Ingles or Frances - Which is easier?

[Homan75]

Hi there,

Help please! I am doing the Camino Ingles end of March (in 4 days - last day, doing 39k due to time restrictions). I have been told the Camino Frances might be easier? Any advice? I am flying into Santiago...

 

[wayfarer]

Welcome Homan, I haven't walked the Ingles but I can tell you the Frances from Sarria is a beautiful walk and can be done in 4 days. You will average 25k per day but that is doable IMO.
Buen Camino.

 

[Homan75]

Thanks for this. Is it a long journey from Santiago airport though to Sarria? I believe it is two bus rides away?

 

[Al the optimist]

Welcome to our forum family. I am sure that your first post will be received with much advice. My tuppence worth? Well I have walked the Frances 3 times and the Ingles twice. Both have their own personality and both have some lovely parts. I find the Ingles much quieter but I guess both will be in March. To do the Ingles in 4 days will mean two hard days to finish as the hill section up to Bruma is one many find strenuous. Whichever you choose, Buen Camino.

 

[Homan75]

Welcome to our forum family. I am sure that your first post will be received with much advice. My tuppence worth? Well I have walked the Frances 3 times and the Ingles twice. Both have their own personality and both have some lovely parts. I find the Ingles much quieter but I guess both will be in March. To do the Ingles in 4 days will mean two hard days to finish as the hill section up to Bruma is one many find strenuous. Whichever you choose, Buen Camino.

thanks for the quick reply this is really helpful. Do you know if it is a long journey from Santiago airport to Sarria though?

 

[Tia Valeria]

Your stages on the Inglés are dictated, to some extent, by the accomodation. There are some demanding hills. On the Francés the accomodation lets you decide your daily distance more easily and the hills may be less demanding (I have only walked the section from Palas de Rei when walking the Primitivo).
I would suggest that you look at the Gronze site for the Inglés andalso the Francés where both accomodation and elevations are given.
It is I think easier to get to Ferrol than to Sarria and quicker, which might influence you too.
Buen Camino

 

[Al the optimist]

I have not travelled from Santiago to Sarria so cannot really comment. The Buses to Ferrol go from the bus station in SDC (which is where the airport bus stops) every 90/120 minutes, taking 70 minutes.

 

[Tincatinker]

@Homan75 you may find this link https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...including-santiago-sarria-and-fisterra.23478/ helpful for your travel arrangements. Bus timings and general logistics may be your severest challenge given your very limited time.

Best of luck.

 

[wayfarer]

Do you know if it is a long journey from Santiago airport to Sarria though?

About two to two and a half hours including the change over at Lugo.

 

[Harington]

Hi there,

Help please! I am doing the Camino Ingles end of March (in 4 days - last day, doing 39k due to time restrictions). I have been told the Camino Frances might be easier? Any advice? I am flying into Santiago...

Yes, the CF from Sarria is pretty easy, but the Inglés is not difficult, though there are some steepish, but short, hills. I think it comes down to whether you mind crowds. The Inglés in March will be much less crowded.

 

[CaminoDebrita]

Yes, the CF from Sarria is pretty easy, but the Inglés is not difficult, though there are some steepish, but short, hills. I think it comes down to whether you mind crowds. The Inglés in March will be much less crowded.

Do you really think the CF in March is going to be crowded?? It was sure uncrowded in October and November. There were days in November when I saw no one for nearly all of the day. The meseta in October was absolutely empty.

 

[Harington]

Do you really think the CF in March is going to be crowded?? It was sure uncrowded in October and November. There were days in November when I saw no one for nearly all of the day. The meseta in October was absolutely empty.

I'm glad to hear it...if I ever revisit the CF I'll go in autumn or winter, then. In September when I was heading out to the airport on the bus (after the Inglés) the pilgrims were pouring in at such a rate there were no gaps between them.

 

[CaminoDebrita]

I'm glad to hear it...if I ever revisit the CF I'll go in autumn or winter, then. In September when I was heading out to the airport on the bus (after the Inglés) the pilgrims were pouring in at such a rate there were no gaps between them.

Well--late September was my departure from SJPP. On the meseta portion, many people had bused ahead. Apparently they think that's the portion to miss. Going up O'Cebreiro, I saw only one other person, and when we walked into SdC, there were perhaps ten pilgrims in the square. That was mid November, and it was a sunny day but had been chilly for some days.

For this spring's walk, I have been shown stats that three times as many people walk into SdC in April, but perhaps walking in April 5th--quite early--will make it less crowded. Still, I think it may be a good idea to deviate from CF onto the Invierno. Thinking it out.