Help finding the best route please.

[dazzab]

Hi There, my name is Darren and I'm from Australia. I'm in my late 40's and very much looking forward to doing my first pilgrimage.
I'm planning for sometime from June 2020 and I was hoping to get some ideas on the best place to start from, as a Solo traveler.
I'm looking at doing around 150klm.
I'll already be in Europe somewhere, as I'm volunteering April / May in Poland and then Hungary. I'd love to see the Bay of Biscay at some point too, but that doesn't need to be part of my Camino.
I've recently picked up The Camino Frances guide, but deciding on a starting point is actually quite hard! I don't want to start somewhere, but then someone say "Oh, you should have started in ....xyz.... as you've missed something great!"
Any suggestions would be welcome!
Preferably somewhere relatively easy to get to via Train or Bus, and somewhere I can then arrange to send my backpack onto Ivar in Santiago to hold for me.
It doesn't necessarily need to be easy, I don't mind a bit of a challenge (I've been on a fitness campaign and lost 40kg over the last 12 months).
thank you in advance!
Buen Camino!
Darren

 

[trecile]

I don't want to start somewhere, but then someone say "Oh, you should have started in ....xyz.... as you've missed something great!"

Regardless of which route you choose, or where you start I can guarantee that you WILL miss something great. But you will also experience lots of great things!

The first thing that you have to ask yourself is "do I want to finish in Santiago?"
Really think about it. Lots of people think "nah, I just want to walk for a week, and I don't care where I end up", but the reality is that once you are one the Camino you may get caught up in the excitement of arriving in Santiago with those that you meet along the way. I know that I would not want to have to leave while those that I've been walking many kms with continue on to Santiago.

After you have answered that question the next step is to decide which route you want to take. The "classic" Camino Frances? The Camino Portuguese, which seems to be getting more popular each year? The Camino del Norte? For an idea of how many different ways there are to Santiago check out Gronze.com

 

[dazzab]

Regardless of which route you choose, or where you start I can guarantee that you WILL miss something great. But you will also experience lots of great things!

The first thing that you have to ask yourself is "do I want to finish in Santiago?"
Really think about it. Lots of people think "nah, I just want to walk for a week, and I don't care where I end up", but the reality is that once you are one the Camino you may get caught up in the excitement of arriving in Santiago with those that you meet along the way. I know that I would not want to have to leave while those that I've been walking many kms with continue on to Santiago.

After you have answered that question the next step is to decide which route you want to take. The "classic" Camino Frances? The Camino Portuguese, which seems to be getting more popular each year? The Camino del Norte? For an idea of how many different ways there are to Santiago check out Gronze.com

Hi there, thanks for the reply.
Okay, noted, everywhere will be amazing!
Yes, I do intend to finish in Santiago. I guess I'll probably stay there for a few days after as well. I don't have any plans, just travelling around Europe and seeing/doing whatever tickles my fancy!
And I agree, I will no doubt get excited about arriving and want to enjoy the moment with new friends made!
I'll be sure to check out that site. Thank you again, best wishes for the New Year!

 

[Susan Peacock]

Unfortunately 150km doesn't put you in a city large enough to have a train. You could possibly take a bus or taxi. If you could possibly walk around 250km you could start in Astorga a wonderful town. This would allow you to experience both Cruz de Fero and O'Cebrerio (both climbs but well worth it) as well as the castle in Ponferrada and possibly Samos. Other option of approx 200km would be to start in Ponferrada. If you don't have the extra time option 1: I would figure out how to get to O'Cebrerio and walk the Samos route after Triacastela.
Option 2: Start in Sarria (the 100+ starting point) and then walk to Finisterre (another 90ish) after Santiago. You could try using Rome2rio.com or the app to figure out the transportation options.

 

[dazzab]

Thank you Susan! Yes, I was finding it difficult to locate towns in Spain that had a train station. As your reply came though, I found that I could get to Ponferrada!
I don't mind doing 200klm, so that looks like a great starting point. I don't actually have a time limit, but my travel visa only allows me to spend 90 days in Shengen area, and there is lots I want to see! that is really the only limitation I have.
thank you again for the information!

 

[SYates]

Ponferrada is a good starting point and has also the advantage that you will meet quite a few pilgrims that are also just starting out.
BC SY

 

[David Manzo]

You might also consider the Camino Portugues and start in Tui. Walk from Tui to SdC and then on to Finisterre

 

[Kitsambler]

I'll already be in Europe somewhere, as I'm volunteering April / May in Poland and then Hungary.

There are marked routes in Poland, and from Budapest in Hungary. All roads lead in the direction of Santiago - don't feel you must limit yourself to Spain. http://jakobswege-europa.de/wege/

Your distance would just about cover the first major segment of the Le Puy route, for example (Le Puy to Conques).

 

[willydp]

@Kitsambler
The Polish people won't like that you name the cities with there German name, is a bit sensitive...
Gdańsk, Poznań & Wrocław is what you will find in Poland.
I know difficult to know
Buen Camino

 

[Kitsambler]

@Kitsambler
The Polish people won't like that you name the cities with there German name, is a bit sensitive...
Gdańsk, Poznań & Wrocław is what you will find in Poland.
I know difficult to know
Buen Camino

No insult intended - I simply spelled the names as they were printed on the website cited. Perhaps you should take up your point with that webmaster.

 

[willydp]

@Kitsambler
It was not a reproach, just an informative comment
dazzab would never find those cities in Poland
The problem is that every country change the names of villages in their own language. Was off course a .de link
Strange that they didn't put Köningsberg instead of Kaliningrad- to sensitive too? That is a discussion on it's own.
@dazzab
Sorry for highjacking.
If you want to see the Bay of Biscay you can spend a short walk from Irun to San Sebastian and move on from there. Will be a good training too
Buen Camino