A nice 10k stretch not too far from Santiago?

[Luka]

Staying in Spain for a while, my parents are paying me a visit in October. We will meet in Santiago and stay there together a couple of days. Having a Camino addict as a daughter, my 73-year-old mom has become very interested in the Camino as well. I would love to take them for a small walk on the Camino so she could see and experience it a bit for herself. She would be capable to walk a maximum of 10k.

Could anyone recommend a small section not too far away from Santiago that is covered by public transport? My plan is to take them on a bus to village A, walk to village B and then take a bus from B back to Santiago. Of course I can try to search for myself at Gronze and Eroski, but maybe one of you knows a nice stretch. I am not that familiar with the Sarria - Santiago part of the Camino. Walked it only once and was at that time paying more attention to my fellow pilgrims than to the road or the scenery...

 

[wisepilgrim]

Honestly the best stretch of 10km around Santiago are the 10km leaving town towards Finisterre, which could be done in reverse. Public transport can get you to Roxos on the #8 line and you could walk to Quintans from there, it is less than 1km. The walk back to Santiago is under 10km. Funny looking yellow arrows point the way back to Santiago.

 

[Luka]

@wisepilgrim thanks! The idea to do a stretch after Santiago hadn't crossed my mind yet.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola - I've found it quite difficult to walk against the yellow arrows. There are a number of options including taking the bus out to Monte de Gozo ( i think bus number 6) and walking in with the joyful pilgrims.
Also for folks like your parents I devised the "Route of Routes" which is a figure of 8 walking route in and around Santiago which passes each of the five main routes as they enter the city.
If you'd like a copy of the guide just email me.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

Staying in Spain for a while, my parents are paying me a visit in October. We will meet in Santiago and stay there together a couple of days. Having a Camino addict as a daughter, my 73-year-old mom has become very interested in the Camino as well. I would love to take them for a small walk on the Camino so she could see and experience it a bit for herself. She would be capable to walk a maximum of 10k.

Could anyone recommend a small section not to far away from Santiago that is covered by public transport? My plan is to take them on a bus to village A, walk to village B and then take a bus from B back to Santiago. Of course I can try to search for myself at Gronze and Eroski, but maybe one of you knows a nice stretch. I am not that familiar with the Sarria - Santiago part of the Camino. Walked it only once and was at that time paying more attention to my fellow pilgrims than to the road or the scenery...

Bus to Santa Irene and walk to Amenal. Avoid pilgrim rush hour

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Or walk into Fisterra? Much prettier than anything close to Santiago. If you make her walk into Santiago she's going to wonder what is wrong with you for liking the Camino.

 

[Luka]

@Anemone del Camino
That's why I thought about from one village to the next a bit before Santiago. So she can see the Camino craziness, but not the ugliness of walking into a big city. Walking into Finisterre might be a very nice idea though. Then it would be another kind of experience and something new for me too, because I have never walked further than Santiago...

 

[Tia Valeria]

Checking out the buses would be needed but a stretch anywhere between Palas de Rei and Lavacolla might be good. Much is on tracks and touches the road at intervals. See Primitivo 2012 and the relevant stages in the blog archive list.
Our stages were 15-16kms but others were walking less (80+ and 90 year olds)

 

[SusanPaulus]

I recommend getting a ride to A Coruña and staying a few days there. You could easily walk around the entire town and enjoy the city. It's very beautiful and it start the English way so you can follow some arrows in town. It's not far from Santiago and worth the trip. Buen Camino.

 

[HedaP]

Honestly the best stretch of 10km around Santiago are the 10km leaving town towards Finisterre, which could be done in reverse. Public transport can get you to Roxos on the #8 line and you could walk to Quintans from there, it is less than 1km. The walk back to Santiago is under 10km. Funny looking yellow arrows point the way back to Santiago.

I walked this route back into Santiago this April and really enjoyed it. The funny yellow arrows made it quite easy to find the way. There are some hills but also lots of walking through woods and some lovely views including looking towards the cathedral as you get closer to Santiago. And after a very quiet camino it was really fun saying buen camino or some variation to all the pilgrims walking in the other direction towards Finistere. Take water and snacks because there were few service points open at the time.

 

[Catahoula19]

How about from Airapadron to Samos. The view as you look down on the monastery and walk into Samos is stunning. The walk from Airapadron is less than 5k and takes about an hour. That would leave her fresh enough to visit the monastery if you wanted to do that.

 

[Luka]

I recommend getting a ride to A Coruña and staying a few days there. You could easily walk around the entire town and enjoy the city. It's very beautiful and it start the English way so you can follow some arrows in town. It's not far from Santiago and worth the trip. Buen Camino.

Thanks, we certainly will pay A Coruña a visit!

 

[Luka]

@Tia Valeria and @Catahoula19 both your suggestions sound like interesting options. I'll sort them out!

 

[trecile]

I recommend getting a ride to A Coruña and staying a few days there. You could easily walk around the entire town and enjoy the city. It's very beautiful and it start the English way so you can follow some arrows in town. It's not far from Santiago and worth the trip. Buen Camino.

I'm going to A Coruña on Thursday for a couple of days. Any recommendations of places to see? Food to eat? Etc.
Also, I'm taking the overnight (ugh) bus to Madrid. Is there anywhere I can leave my luggage (suitcase and backpack) between the time I have to check out of the hostal and when the bus leaves at 22:30? I'll ask at the hostal, but it's not staffed all day, so it may not be possible to leave it there.

 

[SusanPaulus]

I'm going to A Coruña on Thursday for a couple of days. Any recommendations of places to see? Food to eat? Etc.
Also, I'm taking the overnight (ugh) bus to Madrid. Is there anywhere I can leave my luggage (suitcase and backpack) between the time I have to check out of the hostal and when the bus leaves at 22:30? I'll ask at the hostal, but it's not staffed all day, so it may not be possible to leave it there.

There's so much to see and do in A Coruña. I highly recommend getting around via bicycle. The hotel I stayed in gave me a card to use the city bikes free all day ( hotel Coruña mar). There are bike locations all around town. Definitely walk around the tower of Hercules. Make sure to take a picture on the giant Compass shell. You can easily spend a day just walking around the entire point as there awesome sauce many sculptures and sites to see. There's a street on the narrow part of town called rua Estrella. That street is filled with the best places to eat. Check out all the menu de Dia and pick the one that appeals to you. I recall la taberna de Rita menu de dia was excellent. There's also a nice park near there. I spent 5 days there and discovered new sites everyday. Enjoy.

 

[trecile]

Thanks for the suggestions! I was able to get a different bus, so I'll have more time in A Coruña.

 

[Luka]

A belated update. I spent a nice afternoon on the Camino with my parents. We walked just 8k, from Salceda to O Pedrouzo. It was easy to get a bus from Santiago (and back from O Pedrouzo). We met loads of pilgrims and my mother 'buen caminoed' to every single one of them. They loved it.

 

[Sailor]

Great! Thanks for the update. Que la luz de Dios alumbre su camino.

 

[HedaP]

A belated update. I spent a nice afternoon at the Camino with my parents. We walked just 8k, from Salceda to O Pedrouzo. It was easy to get a bus from Santiago (and back from O Pedrouzo). We met loads of pilgrims and my mother 'buen caminoed' to every single one of them. They loved it.

 

[julia-t]

I'm going to A Coruña on Thursday for a couple of days. Any recommendations of places to see? Food to eat? Etc.
Also, I'm taking the overnight (ugh) bus to Madrid. Is there anywhere I can leave my luggage (suitcase and backpack) between the time I have to check out of the hostal and when the bus leaves at 22:30? I'll ask at the hostal, but it's not staffed all day, so it may not be possible to leave it there.

When I spent part of a day in A Coruna, I left my backpack at the left luggage office at the bus station. Only a few euros, not far to walk to the airport bus stop or train station. I walked into the city centre and ate lunch and did a bit of gift shopping. Unfortunately I didn't have time to visit the lighthouse, cathedral or any other sights. Perhaps when I am back there in May...

 

[Robo]

Bus to Santa Irene and walk to Amenal. Avoid pilgrim rush hour

Yes, A very nice Section.....