Walking for 5/6 days at the end of October.. ???

[FredIreland]

Hi,

Sitting in work this mornig, I figured I have 1 weeks holiday left and didn't know what to be doing..!! Hence this thread... Don't know where I got the idea to walk from, but sounds good to me.!!

I figure I would have 5/6 days walking time on the Camino

Saturday - travel to start point (coming from ireland)
Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday - Walking
Saturday - Travel Home

I have run my eyes over every thread on this forum and can't make my mind up so I hope with a few questions answered I'll be able to start planning..!!

1. The best start point appears to be Pamplona if my time limit is 5/6 days - How do I get there? Fly to Biaritzz/Bilboa/Barcelona? Is there trains/buses from these airports to Pamplona. Would I be able to get from Dublin to pamplona in 1 day travelling?

2.If I walked for 6 days from pamplona where would I finish up? Is there good public transtport along the Camino to whisk you away to a large town to enable you to get to a city with an intl airport? Where should I try to fly back from?

3. Is end of Oct a good time to walk? Thinking of leaving Dublin on 25th Oct - would the weather be cold/wet/windy?

4. Is there a good guide book on walking this route?

I'm 28, reasonably fit, hill walked quite a bit before, but locally mostly (wicklow)

I look forwad to any info at all (even if it's non relevant to my questions, but would make me think..!!) If anyone else has done a similar trip (ie 5 days walking from Pamplona), I'd be delighted to hear, or if anyone is planning on walking around that time, would be great to hear what you are planning also.

Thanks

[peggilysaul]

When I read your message, I couldn't help but think of my walk in August, which was on the Le puy route in France. I flew to Lyon from Britain, and took trains to St. Etienne and then Le Puy. I started walking from Le Puy and if you only have 5 days, this would lead you through very beautiful countryside with plenty of places to stay. It is Le Chemin de St. Jacques, rather than the Camino de Santiago, but is a well-marked pilgrimage route with pleny, but not masses, of pilgrims.

October seems to me a good time to walk. Alison Raju has written a detailed guide book which will be helpful to you.

Good luck!

[FredIreland]

Thanks Peggi, I was thinking of walking another route apart from the Camino de Santiago route, but figured it might be a bit more populated on the 'main' route.
My dilema is getting to and from Ireland on a direct flight somewhere along the way..!!
Anyone from Ireland done a similar trip?????
Thanks,
Fred

[Leslie]

Hi Fred,

Getting to the starting place is often a problem on the Camino. If your flight to Biaritzz or Bilboa gets you there early enough there are trains from both to Pamplona - however from Bilboa I think the bus is the best choice. Barcelona is too far to get to Pamplona by bus or train in one day including the flight.

As for getting home I would chose to fly from Santiago - again direct flights to Dublin if they are still running. if not from Bilboa would be best.

Walking from Pamplona does put you in the middle of the countryside after 5/6 days - therefore I would suggest traveling on to Burgos or back to Pamplona.

Guide books are not required - it is almost impossible to get lost and there is loads of great information on the web. But there is a short list here http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk/books.html - but if you want one straight away try Hodges Figgis on Dawson Street - last time I was in they had 12 different Camino books.

Another alternative route is to fly in and out of Santiago and walk to Finisterra or travel back down the Camino and walk back.

I live in Dublin - I believe if you pack as if you were walking here at that time it will be pretty much the same - esp near Santiago.

[antonian]

1. The best start point appears to be Pamplona if my time limit is 5/6 days - How do I get there? Fly to Biaritzz/Bilboa/Barcelona? Is there trains/buses from these airports to Pamplona. Would I be able to get from Dublin to pamplona in 1 day travelling?

I think fly to Bilbao then by bus it's about 2hrs from Garellano station in Bilbao to Pamplona. From what I see "La Burundesa" operates the service.

2.If I walked for 6 days from pamplona where would I finish up? Is there good public transport along the Camino to whisk you away to a large town to enable you to get to a city with an intl airport? Where should I try to fly back from?

You could finish at Santo Domingo del la Calzada. You could probably go back to Bilbao as 6 days of walking doesn't get you very far compared to transport on wheels!. Autobuses La Uni?n seem to do a route from Sto. Domingo to Bilbao. probably 3 hours or so.

3. Is end of Oct a good time to walk? Thinking of leaving Dublin on 25th Oct - would the weather be cold/wet/windy?

From my experience, the later in the year the better. The crowds will be gone but there still will be plenty for company. It may be cold at night and early in the morning but the weather is generally fairly dry at that time of year.

4. Is there a good guide book on walking this route?

John Brierley's (fellow countryman) guide is probably the best and the guide from the Confraternity of St. James in the UK is good (and light) but you don't really need one. The way is very well marked and there should be no problems with accommodation in October.

Buen Camino
A.