Planning my Trip

[annamarie]

Hi all, im hoping to do the Camino for the first time in July of this year. Unfortunately i only have limited holidays due to work so i was hoping to start in Leon and travel on to Santiago. Would anyone be able to tell me how long that would take approximately??

[Sil]

Leon is about 311kms from Santiago. If you can walk ? 25km per day, it will take you 12 - 13 days.
The route out of Leon is rather long and tedious, an asphalt path running alongside the highway. You culd get a bus to Hospital de Orbigo (275km from Santiago) and walk from there.
Many pilgrims start at Astorga (259km from Santiago).

Use the www.godesalco.com/plan website to plan your daily stages.

If you are not concerned about actually reaching Santiago you could walk any section of the 15 or so camino routes in Spain!

Good luck!

[Covey]

You are right about the route out of Leon. Very dreary, and quite easy to miss the split at "La Virgins" where the scenic(sic) country route splits off from the trudge along the hard shoulder of the highway.

I usually suggest that pilgrims catch the Leon town bus (by the bridge over the river and 50m from McDonalds!!) to La Virgen del Camino and miss the 8km slog through the industrial estates.

For some reason, those who lay out the Camino route seem to think we are all doing a PhD in Estate Management as the approach to all Spanish towns and cities includes a lengthy walk past cement works and car dealerships.