Start from Where????

[galway]

Hi,
I'm a relativley experienced hiker. Been from the west of Ireland, we have more than enough routes to practice on. Some friends and I are thinking of atempting some of the camino this summer. We have a limited time frame of around 16 days. We can easily cover 20-25kms per day but we're really unsure as to where to start on the route. We would like to finish in Finnistaire as I some friends living there, but with 12-13 days walking time I dont know where to set off from. Maybe Leon would a good place. Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated.

regards

Galway

[HuskyNerd]

I'd recommend traveling to Leon, then busing it to Astorga. Beginning there would give you a few nice hikes in the mountains -- to Rabanal, Molinaseca, Villafranca del Bierzo, O Cebreiro, Samos -- all nice places and some of the highlights of the Camino. That's 273 kms to Santiago, so capable hikers should be able to manage that in about 10-11 days. It's another 3 days to Finisterre, so that should fit your timeframe.

The reason not to start the Camino in Leon is that its suburbs are dense and monotonous. Starting outside Leon at Astorga (or Hospital de Orbigo perhaps) puts you in fresh air and scenery right away.

Here's my slideshow of the Camino from 2008, including shots from Astorga on. Enjoy!

Buen camino!

[Covey]

Thoroughly agree with NOT starting in Leon itself.

You are faced with a 10kms walk through the industrial estates just to get to the outskirts of Leon and then either a trudge up the main road to Hospital, or the scenic route which ain't that scenic!!

Hospital de O or Astorga are good places to start and offer not too steep a walk to get the legs working!

[galway]

Thanks people, back to the drawing board.

Still can't wait.

Roll on the summer