Hi Clare. This question comes up quite a lot. And I am sure many women who have walked alone will answer shortly, probably with the same/similar advice....... (already did whilst I was writing this)
There is no need to pre arrange a walking partner. In fact it is better not to.... I'll explain.
If you are starting in May on the CF, there will be a lot of people starting on the same day. In fact it's rather like half a dozen bus loads of people (300 or so) starting up the Hill in St Jean over the span of just a few hours. You are not alone.
Many of those people start out walking alone.
The natural cameraderie of the Camino starts it's work right away. People will be saying Hello asking where you are from, walking next to you.... Many of these being women walking on their own, also aiming to buddy up with another woman.
Within a few hours you have likely 'clicked' with a few people already and are walking together.
NOTE: For those who would dread this happening because you want to be alone, fear not. Engaging in conversation and walking with others is not compulsory! It's also easy to be on your own if you want to. But if you don't want to walk alone, it is very easy to have company on the CF.
WARNING. If you pre arrange to walk with someone (that you don't know) other of course than a friend you know, a life partner, the chances are high that it won't work out and you will drive each other nuts! Why?
#1. You need to walk with people who walk at your pace. Trying to 'keep up' with others is a sure way to get an injury. Or holding back all the time will be frustrating.
#2. It is highly unlikely they will want to walk the same distances as you each day. Meaning you will constantly be compromising on where to stay.
#3. Maybe they will talk all the time.........or not at all.....or be an irritating walking partner in a dozen other ways.
At that time of year on the CF you will literally have the opportunity to meet hundreds of people. You will naturally be drawn to those you like, rather than the ones you decided to meet online. In fact the CF at that time of year is a bit like Speed Dating on Steroids. If you want to, you can meet hundreds of people within a few days.
Again, for those wanting to be alone..........you can be. Don't panic.
As an example, over 40 days on the CF, I probably got to know about 150 people by sight. 100 by name and where they were from, and maybe 50 I had meals or coffees with more than once. And about 10 I walked with for a number of hours multiple times. That would have all been in the first 7-10 days.
And I was walking alone most of the time, by choice. If I had wanted to walk with others I could have, all the way.