Best for kids - Finisterre or Sarria?

[Martin.P]

Hi,
I'm cycling Frances the end of June - my Wife & 2 Girls are meeting me in Santiago.
Plans are already made, accommodation is booked for us all to continue Santiago to finisterre on foot.
Now I'm starting to question these plans - would Sarria to Santiago be more suitable?
I had split the finisterre walk into 5 days - a relaxing easy stroll for the girls - but will they bore easily in the evenings with few people around?
Finisterre's attraction was from all I read about it being a quiet, beautiful walk & of course the beach!
We have extra time & can always bus or car hire to coast later.
Would Sarria be a better option?
I suppose to change plans now I would need u to give a resounding vote for Sarria

 

[Tincatinker]

Take a few deep breaths Pilgrim. Your having a pre-peregrination panic. Stick with your original, careful, plan. There ain't nothing wrong with it and there won't be when you get there.

Do your girls get bored when they're with you? (apart from usual bored, bored, bored: bored?)

 

[Kurt5280]

If your girls would like the excitement of crowds of Pilgrims hiking into Santiago than Sarria to Santiago is a must see...if your girls are nature lovers than Santiago to Finisterre is a great hike with fewer real Pilgrims...and make sure to hike the boardwalk along the coast from Sardineiro de Abaixo to Finisterre and your girls will never forget it...also if you have some extra time the day hike up the coast from Finisterre to Muxia is amazing and includes a 5-km hike down a sandy beach (and you can take a taxi back from Muxia to your hotel in Finisterre so all you need are day packs with water)...but logistically I think your wife and girls would have a great experience sightseeing in Santiago while waiting for you to arrive...and on a bike with weather you could arrive a day or two early or late.

 

[Kiwi-family]

On our walk out to Finisterre with four kids (having already covered over 1,000km on various routes) we met our first "child pilgrims". They were a Spanish mum and two boys who just had a few days to spare and mum wanted them to experience the quintessential Spanishness that is the camino.
There were groups of teens from Sarria to Santiago but they very much kept to themselves.

 

[scruffy1]

Another possible consideration, walking to Finestera will grant the girls their own document, something like your own Compostela but different. The Finestera is rather more colorful and youthful in appearance and might possibly be more attractive for them.

 

[Martin.P]

Thank you all for your feedback, i really appreciate it.
You most likely hit the nail on the head Tincatinker & now that the countdown is getting smaller & smaller i'm probably hitting the panic button unnecessarily! On the question of boredom? - to be honest the girls don't bore that easily, in fact the eldest loves a good book & the younger a good game of cards! Again i'm probably worrying too much - i just want to be sure we made the right choice. Kurt5280's point on the excitement of the crowds is a fair one & the final walk into Santiago with the cathedral in sight would have them on a high also.

 

[Kiwi-family]

Popping over the hill and seeing the sea rivals the cathedral!

 

[Martin.P]

Hi all,

Just a word of thanks to you all for your advice..

Rachel, you were right - seeing the Sea & then Faro de Cabo Finisterre for the first time was magnificent!

We had a great time, saw some beautiful scenery, met some great people & gathered great memories!

Thanks again,
M.

 

[SabsP]

Hi all,

Just a word of thanks to you all for your advice..

Rachel, you were right - seeing the Sea & then Faro de Cabo Finisterre for the first time was magnificent!

We had a great time, saw some beautiful scenery, met some great people & gathered great memories!

Thanks again,
M.

Wonderful picture!!

 

[Kanga]

I loved the photo too! Triple like.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

It sounds tremendous! Do you have any thoughts on a 4-year-old walking from Sarria (though I suspect he would prefer a bicycle)?

 

[Martin.P]

Hi Falcon,

I'm not sure how I should answer this.... suffice to say that my youngest is 10yrs old, she is very strong willed & took the trip in her stride - but I believe she was the right age for it now, to at least understand some of the reasoning behind it & to recognise the satisfaction that completing each stage gave her (while nearing Logoso, she commented on how she enjoyed looking back at the trails over the hills & recognising the fact that she just walked all that way & it made her happy to think of it) - for me 10 was the right age.

Sarria to Santiago is more commercialised & all the comforts you may need for a 4yr old are available on route so there is always help at hand.

A small bicycle is not a bad idea though, on our cycle we came across an Korean couple cycling with 2 kids near villafranca del bierzo (probably 5yrs & 3yrs old?) the older kid was on a small bike & the younger in a seat on the back of his dad's bike (I've attached a photo).

Book private rooms, shower the child with love, making it the centre of attention & know that their the most important member of the group, plus a hand on his/her back every now & again with a gentle push when legs get tired of pedalling & I'm sure all will be okay.

Google a "Balance Buddy Bike Handle" if you do decide on a bike................

https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ORp4hIGcL._AC_US160_.jpg[/IMG]

 

[Kanga]

@falcon269 you've probably seen this thread about a 2 year old - I love watching the video. So joyful.