Is it possible to mix Camino Norte and Camino Frances?

[Superviviente]

Hello all future and veteran peregrinos!! I am a first time pilgrim on this year of the Saint. I am an english teacher in the south of Spain and have always dreamed of doing the pilgrimage in the north. I am at a crossroads however because I want to visit many cities that are on both routes. I was wondering if it was possible/feasible to interchange between the two routes: Camino Norte y Camino Frances. Is is too much distance to, for example, to start in ST. Jean and go to Pamplona, then head north to Bilbao y Santander, and then head back south to Leon to the Camino Frances? Are there routes connecting these two routes, are there albergues, pilgrim friendly facilities? I have been doing my research I would just like a second opinion from veteran peregrinos on what is the best option/plan. I am fully capable of walking long distances so that is not any issue... I have noticed however that the Camino Norte is much more elevated than the Camino Frances and those elevated parts are in my tentative path. Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated! Muchisimas gracias. Nos veremos en el camino!
Will

[Covey]

It is your Camino, and you can walk it any way you wish.

As I have said elsewhere on the Forum, the Camino Frances is the ideal training ground for the first time pilgrim. There are frequent towns and villages, and most have an albergue or two. There are lots of pilgrims to meet and greet and therefore a good support network. The Northern Route is harder, has far less frequent albergues and far less pilgrims. I have met pilgrims who started out walking the Northern Route, but who abandoned the way and came down to the Camino Frances because they were lonely!!

SJPDP to Pamplona gets you in to the rhythm of walking and the albergues etc, so arriving on the coastal route will not be too much of a shock. Personally, I would never want to miss the Meseta stage between Burgos and Leon, but that is a personal choice and many would advise that the Meseta can be missed out.

If I were you, I would visit Bilbao and Santander on the way to SJPDP and do your tourist thing, and then give your soul over to the Camino Frances and the Way to Santiago and Finesterre.

Buen Camino.

[Sil]

There are many lesser known, alternate routes between the Norte and Frances
For instance, you could walk the 100km Camino Baztan from Bayonne to Trinidad de Arre which is about 4.5km from Pamlpona. http://www.rutasnavarra.com/index.asp
There is also the ± 300km Via de Bayona route from Bayonne to Burgos http://www.caminoviadebayona.com/
You could walk the 210km Camino Vasco del Interior from Irun to Santo Domingo
From Leon to Oviedo you are on the el Salvador *Asociación Astur-Leonesa*de Amigos del Camino de Santiago - Inicio
And from Oviedo to Santiago, on the Primitivo. www.amigosdelcamino.com

Go for it! You might have to use the occasional transport between towns but you will get a Compostela if you walk the last 100km to Santiago.

[Superviviente]

Thanks so much Covey and Sil! I have some tough decisions to make in the near future, but the good advice will make the decision making process much easier. Thanks for the insight and the helpful websites. I have been researching them all day!! I think it's almost as fun planning for the Camino as it's going to be walking it all the way to Fisterre!! Hope to see you there or at least follow in your footsteps!
Will

[Pavel]

What about starting at Lourdes, traversing to Camino Norte (still on foot) and then going that way to Compostela? I already went Camino Francés, so I am thinking of alternatives. I plan to go with some friend(s) for the second time, so being alone is not a problem, and Lourdes seems to me as ideal starting point for 5 weeks journey.

[Tanya Yaksich]

Your comments don't make sense and sound sleazy, go away

[Sil]

Of course you can do that - no problem and authentic routes to follow. Lourdes to St Jean - http://vppyr.free.fr/
L'association du chemin de St Jacques en Ari
There is a marked way from St Jean Pied de Port to Bayonne - Voie de la NIVE Les étapes
And then you can walk from Bayonne to Irun and all the way to Santiago on the Camino Norte. Walk along the GR10 from st jean pe de port to hendaye/irun, about 4 days. GR10 De Hendaye
SJPDP to St Etienne, Bayonne to St Jen de Luz, St Jean to Irun
Good luck - it sounds wonderful!

[Pavel]

Thank you very much, Sil!
If we would have five weeks to go next year (or later, now our plan is in stage of dreams in heads of few potencial pilgrims, not so serious yet), we will need your links!