The Camino Primitivo

The Camino Primitivo (or the Original Way) is reportedly the very first Camino Way to Santiago in the 9^th century when most of Spain was under the control of the Moors and it runs from near the city of Ovideo in Asturias as it starts in Villavicosa (which also lies on the Camino Norte so many people follow this Way from  Basque city of San Sebastian (Donosti in Basque) or in from the French border at Irun ( this route then hugs the Bay of Biscay passing through Guernica, Bilbao, Santander, Llanes before going under the Picos de Europa and then heads along the coast to Ovideo) before branching off onto the Primitivo which goes across the mountains and through the city of Lugo before joining the Frances at Melide. The route is 320km long.

Image taken from https://viaalpina2013.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/camino-del-norte-camino-primitivo/

Historically this route was followed by King Alfonso II the Chaste in the 9^th century (who helped to determine that the remains found in Santiago were indeed Saint James – there is a brief mention of this in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_II_of_Asturias ) as well as by Pilgrims from Northern Spain and elsewhere in Europe.

The start of this route is reported to be one of the most challenging Caminos and runs against the grain of the land and the walking through the mountains is hard with a lot of ascending and then descending but the way marking is good overall. However the weather can be harsh at any time of the year and can change quite quickly so July-August are said to be the best times to go.

There are albergues at : Sebrayo (before Villaviciosa), Valdediós, La Vega de Sariego, Oviedo, Escamplero, Villapañada (5 km after Grado), Cornellana, Salas, Bodenaya, Tineo, Borres, Berducedo, La Mesa, Grandas de Salime, Padron (2 km after Fonsagrada) Cádavo Baleira, Castroverde, Lugo, San Román da Retorta, Ponte Ferreira, As Seixas (taken from http://www.csj.org.uk/planning-your-pilgrimage/routes-to-santiago/routes-in-spain/the-primitive-route/). There is a discussion about accommodation on this route at https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/accommodation-on-the-camino-primitivo.4407/ if you want further information.

In 2015 there were 11,471 pilgrims travlled this route (4.37% of the total) compared to 172, 206 who walked the Camino Frances (65.61%).   

 

Image taken from http://caminotravelcenter.com/is-camino-primitivo-your-camino/

Guidebooks:

• The Confraternity of Saint publishes a guidebook  ‘Los Caminos del Norte, F: Camino Primitivo, Villaviciosa – Oviedo – Lugo – Melide’ for £5 (published in 2013)
• Cicerone publishes ‘The Northern Caminos’ which covers the Camino Primitivo and which costs £16.95 (or you can just download the part of the book on the Primitivo for £7.19) – available from http://www.cicerone.co.uk/9781852847944.cfm#.Vrr_w2fcuM8A partial guide is available at http://camino.xacobeo.es/en/routes/primitive-way
• A free guide (including the Way to Finisterre) is available at http://www.pilgrimagetraveler.com/support-files/combined-guide-to-the-camino-primitivo-most-recent-8.1.15.pdf which includes maps, accommodation and basic directions