Hi! I'm a 49yr old Scot planning to walk the Frances from late April, 2016. Looking for suggestions on getting to St. Jean without flying. Ferry from Portsmouth/Plymouth to Santander then coach/bus via Pamplona?
Hi Richard,
I live in Devon and have used the Plymouth/Santander ferry twice for my journey to SJPP. I will be using it again in May this year.
It goes once a week leaving on Sundays arriving in Santander on Mondays. From there I take a bus to San Sebastian, stay overnight then take another bus to Bayonne and then the final train or replacement bus to SJPP, arriving there about 4pm on the Tuesday to be ready to start walking the following morning.
Coming back from Santiago there is a bus directly to Santander which arrives in time to catch the ferry which goes once a week on Wednesdays.
I don't go via Pamplona as the cost is higher and the bus service to SJPP is a summer service only.
If you are interested in the Plymouth/Santander/San Sebastian/Bayonne/SJPP route, I can give you the exact timetable for the whole journey.
Buen Camino,
Mike