Samantha Shaw
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- newbie
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Hi Samantha.Hello,
I want to do the Camino de Santiago in September.
I live in Birmingham, England. So if I fly into Pamplona get to St Jean Pied de Port ... is it easy enough to find your way to get the pilgrim passport?
Then I guess just walk walk walk and follow the signs? Getting home I'll just wing it too.
Is the trail easy to navigate? Will there be plenty of people around? I'm just worried I'll get lost or not do the trail properly.
Thanks in advance,
Sam
Hello,
I want to do the Camino de Santiago in September.
I live in Birmingham, England. So if I fly into Pamplona get to St Jean Pied de Port ... is it easy enough to find your way to get the pilgrim passport?
Then I guess just walk walk walk and follow the signs? Getting home I'll just wing it too.
Is the trail easy to navigate? Will there be plenty of people around? I'm just worried I'll get lost or not do the trail properly.
Thanks in advance,
Sam
First thing, buy a good guidebook. Being in England, find John Brierley's. It was a life saver for our Camino. Second, choose and buy your boots and socks (I recommend 100% wool) and break them in early, walk a lot a long way.... See below entries about blisters. Thirdly, going in September, consider the weather especially, and dress accordingly. We went in May/June, and the Pyrenees were rainy and snowy, OUT of season! We did not go all the way into St. John, started in Pamplona and did not feel short changed in the least. The trail is very well marked (yellow arrows, mostly) except when some local vandal paints EXTRA arrows..... adds to the fun....Hello,
I want to do the Camino de Santiago in September.
I live in Birmingham, England. So if I fly into Pamplona get to St Jean Pied de Port ... is it easy enough to find your way to get the pilgrim passport?
Then I guess just walk walk walk and follow the signs? Getting home I'll just wing it too.
Is the trail easy to navigate? Will there be plenty of people around? I'm just worried I'll get lost or not do the trail properly.
Thanks in advance,
Sam
Hi JamesL.First thing, buy a good guidebook. Being in England, find John Brierley's. It was a life saver for our Camino. Second, choose and buy your boots and socks (I recommend 100% wool) and break them in early, walk a lot a long way.... See below entries about blisters. Thirdly, going in September, consider the weather especially, and dress accordingly. We went in May/June, and the Pyrenees were rainy and snowy, OUT of season! We did not go all the way into St. John, started in Pamplona and did not feel short changed in the least. The trail is very well marked (yellow arrows, mostly) except when some local vandal paints EXTRA arrows..... adds to the fun....
When you get the guidebook, obtaining the Credential is easy. Recommend you buy it by mail but you can usually buy them in the big albergues and Cathedrals. You will buy another (and another?) along the way, having filled up the first with all the stamps!
Yes, there are "plenty of people" some you will remember, some you find you were sorry to have met, but c'est la vie, . Study Spanish and make the locals
First thing, buy a good guidebook. Being in England, find John Brierley's. It was a life saver for our Camino. Second, choose and buy your boots and socks (I recommend 100% wool) and break them in early, walk a lot a long way.... See below entries about blisters. Thirdly, going in September, consider the weather especially, and dress accordingly. We went in May/June, and the Pyrenees were rainy and snowy, OUT of season! We did not go all the way into St. John, started in Pamplona and did not feel short changed in the least. The trail is very well marked (yellow arrows, mostly) except when some local vandal paints EXTRA arrows..... adds to the fun....
When you get the guidebook, obtaining the Credential is easy. Recommend you buy it by mail but you can usually buy them in the big albergues and Cathedrals. You will buy another (and another?) along the way, having filled up the first with all the stamps!
Yes, there are "plenty of people" some you will remember, some you find you were sorry to have met, but c'est la vie, . Study Spanish and make the locals very happy and your trip mucho mas facil. Rosetta Stone?
Buen Camino!
very happy and your trip mucho mas facil. Rosetta Stone?
Buen Camino!
Samantha Hi.Hi Samantha.
There is a book you can order, it's called "Camino de Santiago". It's written by john Brierley, the ispn ends in 96244. Probably the only book you will need, it has everything you will need to know really, including all the stage route maps, local info, phone numbers, where all the drinking fountains are, all the hostels, basic Spanish, ideas of travel options and the all important equipment and kit list etc, it is a wealth of information and well worth under £20 price tag...I've read it over and over..I'm in Gloucestershire at the mo and starting my pilgrimage on the first of May...Good luck with your prep and buen camino when you get there..
The address of the Pilgrims' office in SJPdP: Amies du Chemin de Saint Jacques at 39 rue de la Citadelle. Look it up on google earth and make a copy of the map. SJPdP is a small town but the streets are confusing, particularly if you arrive after dark.
If you are travelling from England you might be better served by flying to Biarritz airport.
There are no international flights to Pamplona.
The camino is marked by yellow arrows or other markings. If you get lost a local person will point you in the right direction, often without being asked.
2225 London to Saint Jean Pied de Port via Biarritz Airport
2226 This section discusses travel from London to Saint Jean Pied de Port via Biarritz Airport
Index 2225
2227 Airline Service London to Biarritz Airport
2228 Biarritz Airport to Gare de Bayonne
2229 Gare de Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port
2227 Airline Service London to Biarritz Airport
The closest airport to Saint Jean Pied de Port is Biarritz/Anglet/Bayonne Airport (BIQ). Biarritz Airport is relatively small and it is easy to get oriented.
Biarritz Airport website indicates airlines and destinations including flights from London.
Biarritz Airport BIQ
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/
At time of writing:
Ryan Air provides service from London Stansted (STN) to Biarritz (BIQ) all year.
Easy Jet provides service from London Gatwick (LGW) to Biarritz (BIQ) on seasonal basis.
2228 Biarritz Airport to Gare de Bayonne
Chronoplus bus #14 travels from Biarritz Airport to Gare de Bayonne. The bus stop is just outside the airport. The bus ride takes about 40 minutes.
Chronoplus
http://www.chronoplus.eu/
Gare de Bayonne. See the picture so you recognize where to get off the bus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_de_Bayonne
2229 Gare de Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port
SNCF TER train #62 travels from Gare de Bayonne to Cambo les Bains where passengers transfer to an SNCF autocar (bus) to SJPdP. You cannot reserve a seat. You can purchase the ticket at the station.
SNCF TER Aquitaine
http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/Aquitaine/fr/Default.aspx
Hi Lise - you obviously walked before "The Way" as Martin Sheen does almost the same thing.That being said....when I stepped out of my Albergee in St Jean to begin my walk (across from the pilgrams office). My southern hemisphere internal bearings where all wrong. I said goodbye to my host and started to walk up the hill.
He laughed...grabed me by the shoulders and spun me around to face down hill.
It must have looked so comical. An exciting adventure awaits you Sam!
Keep the run on your left and walk on!When you get to St. Jean Pied de Port it's a piece of cake finding the pilgrim's office and getting your passport. Easy to walk out of town and start the Camino. Just follow the arrows and signs. Easy to navigate and lots of fellow pilgrims.
Buen Camino
This is information wow!!!! Anyone could be happy...fantasticThe address of the Pilgrims' office in SJPdP: Amies du Chemin de Saint Jacques at 39 rue de la Citadelle. Look it up on google earth and make a copy of the map. SJPdP is a small town but the streets are confusing, particularly if you arrive after dark.
If you are travelling from England you might be better served by flying to Biarritz airport.
There are no international flights to Pamplona.
The camino is marked by yellow arrows or other markings. If you get lost a local person will point you in the right direction, often without being asked.
2225 London to Saint Jean Pied de Port via Biarritz Airport
2226 This section discusses travel from London to Saint Jean Pied de Port via Biarritz Airport
Index 2225
2227 Airline Service London to Biarritz Airport
2228 Biarritz Airport to Gare de Bayonne
2229 Gare de Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port
2227 Airline Service London to Biarritz Airport
The closest airport to Saint Jean Pied de Port is Biarritz/Anglet/Bayonne Airport (BIQ). Biarritz Airport is relatively small and it is easy to get oriented.
Biarritz Airport website indicates airlines and destinations including flights from London.
Biarritz Airport BIQ
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/
At time of writing:
Ryan Air provides service from London Stansted (STN) to Biarritz (BIQ) all year.
Easy Jet provides service from London Gatwick (LGW) to Biarritz (BIQ) on seasonal basis.
2228 Biarritz Airport to Gare de Bayonne
Chronoplus bus #14 travels from Biarritz Airport to Gare de Bayonne. The bus stop is just outside the airport. The bus ride takes about 40 minutes.
Chronoplus
http://www.chronoplus.eu/
Gare de Bayonne. See the picture so you recognize where to get off the bus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_de_Bayonne
2229 Gare de Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port
SNCF TER train #62 travels from Gare de Bayonne to Cambo les Bains where passengers transfer to an SNCF autocar (bus) to SJPdP. You cannot reserve a seat. You can purchase the ticket at the station.
SNCF TER Aquitaine
http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/Aquitaine/fr/Default.aspx
Oh how I would love to be able to fly Birmingham (20 miles away from home) to Biarritz instead of sleping down to Stanstead!
Did you know Flybe flies from Birmingham to Biarritz? Its once a week ... so not great ... perhaps there are more in summer. There are also several flights per week to Bordeaux from whence its easy to catch the train.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?