
• Santiago (27.7 km)

 

[Robo]

I have walked that final section 3 times but not since 2018.
So places may have changed.

But if I was to walk it again I would only stay in intermediate 'smaller' places and probably leave later in the day, say 9am. But I'm not sure even that avoids the crowds much these days.

Maybe someone who has walked this year could give a view?

In the past we have stayed in places like Morgade, Ferreiros, Ventas, A Rua, A Brea, Salceda, Lavacolla.

Of course you know the easy answer!
Turn left at Ponferrada.

Why are you so keen to walk that part of the CF again?

 

[trecile]

But if I was to walk it again I would only stay in intermediate 'smaller' places and probably leave later in the day, say 9am. But I'm not sure even that avoids the crowds much these days.

Last year in June, coming off of the Primitivo I stayed in Boente and Santa Irene. I was in a private room in an albergue in Boente, but two of my friends were in the dorm, and when they woke up between 6:30 and 7:00 everyone else had left. I think that we started walking at 7:30 and didn't see lots of people on the way, though of course the bars were busy, but not overly so. The next night our small group were the only ones staying at Albergue Astrar near Santa Irene. The next morning we didn't see any other pilgrims for about an hour and a half.

 

[stewinyvr]

I managed a couple of quiet days after Sarria at Gonzar and Ponte Campaña. On the afternoon walking from Portomarin to Gonzar I only saw 10 people..I saw not much more than this the whole of the following day, but this was partly down to Hurricane Kirk..I was there at the beginning of October this year.

 

[Roland49]

• Barbadelo: the peaceful alternative to Sarria. Casa de Carmen is a nice spot to eat/stay with a charismatic hospitalera.
• Gonzar (28.7 km) - your choice of three places, one with a pool!
• Melide (32.3 km) - Albergue San Anton is great if you can get it
• Salceda (25.6 km) - enjoy the fabulous Mesón A Esquipa restaurant there with the best churrasco and pulpo
• Santiago (27.7 km)

I stayed in Sarria in Casa Peltre (not the worst stop, even in July), Portomarin (Folgueira), Ponte Campaña (Casa Domingo), A Rúa (Espiritu Xacobeo) and SdC (km 0) and was quite happy with the outcome.

 

[Harland2019]

The only thing I would suggest, if you want to get to Santiago early to either catch a plane home or to miss the worst of the queues for your Compostela, is to stay at Lavacolla. There will then be a short walk the following day into Santiago although you will likely miss the companionship of those you may have been walking with if they do a "more normal" final day.