Ruta de la Plata

[Priscillian]

I haven't (yet) walked the Camino de la Plata, but the new Autopista is marvellous from a driver's point of view, , which leaves the old road relatively free of traffic, and you will be walking a lot of it. It is both flat (olive then oak trees) and mountainous (read very up and very down). BUT, on my way back yesterday, I spoke with several pilgrims from Sevilla who said that there is no shortage of refugios and pilgrim-friendly people, and I saw enough people walking to reassure me that you won't be alone. Don't miss the Museo in Merida. A city built upon a city. Fascinating.
Maybe one day?
Tracy Saunders
http://pilgrimagetoheresy.com

[glenglaves]

Hi I have just completed the Via De La Plata starting at Alcaudete (Granada Route) and joining the route at Merida. Much of the walking is off road or within Extremadora on old part Roman roads. To say the route is beautiful is a massive understatement and yes the people are friendly enroute and there are a good number of Albergues - some quite new and no shortage of spaces in any of them. The terrain is quite challenging at times but well worth it and unlike the Camino Frances it is not packed out with touristo pilgrims. There are enough pilgrims on the route to make it interesting and we found that we kept meeting the same people even after losing them for a week. The route took me just over 5 weeks to complete but I didnt go mad over distances avaraging some 25 km a day but with some necessarily longer walks up to around 36 km on a couple of occassions. A couple of times it was necessary to stay in Hostels or Casa Rurals but they were not particularly expensive and all were pilgrim friendly. I updated my charity website throughout the journey and to give you an idea of the terrain you may like to go to www.justgiving.com/glenglaves and read the log.

[Leslie]

Glen, any chance of writing a guide to that route for me for the main site? I will be adding more information this winter and would like to have an explanations of all the routes.

Thanks if you get a chance.
Leslie