Camino Ingles - How Busy

[intrepidtraveler]

If there's anyone out there who is currently on or recently finished the Camino Ingles, how busy or not is this route?

It looks like I will have 3 days after the Norte and am considering the Ingles from A Coruna. Any issues with finding a bed either in an albergue or pension?

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

 

[OzAnnie]

Im on the Inglés now. Quote warm and humid
It doesn't seem overloaded with pilgrims at the moment. I have seen a few but no hoards.
You should be okay. I'm staying in private (so far). I'm in pontedeume tonight. I met a lass heading for the municipal albergue when I was crossing the bridge around 1pm. No other pilgrims in sight.
Pensions seem to have beds when I've called but I've called before midday or on the preceding day.
Buen camino
Annie

 

[miguel_gp]

It seems that in the past that Hospital de Bruma can be a congestion point as any private accommodation is off route in Meson Do Vento (approx 1.5km detour each way) and the Coruna and Ferrol merge shortly before. Coruna leg is far quieter usually so before Bruma all should be ok. Private accommodation can be found on Booking.com for Meson Do Vento or take your chance in the Albergue at Bruma. Hopefully Annie can update as she passes each place.

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Thank you both for your quick replies.

Are you enjoying this route aside from heat and humidity which we are having on the Norte as well?

 

[miguel_gp]

I'm not on the route now but love the Ingles route. From Coruna is not quite as scenic as from Ferrol as you miss the first couple of days in and around the coast but still really nice. I walk from Coruna again in July and then out to Muxia and Fisterra.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola - I was on the Inglés about 10 days ago. Hostal accommodation was available but the hospitalera in Bruma reports that they are full (20 beds) more nights than not.
As for walking from Coruña - it is a lovely town and an historic starting point but a pretty lousy route when compared with the route from Ferrol imho.
There is no signage leaving Coruña - get a copy of the CSJ guide.

Buen Camino

John

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Thanks for your insights - the reason for A Coruna vs. Ferrol is at that point I will only have 3 days left until I need to head back home. A Coruna appears to be doable in 3 days but not Ferrol.

 

[miguel_gp]

The first day from Coruna to Bruma is a long one, about 30-32km from memory with a fairly long, steep hill at about 3/4 distance. There is a lot of city walking but asJohnnie says Coruna is a nice city and some of it is on a ria-side promenade so not all bad!
Buen Camino.

 

[daesdaemar]

I have done it twice in the summer and very sparsely traveled. No problem at all finding a place to stay.

 

[LTfit]

@intrepidtraveler where are you now? Today my last day on the Norte and tonight in Arzúa. I am surprised how quiet it is in the municipal albergue - only one of 2 rooms open and only 23 pilgrims have arrived by 19:30. It will be interesting to see how many are out walking tomorrow.

Thanks for asking the question as I may too do the Inglés after Finisterre.

 

[OzAnnie]

Today Monday - I saw quite a lot more peregrinos on stage pontedeume to bertanzos
Many I spoke with were heading to private reservations. So maybe if this trend continues you may have a good run finding beds in Albergues

 

[intrepidtraveler]

@intrepidtraveler where are you now? Today my last day on the Norte and tonight in Arzúa. I am surprised how quiet it is in the municipal albergue - only one of 2 rooms open and only 23 pilgrims have arrived by 19:30. It will be interesting to see how many are out walking tomorrow.

Thanks for asking the question as I may too do the Inglés after Finisterre.

Tonight I am in Sobrado and planning to arrive in Santiago on Wednesday afternoon. Thursday is for getting a massage and regrouping. Not sure what Friday will bring. Maybe the Ingles or maybe a private post-camino retreat that I saw advertised at the monastery today.

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Thanks everyone for answering. The Ingles sounds like it might be a possibility.

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Are there any downloadable gps tracks for the Ingles, specifically from A Coruna? Having that sort of thing available on the Norte was hugely valuable.

 

[miguel_gp]

Hi, I can supply one. Do you have a particular format preference? I have kml but can convert later this evening.
In the mean time you can ponder this

Camino Ingles Map

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Miguel, you have been so helpful. I am not a tech saavy person at all so when you ask about format I have no idea what to answer. I have an android based smartphone if that means anything.

Looking at the Google map you provided, it might be just fine as I can tell where I am on the trail relative to where the trail is going.

In a perfect world I guess I am looking for a map like what I had with editorial Buen Camino - interactive and also usable offline. With Google I have to be online and my USA data plan is limited and expensive.

 

[mylifeonvacation]

I downloaded @miguel_gp 's map to the "maps.me" app and it worked like a charm! (I have an iPhone, but when I clicked on the link he provided, my phone asked what app I wanted to open it with and I selected maps.me and it loaded in just a few moments - so easy!).

As mentioned above, the markings leaving Coruna are scant (at best). The first marker is several kms from the church starting point (past the bus station and across from a large metal statue in a roundabout at the bottom of Monelos street). Follow @JohnnieWalker 's guide and double check with the downloaded map, you'll make your way perfectly through Coruña. Buen Camino!

If you are spending any time there beforehand and are looking for any additional information about Coruña, just message me. I'm happy to share a google map I created with lots of wonderful places marked in the area.

 

[intrepidtraveler]

So what am I missing - when I click on the links that take me to Johnnie Walker's CSJ guide, I end up at a spot that says "download it here" but then there is no link to download.

When I go to the CSJ search option and type in Camino Ingles, all I get are hardcover choices????

I am happy to donate, I just need access to the information.

Many thanks to anyone who can help me with this.

 

[Tia Valeria]

This is now only downloadable as a kindle e-book. It used to come as a pdf. No problem if you have the kindle app/e-reader but a sad loss for those of us who liked the pdf format. Maybe, like albergues, too many people thought 'donate' meant 'free' or only gave a very small donation.

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Thanks for the explanation @Tia Valeria.

 

[OzAnnie]

It seems that in the past that Hospital de Bruma can be a congestion point as any private accommodation is off route in Meson Do Vento (approx 1.5km detour each way) and the Coruna and Ferrol merge shortly before. Coruna leg is far quieter usually so before Bruma all should be ok. Private accommodation can be found on Booking.com for Meson Do Vento or take your chance in the Albergue at Bruma. Hopefully Annie can update as she passes each place.

Well today is Thursday and walking earlier with a German pilgrim who stayed in the Albergue in Bruma last night. Obviously a congestion point as per @miguel_gp nentioned
The German pilgrim arrived at 6pm last night (having socialised with friends and starting after 11am) he found the (22 spaces) Albergue completo but was able to sleep on the floor.
So the numbers are often 'out there' even if they are moving along the camino at different times.
Temperatures were good for walking today. Very low 20's and cloud most of the day.
Buen camino
Annie

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Hi Annie-
Thanks for the update. I tend to be a little risk averse when it comes to where I'm sleeping at night so I reserved a private accommodation for Bruma and Sigueiro. I know, not in the true Camino spirit. Bad pilgrim.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Sigueiro.

There are a half dozen buses a day from Sigueiro to Santiago, so you take a bus to Santiago, leave your pack, take the morning bus back the next day, and walk the last leg with just your water and snacks! There is a bus stop in Sigueiro a couple of blocks from the hostel, and another bus stop on the highway just across from the La Cabana restaurant, a good place for dinner, coffee, and/or a stamp.

 

[OzAnnie]

Hi Annie-
Thanks for the update. I tend to be a little risk averse when it comes to where I'm sleeping at night so I reserved a private accommodation for Bruma and Sigueiro. I know, not in the true Camino spirit. Bad pilgrim.

Not a bad pilgrim - just leaving space for others !!

 

[miguel_gp]

Hi, I can supply one. Do you have a particular format preference? I have kml but can convert later this evening.
In the mean time you can ponder this

Camino Ingles Map

Hi,
Apologies for the delay. I promise you the Earth (or a little part of it at least) and fail to do it in a timely manner .

Attached is a gpx file of the Coruna Branch of the Ingles. Forum does not allow kml files to be uploaded so if you want to send a Private Message with your email address I will send through. I believe that if you have the Maps.Me application on your phone that when you click on the kml file within an email it will ask if you want to load it into Maps.Me as a bookmark and it is then available off-line. Maybe @mylifeonvacation can confirm that?

Regards
Mig

 

[Avigail]

I just started today, unfortunately I got a late start and then ended up in Fene rather than Neda.... there was a tricky part at the end of the Ferrol where I saw the shell but figured it was signaling me to go under the overpass and then up and over the bridge... I'm currently still in Fene because I was frustrated with myself. I'm currently at O Allegue Hostel and that was pretty frustrating to locate as well! I may have walked a shorter distance to Fene but I more than made up for it in locating this albregue. I will begin again tomorrow and hopefully find the correct path....

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Hi,
Apologies for the delay. I promise you the Earth (or a little part of it at least) and fail to do it in a timely manner .

Attached is a gpx file of the Coruna Branch of the Ingles. Forum does not allow kml files to be uploaded so if you want to send a Private Message with your email address I will send through. I believe that if you have the Maps.Me application on your phone that when you click on the kml file within an email it will ask if you want to load it into Maps.Me as a bookmark and it is then available off-line. Maybe @mylifeonvacation can confirm that?

Regards
Mig

Actually Mig, don't worry about it. I am in Sigueiro at the moment and got myself there by mostly using the map you sent me the other day. It got the job done just fine - thank you.

 

[miguel_gp]

No worries. I didn't appreciate that you were already on route.

 

[SabsP]

Does anyone of you know if the owners of the former pension Miras ( on the main road) in Sigueiro are the same ones that now have an albergue?

 

[miguel_gp]

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/albergue-in-siguiero.28070/reply?quote=237040
Hi Sabine, this post implies that they are however quite an old post so could have changed hands. I believe there is at least one possibly two other private Albergues. .

 

[SabsP]

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/albergue-in-siguiero.28070/reply?quote=237040
Hi Sabine, this post implies that they are however quite an old post so could have changed hands. I believe there is at least one possibly two other private Albergues. .

Yes lots of choices compared with couple of years ago.
Although a somewhat worn out pension, it was clean. And most importantly they were extremely helpful when I fell ill.

 

[intrepidtraveler]

I am staying there tonight - arranged it through Booking.com.

Don't know if it's the same owners as before but it appears that a lot of work is being done on the place. The alberque is part of the hotel/restaurant Miras. The people that I've been dealing with are very helpful.

There are now 3 albergues in Sigueiro which seems like overkill considering that in 2 days of walking I've encountered 2 other peregrinos. Tonight I have a room to myself.

 

[SabsP]

I am staying there tonight - arranged it through Booking.com.

Don't know if it's the same owners as before but it appears that a lot of work is being done on the place. The alberque is part of the hotel/restaurant Miras. The people that I've been dealing with are very helpful.

There are now 3 albergues in Sigueiro which seems like overkill considering that in 2 days of walking I've encountered 2 other peregrinos. Tonight I have a room to myself.

Enjoy!
The owners in 2o14 were a lady around her forties and a brother if I remember correctly.

 

[madrid12]

The Miras family who ran the old Miras bar, restaurant and hostel now run the new Sigueiro hostel off the main road down near the river. It is a lady and her daughters. It is very nice so much different to the old Miras rooms. I am not sure if they are still connected to the old Miras,

 

[Tia Valeria]

Two years ago they were running both. The keys and booking into the old one were all at the new hostal. The phone number was on the door of the old, but at that time no directions. We were booked into the new hostal in a double room and it was very good with a little riverside garden.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Numbers - when I first wrote the guide it was the only one in English. The year was 2008 and 1200 pilgrims walked the route. Last year 12000 pilgrims walked the route. I update the CSJ guide twice a year most recently just a few weeks ago. I find it very unusual if I don't meet other pilgrims these days.

The Guidebook - is available on Kindle and in print form from www.csj.org.uk If you want a Pdf version email me please.

 

[madrid12]

The waymarking has also improved , I too have been walking this route since 2008. The first time I could not even find my way out of Ferrol and got very lost.

 

[SabsP]

April 2014 I met five pilgrims in total from Ferrol to Santiago. Three individuals and I was in the albergue in Bruma with two others.
Most probably I will walk this Camino again the week after Easter 2018.

 

[Mike Savage]

April 2014 I met five pilgrims in total from Ferrol to Santiago. Three individuals and I was in the albergue in Bruma with two others.
Most probably I will walk this Camino again the week after Easter 2018.

October 2015 I met 7. One group of 4 Spanish, two from England (for about 15 minutes) and one from outside Madrid whom I walked with for 5 days. It was very challenging mentally and I loved every minute. I will walk it again this year starting around September 25th.

 

[Mavitut]

Hi, I can supply one. Do you have a particular format preference? I have kml but can convert later this evening.
In the mean time you can ponder this

Camino Ingles Map

brilliant! Very kind.