Starting the frances in León on Wednesday

Hey everyone! So I've been thinking about going on the camino for a while but recent life events made me move things up quite spontaneously. I have planned and booked for my first 2 days of arrival and staying in leon but nothing further.

It would really help my nerves for the first few days of the camino if someone has some practical tips for that area (best albergues, interesting towns, favourite restaurants)

Also if you can recommend a downloadable guide (paid or free) with those sorts of tips, and less spirituality or history focused that would be awesome.

Thanks and buen camino!

in CaminoDeSantiagoby Igotbanned-oops

100%

15d

velotout

15d

Here’s our full list from Leon to Santiago last September, I’ve asterisked my favourite stays, the one in Barbadelo has a pool and avoids the melee of Sarria, there’s a real mix from basic to luxury, no bad stays, and enjoyed an amazing evening with Fran the owner of the 17th century Manor House - Las Horas Perdidas where we enjoyed a queimada followed by a moonlit walk in his oak forest…

Camino bookings Friday 15th Leon LB Hostal Covent Garden

Saturday 16th Hospital de Órbigo LB Auberge Verde * 37.1km

Sunday 17th Astorga Albergue So Por Hoje 18km 55.1km

Monday 18th Foncebadon Albergue Monte Irago 26.1km 81.2km

Tuesday 19th Molinaseca NB Hostal Casa San Nicholas 23km 104.2km

Wednesday 20th Pieros LS Albergue El Sebal Y La Luna 28.1km 132.3km

Thursday 21st Vega de Valcarce NB Albergue Pensión Fernández 27.6km 159.9km

Friday 22nd Fonfria IB Casa Galego * 23.2km 183.1km

Saturday 23rd Pintin LB Pensión Casa Cines 21.5km 204.6km

Sunday 24th Barbadelo IB Albergue de Barbadelo * 26.8km 231.4km

Monday 25th PortoMarín & taxi NB Las Horas Perdidas * 21.43km 252.83km

Tuesday 26th Eirexe LB Pensión de Eirixe 16.9km

Wednesday 27th Malide IB Pensión Praza das Coles 22.1km

Thursday 28th Salceda IB Albergue La Corona 25.1km

Friday 29th Lavacola IB Toxiños Lavacola 17.3km

Saturday 30th 10.3km Camino de Santiago NB Hotel Costa Vella *

Sunday 1st Camino de Santiago NB Hotel Costa Vella

velotout

15d

We only booked a day or so ahead, apart from the Hotel Costa Vella, initials are so we could keep tabs of who booked it. Oh and the distances include a lot of side trails, and me walking back up the trail to Sahagun to see the monastery

Igotbanned-oops

15d

Wow thank you so much! this is literally a perfect comment. I'm gonna look at all those spots now.

Also, 37km on the first day wow

Shot-Artichoke-4106

15d

We split that portion into 2 days - overnights in Villar de Mazarife and then Orbigo. I think that's a better way to go starting out so you don't over do it on the 1st day. 37km is a pretty long way, even if you already had been walking awhile and had your Camino legs already.

velotout

15d

That was exactly the original plan

Igotbanned-oops

14d

That sounds more doable for me, however when I look at Camino ninja the route doesn't appear to pass there.

Now I don't mind a slight detour but is the road well marked there? I'm kinda bad at navigating lol

rest_api

Francés: caminoapp.org

14d

Hey, Vilar de Mazarife is on a variant path. My free app “Camino Frances” includes it. Here’s a screenshot of the variant path on the map: https://bashify.io/img/2c9bd80ca65c4ce4777d9d55ff3473c2

Shot-Artichoke-4106

14d

Yes, Villar de Mazarife is on an alternate route. It's a much nicer walk than the standard route, which is mostly along the road. The route.to Villar de Mazarife goes along farm roads and paths. There are several alternate paths at various places along the way. Usually pretty well marked.

velotout

15d

Yeah I got dealt that as my sister booked Albergue Verde and took the bus part way, I didn’t want to get back on a bus after a day travelling to Leon so took the scenic route, met chatted and lunched with some amazing people, and got a mighty blister!

hanskit

15d

My favourite Albergue of my whole trip was Albergue Villares de Orbigo. We stayed there on our second day out of Leon. You might want to do longer distances than we did, but if it lines up it's a fab place.

Igotbanned-oops

15d

It looks beautiful, definitely saved on google maps.

I have around 18 days to complete the camino so I think I can take a few days slow. Where did you stay on your first day?

hanskit

14d

We stayed in Villar Mazarife, the alternative route was very pretty and not all on roads.

Some-guys-husband

15d

Suggestion, if you’re starting from Leon, you might want to take a taxi to La Virgen del Camino church, and start walking from there. The walk through León itself is looong and not very interesting, imo.

a_walking_mistake

Norte 2014, 22, 23 - Frances 2023 - Ingles 2023, 23

15d

Today I walked from Leon to San Martin del Camino, and it was hands down the worst part of the trail so far. OP, consider taking the southern variant; the north is... not great

McBuffington

15d

There are 3 apps to my knowledge.

Buen Camino (which has its quirks but also it's charms) it's a complete guide to the camino. It can list all albergues in the towns you visit. Has a map and a height map so you can see what is coming up. It also lists what kinds of facilities can be found in most villages. Bonus is that it also contains whatsapp contact info and phone numbers of some albergues. It was my first app and I think I'm sticking with it. Calculating distance is a pain though. But it has some extra info on the stages and shows alternative routes

Camino Ninja, which I mainly use to calulculate distances. Also has a map and is very intuitive for distance calculation. Also neatly lists all albergeus and facilities per town.

Then there is a third paid app of which I can't remember the name. But it basically does whatever the 2 others do. But I am told it's more user friendly and convenient.

rest_api

Francés: caminoapp.org

15d

My Camino Frances app potentially (hopefully)? 😅😂 but free! Not paid at all, no registration.

Live map, smart elevation profiles, variant routes, plan builder (this is where it shines), fluent search, all accom with direct booking links.

Next version coming out in a few days which also includes place photos and a map based accommodation search 🙌🏻