How to get to Ferrol on Saturday night...

[amancio]

Hola amigos (Ivar and Johnie Walker, this is particularly for you, I guess)

I am landing in Santiago on Saturday at 20:25. Is there any way to make it to Ferrol that night or Sunday first thing in the morning to start the Inglés? I have seen Santiago-A Coruña connections are reasonable enough so I can spend the night in A Coruña, I guess, then take a bus to Ferrol on Sunday morning.

Any suggestions?

 

[ivar]

Yes, not sure otherwise... it seems like the last bus from Santiago to Ferrol is at 20.30.
http://horarios.monbus.es/

 

[amancio]

I saw that, thanks, Ivar, so I am now studying staying overnight in Coruña, then taking a bus from Coruña to Ferrol on Sunday morning, but in that case I would have to start walking at 11 or so, not the best time of the day to head for Pontedeume, so I might start from Neda, I guess...
IT is a bummer always having such tight schedules and so few days...

 

[ivar]

Yes, too bad there is no train on saturdays.. (I had a look)

 

[JALAN JAUH]

Hi Amancio
I arrived in A Coruna on the 20.15 flight from London and caught the half hourly bus from the airport to the bus station. The airport bus does not stop at the bus station but on the main road opposite the bus station, from there it was a very short walk to a very nice hostel for the night. You could walk through a pretty park from this hostel (which is on booking.com) in ten minutes to catch the regular early bus to Ferrol the next morning.

You should note that the walk from the beautiful Ferrol bus stop to the start of the Camino is quite a long walk through busy streets, opposite the starting marker you will find the Information office where they have very friendly English speaking staff. They will give you an updated map of Ferrol with the amended Camino route clearly marked.

You should also note that the Johnny Walker book does not mention that the route immediately out from the first marker through the narrow street is closed; you need to come out and walk along the busy road round the bay full of industrial machinery and roaring traffic.

After three hours of walking in the blazing hot sun on a hard road I took a bus to Pontedueme losing the kilometers for a real 100km walk for getting the paper Certificate, but it made up time for the late start from Ferrol.

On another aside I took a very early hour long sight seeing trip with a taxi who took me on a circular journey to see A Coruna and its beautiful bay, worth the experience. you can pm me if you need any more information.

Joe

 

[amancio]

Gracias, amigo Joe!

It looks like we will stay overnight in Santiago, then take the 9:15 bus to Ferrol and get off at Fene or Neda by 10 or so, where we will start walking. We will miss Ferrol and the first 12/15 km, but this is the compromise we will have to take, I am afraid...

I just hope there are not too massive crowds, I heard about 30 pilgrims in Sigueiro having problems to find accomodation a few days ago, gloops!

 

[JohnnieWalker]

see you when you get here Amancio!

To answer Joe's point - when you start off from the first marker the road ahead of you has been closed temporarily - it may have been opened by now! Just take the first Right then the the first Left and you will come back on to the route.

John

 

[Tia Valeria]

We found that some of the bars were shut on Sunday. If relying on one for breakfast it might be worth having some sort of emergency rations. The cafe-bar Hermida, about 3kms from Narón was the first one we found open. A lovely friendly lady served us coffee (and gave us a little booklet and pencil).
NB: This was 3 years ago, but bar folk do deserve a late start or a day off, so I would still expect some to be closed at least early on.