Average walking speed

[Camino with Kids]

Does anyone have an idea of the average walking speed on the Camino Ingles between Betazos and Bruma? I realize everyone is a different age and fitness level - I'm just looking for a speed to target in training as this is a 31 km day to our accommodation just past Bruma.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tia Valeria]

Our normal average is 4km per hour and this slowed us to just over 3kms per hour in some places, which is why we worked the Meson do Vento/Casa Julia split.
Best to think as a % of the normal speed of the slowest one.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I plan a foot speed of 4km per hour, and everyone passes me (unless they are stopped). Average is about 5kph; I find Europeans are more like 6kph. I think they are faster because they have cultures that get them on their feet more than Americans who drive 1/4 mile to the store.

 

[Al the optimist]

4K to 5K seems the average for mild uppsies and downsies for most folk. The hill up to Bruma is not that bad if you are not carrying a lot. It is just unfortunately at the end of the day. Take a good break at Bar Julia and stop a few times on the way up. Perhaps send your bag on? Or as many now seem to do split it there and get carried to/back from Meson do Vento.

 

[koknesis]

Does anyone have an idea of the average walking speed on the Camino Ingles between Betazos and Bruma? I realize everyone is a different age and fitness level - I'm just looking for a speed to target in training as this is a 31 km day to our accommodation just past Bruma.

Thanks in advance!

for the training, you can go as fast as you can. On a real trail, including Camino, speed is not so relevant in order to cover long distances. What matters is how long you can walk and how many stops you need. As it was stated elsewhere thru-hiking is a turtle game, not rabbit.

 

[dougfitz]

My overall moving average along the Camino Ingles was 4.1 kph. On the leg from Bentanzos and Bruma I averaged 4.0 kph. Climb adjusted, I was averaging just a little under 5 kph. I have no idea what the average might be, or whether it will help you understand what you need to set as a training target. My recent training walks have been at 6 kph (16 km) and a bit over 5 kph (28 km). These were with just a hydration style pack and not the heavier pack I carry on the Camino.

 

[Catholic Deacon]

Training what training!? We are beginning in Ferrol on 20th March and can promise you we won't have trained and are very overweight! So wish us luck!!

 

[SabsP]

Does anyone have an idea of the average walking speed on the Camino Ingles between Betazos and Bruma? I realize everyone is a different age and fitness level - I'm just looking for a speed to target in training as this is a 31 km day to our accommodation just past Bruma.

Thanks in advance!

I just checked my Phone with the details of that walk.

30.13 kilometer

Total time with halts and stops : 8h .12 min.

Total walking time : 6h. 7 min.

 

[BrienC]

including Camino, speed is not so relevant in order to cover long distances. What matters is how long you can walk and how many stops you need.

Time is so much more relevant. Most anyone can walk 15-20km in daylight hours. How long it takes depends on many factors, most notably, fitness, pack weight, natural stride (helped by long legs), goals (are they: get it done, or smell the roses), heat/cold/rain/mud, etc. Do what you can in training at home, and go with the flow on the Camino.

Buen Camino

 

[daesdaemar]

i have done the Ingles twice and consistently averaged 4 kph (2.5 mph).

 

[t2andreo]

My colleague veteran pilgrims have aptly stated all the "normal" speeds above. My take on it is, what I call the '345 rule' (of thumb). That is 3 kph on most dedicated uphill or downhill segments, 4 kph on rolling or mostly flat terrain, and 5 kph on totally flat terrain, like the Meseta.

On very steep inclines, like coming out of St. Jean to Orisson, the pace does slow to about 2.5 km per hour, for most folks. It takes about 3 hours to walk up the hill to Orisson, 8 km from St. Jean Pied de Port. THAT is why so many of us like to stay the first night there.

As stated above, many Europeans can do in excess of this pace, and covering 6 or more kilometers each hour is not unheard of. Although WHY, I still have not figured out...

Downhills can take as long as uphills, especially with a rucksack, or on slippery or uneven surfaces. Those of us, on the "south side of 60," will typically use our walking sticks to ensure that gravity and inertia do not propel us downhill at too great a speed, and off the trail into a ditch, or worse. When I was younger, I could run down hills, even with a rucksack on, taking advantage of the added pull of gravity to move faster. Now, I gauge the benefits of being a human 'snowball' rolling down a mountain path, against the likely cost of a hospital stay to mend my broken body...

Besides, the faster one walks, the less one experiences what the Camino has to offer. Some pilgrims have valid reasons for needing to process down the road at a quicker pace. I respect this. But, in general, I always advocate taking one's time and enjoying the journey. I have learned that the journey IS the destination. In fact, my wife framed that missive when I did my first Camino, and it now hangs in our home.

I hope this helps.

 

[musicman]

Walked this last September, it is not worth overreaching yourself to follow 31 Km. It' s too good a walk to stress yourself.Take the break, as advised above.We got a lift from Casa Julia and it was a good decision.
Buen Camino.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I walk at 3km/h, but I walk like a Geisha, super short steps.

 

[rometimed]

Slow is about 2 KM's/hour... really fast is about 7 KM's/hour. In that stretch I'd wager about 4 KM's/hour.

 

[rometimed]

As stated above, many Europeans can do in excess of this pace, and covering 6 or more kilometers each hour is not unheard of. Although WHY, I still have not figured out...

Pfff... to get to the vino quicker T2A

 

[naplesdon]

Does anyone have an idea of the average walking speed on the Camino Ingles between Betazos and Bruma? I realize everyone is a different age and fitness level - I'm just looking for a speed to target in training as this is a 31 km day to our accommodation just past Bruma.

Thanks in advance!

Average speed needs to take into account your coffee and rest stops. Your pace might be 5, 6 or 7 k/h but at the end of day you find you did 20k in 7 hours. I can do 3 k/h to 4k/h most days. I did the Betanzos to Bruma last year and was planning to stop in Leiro but missed a sign due to a driving rain storm. I walked past Bar Julia and the next thing I knew I was headed up the long climb towards Bruma. The rain was so heavy I felt like I was walking in a small stream most of the way up the hill. I started in Betanzos around 6am and got to the hotel in Bruma around 4pm. I believe there is a service from Bar Julia that will drive you to Bruma and pick you up the next morning and return you to start you day at the base of the hill.

 

[dougfitz]

My take on it is, what I call the '345 rule' (of thumb). That is 3 kph on most dedicated uphill or downhill segments, 4 kph on rolling or mostly flat terrain, and 5 kph on totally flat terrain, like the Meseta.

I cannot recall whether you have explained this rule before, but I compared it to a couple of other walking time calculators, and it appears slightly more conservative than the original Naismith rule, but close to Naismith with Tranter's corrections. There is a cute Naismith/Tranter calculator here, albeit in imperial units. I tend to set the 1000 ft climb time to 25 minutes, but if you are not regularly doing climbs, then setting it to 30 minutes might be more realistic. It is interesting to see the impact that heavier pack weights have on walking time, although the adjustments available for weights one might see on the Camino are pretty crude. As with all of these things, the outputs are indicative, and may not predict your actual performance accurately.

 

[AJ]

Depends on whether I stop to smell the roses...

 

[naplesdon]

Depends on whether I stop to smell the roses...

Or meet a young lass at a bar

 

[mylifeonvacation]

Note for OP - if your accommodation just past Bruma is a hotel, they may offer a pick up / drop off service so that you can do the hill after Bar Julia in the morning with fresh legs. Meson Novo offers this, and have heard that Casa Doña Maria does as well (although I haven't spoken to them myself about that). It makes your next day longer, but after you get past "the hill", it's a much flatter walk the rest of the way to Santiago.

I'm glad you remarked about how speeds can vary greatly with fitness level. I asked someone how long it should take to walk the hill from Bar Julia and was told about 45 minutes. Well, an hour and 10 minutes later I arrived at the turnoff to Vizoño (just before going over the AP-9 highway - actually my profile photo is from that exact spot!), so I will definitely drag down the average time in this conversation. Aside from not being in tip top shape, I was certainly taking my time to enjoy the view, take lots of photos, and even managed a phone conversation and a couple of Facebook and Instagram posts from the path! I'm surprised it didn't take 2 hours!

You will enjoy the walk - buen camino!!

 

[dougfitz]

Average speed needs to take into account your coffee and rest stops.

True, but that can be so variable that I normally only refer to my moving average, rather than the overall average that includes these breaks.

 

[Urban Trekker]

Training what training!? We are beginning in Ferrol on 20th March and can promise you we won't have trained and are very overweight! So wish us luck!!

Boy are you in for a rude surprise when you head out of Pontedeume. You might want to write down the phone number for cabs or a ambulance. Buen Camino

 

[Camino with Kids]

You are hilarious!! We are old and out of shape so we are training But I wish you well on your adventure and please let us know how it all went when you finish. I especially am very interested to hear your story!
Buen Camino

 

[Camino with Kids]

You are hilarious!! We are old and out of shape so we are training But I wish you well on your adventure and please let us know how it all went when you finish. I especially am very interested to hear your story!
Buen Camino

Sorry, I messed up. That reply was for Catholic Deacon

 

[Kanga]

I think somehow I have to work this into my next conversation. Brilliant. Pity I could not show the calculator in the link.

I cannot recall whether you have explained this rule before, but I compared it to a couple of other walking time calculators, and it appears slightly more conservative than the original Naismith rule, but close to Naismith with Tranter's corrections. There is a cute Naismith/Tranter calculator here, albeit in imperial units. I tend to set the 1000 ft climb time to 25 minutes, but if you are not regularly doing climbs, then setting it to 30 minutes might be more realistic.

 

[Camino with Kids]

Thank you everyone for all your replies. The more I read this forum, the more comfortable I am feeling!

 

[Tia Valeria]

We would agree that the climb out of Pontedeume is in some ways more challenging than the climb after Casa Julia. Probably because of the tarmac and the steep corners on the hairpin bends. By comparison the hill after Casa Julia was much kinder to the feet and legs, but we had done the Meson Novo 'pick up - drop off' so it was the start of the day. However that was also true of Pontedeume as that too was the morning 'starter hill'. . We found it much easier last year as we had stayed at the Hotel Iberia in Cabañas and having walked across the bridge had got going before the hill

 

[Catholic Deacon]

Boy are you in for a rude surprise when you head out of Pontedeume. You might want to write down the phone number for cabs or a ambulance. Buen Camino

Oh dear, now I am afraid!!!! (I had better not spoil the surprise for my children!)

 

[Urban Trekker]

Oh dear, now I am afraid!!!! (I had better not spoil the surprise for my children!)

N

Not trying too spoil things. The English is beautiful with a very beautiful walk around the bay, through forests, through small villages and quaint neighborhoods. There are 3 steep ascents and descents, the first starting starting at Pontadeume and ending at Bruna. There is a nice albergue between Ferrol and Pontadeume in Neda and a lot of pilgrims stop there for the night. I would suggest continuing to Pontadeume and spend the night there. Buen Camino

 

[Catholic Deacon]

There is a nice albergue between Ferrol and Pontadeume in Neda and a lot of pilgrims stop there for the night. I would suggest continuing to Pontadeume and spend the night there. Buen Camino

Is that though not a bit far for our first day and being fat with no training and with a 9 and 14 year old who will probably be complaining!!!???

 

[dougfitz]

Is that though not a bit far for our first day and being fat with no training and with a 9 and 14 year old who will probably be complaining!!!???

It's not what we think, but what you think you can achieve that is important. The advice given thus far would not have considered whether it was appropriate for someone with children that age to be attempting the longer legs, but I wouldn't have been doing it with my kids when they were that age.

 

[Tia Valeria]

I would not suggest walking as far as Pontedeume the first day. It has brought others to grief. Walking to Naron (Hotel Kensington etc) or Neda (albergue) is a better first day. Then to Pontdeume next day.

 

[Catholic Deacon]

I would not suggest walking as far as Pontedeume the first day. It has brought others to grief. Walking to Naron (Hotel Kensington etc) or Neda (albergue) is a better first day. Then to Pontdeume next day.

We have a room booked at the Kensington so will probably stick with that, although I was thinking of cancelling and heading to the albergue instead.

 

[Tia Valeria]

If you have a room already personally I would keep it. Then you can walk across to the albergue to socialise and get some idea of how many people are around too, while being sure of the first night's beds.

 

[anna pugh]

Training what training!? We are beginning in Ferrol on 20th March and can promise you we won't have trained and are very overweight! So wish us luck!!

I did some walking practice... but not training as such.. I arranged to have my suitcase transported so I only have a day pack and spilt the start of my camino into "shorter" more achievable days. Am here in Neda at the end of my first proper walking day and whilst very slow with lots of little sit and look at the scenery breaks though I didn't stop for lunch Which I'm afraid to say is a very paltry 3- 4kph.. will try harder tomorrow

 

[Tia Valeria]

@anna pugh A good first day and preparation for the longer day tomorrow. If you rush through you could miss something special. Not a bad speed either for Day 1

 

[anna pugh]

I would not suggest walking as far as Pontedeume the first day. It has brought others to grief. Walking to Naron (Hotel Kensington etc) or Neda (albergue) is a better first day. Then to Pontdeume next day.

That's my plan.

 

[dougfitz]

I did some walking practice... but not training as such.. I arranged to have my suitcase transported so I only have a day pack and spilt the start of my camino into "shorter" more achievable days. Am here in Neda at the end of my first proper walking day and whilst very slow with lots of little sit and look at the scenery breaks though I didn't stop for lunch Which I'm afraid to say is a very paltry 3- 4kph.. will try harder tomorrow

@anna pugh, that might be a good overall average. It doesn't take much of a break to drop the overall average substantially. If you walk at, say, 5kph for two hours and then stop for a coffee that takes 30 minutes, your overall average has dropped to 4kph already. Do another two hours and take an hour for lunch, and at the start of your next leg your average has now dropped to 3.6kph. Even with a third walking session to finish the day, the average will only get back to 4kph.

Nb. The numbers have been chosen for mathematical convenience, not because it necessarily takes that long for coffee or lunch.

 

[Pato777]

Does anyone have an idea of the average walking speed on the Camino Ingles between Betazos and Bruma? I realize everyone is a different age and fitness level - I'm just looking for a speed to target in training as this is a 31 km day to our accommodation just past Bruma.

Thanks in advance!

Depends on so many variables, 4km an hour sounds reasonable, a chance to take it all in at a sustainable pace. Good luck. Pat

 

[Pato777]

Oh dear, now I am afraid!!!! (I had better not spoil the surprise for my children!)

Dont be..once your on your way you will be fine, Pat

 

[anna pugh]

So.. Betanzos to Meson do Vento.. at 1pm after average 3 hours walking/coffee/looking at the trees.. my GPS said 3.38 mins to Canaima. One and a half hours later steady slow walking.. 3 hours 8 mins!by the time I got to Hospital it was getting dark.. past 7 pm. Missed the turning.. Walked along camino for another hour before realising lost in the complete dark. Arrived at hotel 9.pm. I think the camino told me today that no matter how far you think you've travelled you haven't actually gone very far. Something to work on

 

[West Coaster]

It’s not the speed you’re walking at, it is how you’re walking that will determine the outcome.

If I was to put on a 50lb pack and head off for an 18km hike, wearing strong leather hiking boots I would be forced to adopt a hiking pace. The weight of the pack would force me to engage my quadriceps muscles, hip flexors and gluts. These major muscles have the strength to move me and my weight over everything. The boots keep my pace short and my feet/ankles inline. Some people try this using a walking pace, pushing off with their Achilles. This tires them out very fast and will lead to injuries.

On the Camino you’re just carrying a light 20lb pack, but the distances are a lot farther than the standard backpackers 18km/day. So the pacing and walking style are not to move massive weights over short distances, it’s there to prevent fatigue and repetitive motion injuries.

People that run 10km races do so with a wide variety of paces, stances and speeds. Most of them not very efficient. Competitive marathon runners all run with the same stance and pace. They know that to deviate from the prefect stride will take more energy and lead to injuries.

Same applies to walkers. A lot of people walk in strange ways, some better than others, but it gets them from A to B without any problem. Bad walking styles become a problem when you start walking 22km and then repeat it the next day.

I’ve had to teach a lot of people how to hike correctly. Silly as it sounds, they need to be shown how to step. One thing I found that quickly gets people hiking correctly is putting them in a pair of leather boots. These are a bit heavier but forces them to pick up their foot and place it directly in front. Then lift up with the quads to move the body forward. They’re learning to pull their bodies forward not pushing them forward.


A good hiking pace conserves energy, reduces blisters and injuries.

 

[mylifeonvacation]

I think the camino told me today that no matter how far you think you've travelled you haven't actually gone very far.

The Camino keeps on teaching, doesn't it! It's wonderful that we have the opportunity to keep learning, but I'm sorry to hear that you had such a rough end to your day. Surely tomorrow will be much better. I've heard the food is very good at the Canaima, so hopefully you have enjoyed that. It's easy enough to get back on the route from Meson do Vento, and it's quite straightforward to Sigueiro. Buen Camino!

 

[anna pugh]

The Camino keeps on teaching, doesn't it! It's wonderful that we have the opportunity to keep learning, but I'm sorry to hear that you had such a rough end to your day. Surely tomorrow will be much better. I've heard the food is very good at the Canaima, so hopefully you have enjoyed that. It's easy enough to get back on the route from Meson do Vento, and it's quite straightforward to Sigueiro. Buen Camino!

Sorry I can't comment on the food I as soo tired I showered and fell asleep. . Not arriving til after 9pm.people were lovely though and room was warm and perfectly clean

 

[Catholic Deacon]

Dont be..once your on your way you will be fine, Pat

Yes I am sure you are right..getting close now we begin day 1 on Sunday!

 

[Catholic Deacon]

Boy are you in for a rude surprise when you head out of Pontedeume. You might want to write down the phone number for cabs or a ambulance. Buen Camino

Haha, well we did it (even after getting no sleep, lying on the floor of the Pontedeume Albergue!), admittedly we did have to stop a few times and admire the view, thankfully however we did not have to trouble the ambulance service!

 

[dougfitz]

Congratulations. But can you enlighten us on why you were lying on the floor at Pentedeume?

 

[Catholic Deacon]

Congratulations. But can you enlighten us on why you were lying on the floor at Pentedeume?

Thank you! We had to 'sleep' on the floor simply as when we arrived there were no beds left! The Camino was very busy as it was Holy Week and many people were trying to get to Santiago for Easter Sunday.

 

[Catholic Deacon]

It's easy enough to get back on the route from Meson do Vento, and it's quite straightforward to Sigueiro. Buen Camino!

Easy yes, but not much fun in the torrential rain and storm force winds which we experienced that day. The man from Meson do Vento did offer to take us to the actual Camino, I stupidly refused!!

 

[mylifeonvacation]

Oh no! I imagine that long straight stretch of road through the forest before Sigueiro was probably a mess with all of that rain! Well, you made it and with lots of memories!!

 

[Catholic Deacon]

Oh no! I imagine that long straight stretch of road through the forest before Sigueiro was probably a mess with all of that rain! Well, you made it and with lots of memories!!

Thankfully it did not rain that day until we were a few hundred metres from the Hotel San Vicente - that path seemed to go on forever!!