Best way to get to Astorga

[sean]

Hi,

I plan to walk part of the Camino in September this year and have a query about the best way to get to Astorga. I will be flying from Ireland, possibly with Ryanair and hope to have about 10 days walking. I do not want to spend any time in Santiago as I have walked two Caminos and had my fill of it.
My first plan would be to possibly walk from Astorga to Sarria. Second would be to walk up from Madrid to Astorga and join the French way.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Sean
Dublin.

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Sean ~
Congrats on your upcoming adventure. You can take the train from Madrid to Leon, then from Leon to Astorga (on the Ponferrada line). As usual the Renfe site doesn't help much since it doesn't list Astorga as a principal destination. However, if you type in Madrid as origin and Ponferrada as destination and wait for results when you click on the Tren/Recorrido link you'll see Astorga is a stop on the itinerary.

Mind if I propose an alternative Camino for you? Why not take the Via de la Plata (via Sanabres) from Zamora to Ourense? Ourense is a great town with a lovely old city. If the 300 kms distance of this option is too much you could start somewhere after Zamora, like Riego del Camino or Tabara. You can find distances here http://www.godesalco.com/plan/plata if you're interested.

Buen camino ~
Sandy

[sean]

Hi Sandy,

Tempted by the alternative. I have a friend on this route at the moment and will suss it out when he returns. Is it relatively easy to get to Zamora from Madrid? I might try that route and continue up to Astorga and then turn left/west. You walked part of this route last year, is it very hilly? I would have no problem with 300km in 8/9 days.
Many thanks for your help.

Regards,

Sean,
Dublin.

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Sean~
Zamora is only 2 1/2 hours from Madrid Chamartin by train, but there's only one daytime train each day, I believe. There are some significant climbs -- to Padornelo and to Albergueria. There are also some amazing views between A Gudina and Campoberceros. This planner http://www.godesalco.com/plan/plata has a topographical option that you might find helpful. Buen camino~
Sandy