Hello fellow Pilgrims

[Malcolm Doyle]

I have virtually no experience in hiking and I'm planning to do the CF on the 10 th of May. I was wondering what books or guides would you recommend that will help finding, routes, accommodation and food, I am looking to do it on a cheap budget and I am in no hurry. I am doing it solo. Male 47, Ireland. Thanks if anyone can help.

 

[wayfarer]

Welcome Malcolm, The Brierly Guide is the one most people use but the route is very well marked and you will get an up to date list of accommodation at the Pilgrims Office in St Jean. There is also a full up to date list in the Resources Section here available to download.
Wishing you a Buen Camino.
Enjoy it all.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/“all”-albergues-on-the-camino-frances-in-one-pdf.10/

 

[Bradypus]

Hi Malcolm!

If you have little experience of hiking then there is probably no more straightforward introduction than the Camino Frances. Very long and varied but with a huge infrastructure of accommodation, signposting, food and equipment support. The albergues along the way are generally safe and comfortable and remarkably cheap. Plus you have the benefit (or perhaps challenge) of a vast number of other pilgrims walking alongside you. As a result you can walk with minimal equipment, maps or guides. It is very hard to get properly lost for long on the Frances as you can probably just follow the rucksack in front. Or wait 5 minutes for the next one The link Wayfarer has given is probably all the practical information you need to carry. Almost any question you can think of has probably been chewed over on this forum at some time or another. Lots of advice on preparation too. A great resource.

 

[Deleted member 36903]

Welcome to the forum Malcolm. If you have no experience of hiking I assume you do not possess walking boots/shoes. I suggest that you trawl through the relevant sections here on equipment so that you can identify what would suit your needs and make sure your footwear is well broken in (although my Salamon boots were great from the start) before you start walking. Some UK outdoor clothing stores allow you 'test drive' boots and backpacks for up to a month before returning them if unsuitable, just as long as they have not been outdoors. As you are planning to walk in May you probably can do without a sleeping bag, which will cut down weight in your backpack, and yo can manage with a liner instead. As Wayfarer said, most people use the Brierley guide. I did and found it most useful for my first Camino last year. Start the process of toughening up your feet and building strength in your legs by scheduling more walking into your daily life now, as the first stage of the Camino Frances will make real demands on your stamina. But you are young - I am in my late 60s - so you will be fine and have the journey of a lifetime. Buen Camino!

 

[Malcolm Doyle]

Welcome Malcolm, The Brierly Guide is the one most people use but the route is very well marked and you will get an up to date list of accommodation at the Pilgrims Office in St Jean. There is also a full up to date list in the Resources Section here available to download.
Wishing you a Buen Camino.
Enjoy it all.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/“all”-albergues-on-the-camino-frances-in-one-pdf.10/

Very much appreciated. Thank you,

 

[Malcolm Doyle]

Welcome to the forum Malcolm. If you have no experience of hiking I assume you do not possess walking boots/shoes. I suggest that you trawl through the relevant sections here on equipment so that you can identify what would suit your needs and make sure your footwear is well broken in (although my Salamon boots were great from the start) before you start walking. Some UK outdoor clothing stores allow you 'test drive' boots and backpacks for up to a month before returning them if unsuitable, just as long as they have not been outdoors. As you are planning to walk in May you probably can do without a sleeping bag, which will cut down weight in your backpack, and yo can manage with a liner instead. As Wayfarer said, most people use the Brierley guide. I did and found it most useful for my first Camino last year. Start the process of toughening up your feet and building strength in your legs by scheduling more walking into your daily life now, as the first stage of the Camino Frances will make real demands on your stamina. But you are young - I am in my late 60s - so you will be fine and have the journey of a lifetime. Buen Camino!

Thank you, very much, yes I will have to start getting a bit of practice and training in.

 

[Malcolm Doyle]

Welcome Malcolm, The Brierly Guide is the one most people use but the route is very well marked and you will get an up to date list of accommodation at the Pilgrims Office in St Jean. There is also a full up to date list in the Resources Section here available to download.
Wishing you a Buen Camino.
Enjoy it all.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/“all”-albergues-on-the-camino-frances-in-one-pdf.10/

Thank you

 

[NualaOC]

Hi Malcolm,

As others have said - it's all very simple. But a little bit of training and properly fitting footwear will definitely help! A guidebook, such as the John Brierley will be useful when figuring out where you might stop/stay, which will also help you with your budgeting.

The Irish Camino Society is holding some information events in Dublin, Cork and Belfast. Details here:
http://www.caminosociety.ie/http:/

The 53 Degrees North stores also have information events from time to time. They have a more commercial focus (as they involve a tour operator) but are still a good source of basic information. If you live in NI, there are similar events in the Cotswold Outdoors store.

Buen Camino!

 

[Malcolm Doyle]

Thank you very much, I will check these out.

 

[alexwalker]

Welcome here. Use the Search function to find threads that may help you;it's a wealth of info on this forum.

You can plan your stages, get profiles and overview of where there are albergues etc. here:

http://www.godesalco.com/plan/frances

I use the guide books from the Confraternity of St. James. They are cheap, light and good:

http://www.csj.org.uk/product/camino-frances/

Main site here:

http://www.csj.org.uk

 

[Annette london]

I have virtually no experience in hiking and I'm planning to do the CF on the 10 th of May. I was wondering what books or guides would you recommend that will help finding, routes, accommodation and food, I am looking to do it on a cheap budget and I am in no hurry. I am doing it solo. Male 47, Ireland. Thanks if anyone can help.

We found the Miam Miam DoDo invaluable as it gives the address and tel no of every albergue, pension, hotel and casa rural on the Camino. Got us out of bother a few times. Get the latest addition possible from Amazon or the confraternity in Dublin should have it. Not sure if the 2016 is available yet as its published each year. Good luck Annette

 

[Malcolm Doyle]

Thanks Annette I'll check it out !

 

[Silverton]

Hi Malcolm,
Maybe we will see you this coming Saturday 27 Feb at the Irish Camino Society info day, in St James' Church Hall, in Dublin 8?? As NualaOC suggested--check out the society website, www.caminosociety.ie. Our information office, also at St James' parish, will be open Thurs-Fri-Sat from the beginning of March. Copies of the current Brierley and UK (CSJ) guides are available in the office, and our volunteers are only too happy to 'talk camino' to visitors. You'll be very welcome!

 

[Malcolm Doyle]

Yeah that sound good Silverton, just might do that

Thanks for that !