Where to start?

[JessicaKenya]

Hi all! my name is Jessica and ill be starting the camino around the 10th of September for a period of about 2 weeks. this will be my first time, I will be arriving from Almeria and not sure whether I should start at the beginning at st Jean pied du port or somewhere in the middle like burgos/leon. I dont need to get to santiago, just want to enjoy the scenery and journey without any particulat destination. Kindly advise!

 

[Irish Bernie]

My choice would be Pamplona.

 

[JessicaKenya]

great thank you!

 

[Irish Bernie]

great thank you!

Well that was quick lol,you may get better options

 

[JessicaKenya]

haha yes, i was just thanking you

 

[SYates]

From where are you coming? That kind of determines how easy/fast it would be for you to get to certain starting points. Also, how fit are you? If you are fit, starting in Saint Jean would be certainly an option, if you are less fit a "flatter" start might be better. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Irish Bernie]

haha yes, i was just thanking you

 

[Dorpie]

Hi Jessica,

Welcome to the forum. As usual here question breed questions. What kind of scenery do you like? How do you feel about having lots/not so many people around. Do you like cities or countryside? Might you want to come back and pick up where you left off?

Buen Camino,

Rob.

 

[Kitsambler]

not sure whether I should start at the beginning at st Jean pied du port ...

This may come as a shock, but SJPP is not the beginning of the Camino. Actually, the routes start as far east as Warsaw and Bratislava, on the eastern fringes of Catholic Europe. So there are many places and many routes to choose from. There are four routes in France that connect just outside SJPP, and the principal one of those comes from Le Puy. This forum has a large section on the routes in France, and a smaller section on routes elsewhere in Europe. Happy reading and researching!

 

[JessicaKenya]

From where are you coming? That kind of determines how easy/fast it would be for you to get to certain starting points. Also, how fit are you? If you are fit, starting in Saint Jean would be certainly an option, if you are less fit a "flatter" start might be better. Buen Camino, SY

i am coming from Almeria, I would say average in the fitness department, so probably best to start flatter.

 

[JessicaKenya]

Hi Jessica,

Welcome to the forum. As usual here question breed questions. What kind of scenery do you like? How do you feel about having lots/not so many people around. Do you like cities or countryside? Might you want to come back and pick up where you left off?

Buen Camino,

Rob.

I would like more countryside scenery, maybe not too many people, but im guesisng in september there will be less people? its my first camino so yes possibly in future i would take a different route or go back to where i will end this time, I was thinking of starting in Leon or astorga. but still unsure!

 

[wayfarer]

This may come as a shock, but SJPP is not the beginning of the Camino. Actually, the routes start as far east as Warsaw and Bratislava, on the eastern fringes of Catholic Europe. So there are many places and many routes to choose from. There are four routes in France that connect just outside SJPP, and the principal one of those comes from Le Puy. This forum has a large section on the routes in France, and a smaller section on routes elsewhere in Europe. Happy reading and researching!

Welcome Jessica, Kitsambler pretty much nailed it above, STJPdP is just one of the many starting points of the Frances. Pamplona would be my recommendation as well.

 

[Ungawawa]

Another vote for Pamplona. It's a great compromise of factors and a beautiful starting point.

 

[SYates]

i am coming from Almeria, I would say average in the fitness department, so probably best to start flatter.

So why don't you start there, see https://www.gronze.com/camino-mozarabe (use Google Translate if necessary). Buen Camino, SY

 

[JessicaKenya]

So why don't you start there, see https://www.gronze.com/camino-mozarabe (use Google Translate if necessary). Buen Camino, SY

good idea although im feeling more the northern part as also it

Another vote for Pamplona. It's a great compromise of factors and a beautiful starting point.

thank you, regarding the passport for the camino can i get it when im there?

 

[JessicaKenya]

Thank you all for all the information! this forum has really helped! buen camino!

 

[Ungawawa]

thank you, regarding the passport for the camino can i get it when im there?

Yes, certainly in the larger albergues and cathedrals. In Pamplona at Albergue de Jesús y María . But if you have the chance to order one before, why not. One less thing to worry about.

 

[t2andreo]

If you think you might want to obtain a Compostela, them I recommend starting at Leon. On the other hand, if you want to walk from the beginning, with average fitness level, and accomplish the entire Camino Frances say, in two trips, then starting from Pamplona is a excellent idea.

My wife made me promise no more walking up and over the Pyrenees after my first two Caminos from Saint Jean Pied de Port. That first day is a bit steep, for 8 - 10 km. Then it levels out and heads down and into Roncesvalles. So, the next time I consider doing the Camino Frances, it will likely be with a start at Pamplona. There is excellent train service, and multiple flights daily from Madrid.

You should be able to make it from Pamplona to as far as Carrion de Los Condes in 13 days (+/-). Leon would take about 17 days (+/-) from Pamplona. You can get bus service from Carrion to someplace with rail connections to the rest of Spain.

For reference, Santiago is about 13 days (+/-) walk from Leon. Doing the second half into Santiago would qualify you for a Compostela. Walking from Pamplona to someplace short of Santiago does not.

I hope this helps.

 

[JessicaKenya]

If you think you might want to obtain a Compostela, them I recommend starting at Leon. On the other hand, if you want to walk from the beginning, with average fitness level, and accomplish the entire Camino Frances say, in two trips, then starting from Pamplona is a excellent idea.

My wife made me promise no more walking up and over the Pyrenees after my first two Caminos from Saint Jean Pied de Port. That first day is a bit steep, for 8 - 10 km. Then it levels out and heads down and into Roncesvalles. So, the next time I consider doing the Camino Frances, it will likely be with a start at Pamplona. There is excellent train service, and multiple flights daily from Madrid.

You should be able to make it from Pamplona to as far as Carrion de Los Condes in 13 days (+/-). Leon would take about 17 days (+/-) from Pamplona. You can get bus service from Carrion to someplace with rail connections to the rest of Spain.

For reference, Santiago is about 13 days (+/-) walk from Leon. Doing the second half into Santiago would qualify you for a Compostela. Walking from Pamplona to someplace short of Santiago does not.

I hope this helps.

 

[JessicaKenya]

thank you very much, very helpful to know roughly how long it takes!