A brief review of “Official Route” changes since edition 8

In the UK there is no change to the route.

In France the route remains very stable, but the AEVF website and app have re-designated many stages adding a number of short stages and often recommending stage ends with very limited accommodation and no historical significance. In edition 9 I will make independent recommendations for stages endeavouring to balance distance with available facilities, but of course the walker should decide their preferred stopping place.

In Switzerland the route has remained fixed as have the stages.

In Italy there have been a number of improvements to the route for what appear to be safety reasons (these will appear in Edition 9) notably between Camaiore and Valpomaro where the busy SP1 is now bypassed and Between San Gimignano and Monteriggioni, where the Colle di Val d’Elsa route has adopted the Parco Fluviale path and has become primary and the historic route relegated to the status of a variant together with some re-designation of stages either combining adjacent short stages or changing the end point to bring it closer to pilgrim style accommodation. Unfortunately the re-designation has removed a number of congenial end points eg Costamezzana, Valpromaro, Ostello de Cesa and Pietrasanta. I am in the process of reviewing the stage changes but expect to largely accept those, but with highlighting possible intermediate stops.

There is no reason to believe that the routes described in Edition 8 will cease to function. However be alert to the possibility of new and perhaps conflicting signs.