Camino frances sarria to santiago

[alicev]

Hoping to do camino frances sarria to santiago april 2022. Reading up as much as i can as its my first. Can anyone tell me how difficult this stage is. Getting varied views. Trying not to get jitters. Really want to fo this.

 

[Anhalter]

How difficult this section of the camino IS depends a lot on who is asking. For me, having walked the 700km from SJPDP to Sarria, the last 100km was like "going to McDonalds". For someone just starting out, it might be challenging, because that person might not be used to hiking or camino or both or whatever.
That being said, it is likely the part of the camino that offers the most options in terms of how long you want your days to be and what accomodation you prefer. Even if something does not go according to plan, by the sheer number of pilgrims walking that particular road, theres pretty much everything there to help you along your way.
Oh, and the landscape is beautiful!

 

[alicev]

Hoping to do camino frances sarria to santiago april 2022. Reading up as much as i can as its my first. Can anyone tell me how difficult this stage is. Getting varied views. Trying not to get jitters. Really want to fo this.

Thank you so much all very helpful. Training i have been reaching roughly between 10 and 18 kilometets. Longest i have hiked 32 kometers but it was pretty flat!

 

[Rick M]

There are two ways of looking at the home stretch, both of which are very valid:

1) Its the hardest stretch because very little of it is on flat ground, and many pilgrims who arrive from flat land areas find the rolling countryside quite difficult to adjust to. That said, there are no very long climbs or steep descents, its just a steady stream of rolling hills, lush forests, farms, and towns. Training on hills is a good idea.

2) Its the easiest stretch because the services and accommodations are so close together. There are so many choices that a pilgrim can plan very short stages, and take many breaks during the course of the day. Unlike some other stages, this stretch has no long hauls where you need to walk 15 Km without a break, or carry lots of water.

All that said, if you can train on some hills, and can walk 15 Km three days in a row without too much discomfort, you are ready to go and will be fine. Don't over think it, its a lot closer to a walk in the park than a death march!

Buen Camino

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Thank you so much all very helpful. Training i have been reaching roughly between 10 and 18 kilometets. Longest i have hiked 32 kometers but it was pretty flat!

You will be fine

 

[CaptBuddy]

Alice, our first Camino was Sarria to Santiago, and it is still one of my favorite parts of the CF. Lots of beauty and interesting things in Galicia. And great people along the way.
We too trained on flat ground, and I was shocked when my 4.8 kph pace became 2.5 kph in the forests and hills. It wasn't a show stopper, but we had to adjust. But as someone said, there are lots of options, and if you can do 18k on the flat you should be okay.
Don't miss Melide for pulpo lunch. A great treat and lots of peregrinos to share the experience.
Buen Camino

 

[Sherpa47]

Hoping to do camino frances sarria to santiago april 2022. Reading up as much as i can as its my first. Can anyone tell me how difficult this stage is. Getting varied views. Trying not to get jitters. Really want to fo this.

You should have no problems walking the last 100 kilometres. An easy going path. Enjoy and savour every footstep. Buen Camino!

 

[McSherry]

Hoping to do camino frances sarria to santiago april 2022. Reading up as much as i can as its my first. Can anyone tell me how difficult this stage is. Getting varied views. Trying not to get jitters. Really want to fo this.

Here’s my opinion. My wife was in her late 49’s and I in my early 50’s when we walked from Sarria to SdeC. We had very little chance to train. Here are my comments.

The route is hilly and has some steep areas. We were joking that whenever we got to an intersection, if one route was flat snd one steep and dusty…we knew which route the Camino followed. It was never the easier route.

We can buzz along at a very good clip on flat ground. We were slowed considerably on the Camino

Some portions are beautiful (especially Sarria to Portomarin). Some other places are industrial.

We followed the suggested usual stages except that we cut the longest in two. In hindsight, we should probably have done shorter stages. Other folks we met were doing this.

 

[trecile]

The route is hilly and has some steep areas. We were joking that whenever we got to an intersection, if one route was flat snd one steep and dusty…we knew which route the Camino followed. It was never the easier route.

You should see the Norte! Always the uphill route, unless the downhill was very steep.

 

[McSherry]

You should see the Norte! Always the uphill route, unless the downhill was very steep.

Yes! I read that! We are looking to go back and do a different route. I saw that the Portuguese Route is somewhat flatter than other routes, but still picturesque. But they will all have their challenges…otherwise it would not be a Camino!

we really loved it. My wife has some leg issues where she gets severe cramps. She had to fight her way through. Still she was the first to suggest we go back.

I think we will stay away from the Pyrenees too!

 

[Lance Chambers]

Hoping to do camino frances sarria to santiago april 2022. Reading up as much as i can as its my first. Can anyone tell me how difficult this stage is. Getting varied views. Trying not to get jitters. Really want to fo this.

The first 'Camino Frances' that I did took 5 days. However, I did NO TRAINING at all before I went.

The first two days were quite hard but after that it got easier and easier. The last stretch from Palas de Rei was easy.

 

[Lance Chambers]

Yes! I read that! We are looking to go back and do a different route. I saw that the Portuguese Route is somewhat flatter than other routes, but still picturesque. But they will all have their challenges…otherwise it would not be a Camino!

we really loved it. My wife has some leg issues where she gets severe cramps. She had to fight her way through. Still she was the first to suggest we go back.

I think we will stay away from the Pyrenees too!

Muscle cramps can be caused my a lack of Magnesium. A small amount of Epsom Salts with water will fix it but it tastes awful. Maybe buy some magnesium tables from a pharmacy and from St jean Pied de Port to Santiago you shouldn't need more that 5 or 6 of the tablets for the whole trek.

 

[trecile]

Muscle cramps can be caused my a lack of Magnesium. A small amount of Epsom Salts with water will fix it but it tastes awful. Maybe buy some magnesium tables from a pharmacy and from St jean Pied de Port to Santiago you shouldn't need more that 5 or 6 of the tablets for the whole trek.

Be careful of the type of magnesium you take. Some types, like magnesium citrate can have a laxative effect.

Types of Magnesium and Their Benefits

If you have a magnesium deficiency, a supplement may help. Learn the 10 types of magnesium — and what to use each for.

www.healthline.com

 

[Lance Chambers]

Be careful of the type of magnesium you take. Some types, like magnesium citrate can have a laxative effect.

Types of Magnesium and Their Benefits

If you have a magnesium deficiency, a supplement may help. Learn the 10 types of magnesium — and what to use each for.

www.healthline.com

It's always worked for me.
I used to wake up in the night with horrifying muscle cramps with a lot of associated pain in one of my calves. Only ever one calve or the other.

I now take a small dose every couple of weeks and I no longer get the cramps. It could, of cause have been for some other reason.

 

[Kanga]

@alicev you will love it! Sarria to Santiago de Compostela is a lovely walk. It is Galicia, so rain is pretty frequent especially in early spring, when you are planning to go. Expect rain and take good rain gear, and you will be fine. The compensation is that the country is very green, and the flowers are beautiful.