Camino Frances with a toddler

[Ana]

Hi there,
we have been thinking about doing the Camino for a long time, but never got round to it. Not least because we now have a 20 month old daughter.

But we'd like to keep dreaming, so we're trying to find out more about doing the Camino in earnest, maybe May/June 2010. Our daughter walks well and has good stamina for her age, but needs to be in a pushchair for longer bits.

Would it be feasable to do the camino with an all-terrain pushchair?
Are there any areas where a pushchair could not be taken (mountains/scrambling/streams)?
Are the albuerges happy to take small children?
What sort of weight do most people carry on their backs?
Is it necessary to pre-book accommodation? It'd be easier to be flexible in this regard to allow to stay longer where it's nice or when necessary.

I'd be very grateful to hear from anybody who's done this with small children or has any advice for us.

Thank you

Ana

[Covey]

The first problem will be going in 2010. 2010 is a Holy Year when the 25th July ( Feast day of St James) falls on a Sunday. The Spanish Government estimate that there will be up to 250,000 pilgrims during the year which is double that of this year.

I assume that a lot of 2010 pilgrims will be trying to get to Santiago for the 25th July so you would hit the trail at a very busy time. Also the weather in May is not as good as later in the year. If you could go in September it would probably be easier than May/June.

If you need to use a pushchair then I would suggest you start at Pamplona as the Roncesvalles to Zubiri section is a very rough track.

There were a number of children walking with parents this year in July/Aug but they tended to be in the 10+ age group. Some official albergues will not take small children, but most of the private ones seem to.