Sarria to Santiago - 100 KMS

[ManiBaskaran]

Hi, we are first time travellers; my husband and I are planning for Sarria to Santiago last 100 KMS.

We are 57 and 60 years and I have a bit of knee problem but otherwise fit. Also I get afraid of the heights when I walk narrow elevation.

Can you please provide some details on this route? Is this something I can do?

Thank you

 

[Tincatinker]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

"A bit of a knee problem" may or may not be a problem. Only you can know if you can walk 100km in, say, 5 days.

There are no exposed elevations on the Camino Frances between Sarria and Santiago.

https://www.gronze.com/camino-frances will provide information on route, accommodations and elevations. Its in Spanish but your browser will translate. There are also many excellent guidebooks available via Ivar's shop http://www.casaivar.com/

Happy planning

 

[naplesdon]

There are numerous guidebooks like John Brierley, Wise Pilgrim and Gronze. I can't think of any narrow heights except some pilgrims complain about the bridge to Portomarin. Being 57 and 60 is still young on the Camino, I am nearly 80.

 

[J Willhaus]

You will be fine on the fear or heights issue. No edges or drop offs.

 

[CaptBuddy]

It is a wonderful journey. I hope that you enjoy "The Galician Camino" as much as I do.
Buen Camino.

 

[Annw]

As said above it really depends on how bad the knee is. Look at the elevations in one of the books mentioned; Brierly has a Sarria to Santiago book. My husband has an unstable knee (tendons/cartilage shot from repeated dislocations) and joined me for parts of it but had to go quite slowly, and we transported the bags daily between lodgings. As often recommended here, practice walking on hills before you go. And Buen Camino!

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

"A bit of a knee problem" may or may not be a problem. Only you can know if you can walk 100km in, say, 5 days.

There are no exposed elevations on the Camino Frances between Sarria and Santiago.

https://www.gronze.com/camino-frances will provide information on route, accommodations and elevations. Its in Spanish but your browser will translate. There are also many excellent guidebooks available via Ivar's shop http://www.casaivar.com/

Happy planning

To be fair, if you take more than 5 days that's fine too!

 

[Priscilla NC]

Hiking poles will help with the knee issues. If you don't want to transport them from home, you can find some in Sarria.
Buen Camino!

 

[lt56ny]

There are numerous guidebooks like John Brierley, Wise Pilgrim and Gronze. I can't think of any narrow heights except some pilgrims complain about the bridge to Portomarin. Being 57 and 60 is still young on the Camino, I am nearly 80.

Mere puppies!!!!

 

[C clearly]

For full disclosure, we should mention that the bridge across the river to Portomarin can be a problem for some people, at some times. I walked with someone who was very uncomfortable with heights, and she managed by focusing on the sidewalk and road in front. In the spring when the reservoir is high, there is almost no issue, since the bridge is not so high above the water. However, in the fall when the reservoir is low, the bridge seems much higher. Look at this thread for more discussion.

I don't think there are any other places between Sarria and Santiago that would cause any discomfort.

 

[Chris Gi]

Hi, we are first time travellers; my husband and I are planning for Sarria to Santiago last 100 KMS.

We are 57 and 60 years and I have a bit of knee problem but otherwise fit. Also I get afraid of the heights when I walk narrow elevation.

Can you please provide some details on this route? Is this something I can do?

Thank you

You can spread it out over 7-10 days if you have no time constraints. At 82 that is my plan.
Buen Camino

 

[Former member 95219]

You can spread it out over 7-10 days if you have no time constraints. At 82 that is my plan.
Buen Camino

Hi. I have an extreme fear of heights. I have only met one other person with it as bad. Weirdly I can’t remember this bridge as even looking at a photo of scares the hell out of me. It’s possible to walk along the road (dangerous as that may be)? Maybe that what I did? Anyway for those wit a fear of heights here was my thread fron the Norte re Ribadeo Beidge which stills makes me smile!

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/ribadeo-bridge.70806/#post-941895

 

[C clearly]

Weirdly I can’t remember this bridge

What month did you walk?

 

[Former member 95219]

What month did you walk?

Walked 26 July to 20 Aug 2020.

 

[J Willhaus]

I have a fear of both bridges and heights and at Portomarin I walked inside the guardrail against traffic and then stepped back over to the walkway and stood perfectly still with eyes shut till traffic passed. Then stepped over again back into the trafficway and continued. I was able to get across without having a panic attack.

 

[C clearly]

Walked 26 July to 20 Aug 2020.

Maybe the reservoir was high, so the bridge seemed low.

 

[Former member 95219]

Maybe the reservoir was high, so the bridge seemed low.

Ah thank you for this. Maybe that’s it. The photos make it look memorable !

 

[Former member 95219]

I have a fear of both bridges and heights and at Portomarin I walked inside the guardrail against traffic and then stepped back over to the walkway and stood perfectly still with eyes shut till traffic passed. Then stepped over again back into the trafficway and continued. I was able to get across without having a panic attack.

That sounds exactly the thing I would do and have done similar on much smaller bridges! Well played! Not sure if you have done Ribadeo Bridge but that option not really realistic sadly! Even doing that did not conquer fear. On a non Camino trip to Cuenca last year I couldn’t boring myself to cross bridge!

 

[dbier]

In sum, practice with whatever kit you're carrying on hills for some kilometers at a time before you go, go as slowly as you need to, ship heavy backpacks ahead if you need to. My husband ( we were 59 and 58) did the distance with a replaced ACL on one leg and a removed Bakers cyst on the other last July. I had to keep him properly fed and hydrated...but that's a different story.

The only elevation close to being narrow that I remember was the bridge...there are other ascents/descents, particularly a few km outside Portomarin and coming into/ out of Arzua, but not at all narrow, and not all that much.

Since you know that you have a knee issue, have you chatted with a doctor?

Buen Camino.

 

[Former member 95219]

Maybe the reservoir was high, so the bridge seemed low.

Is this the bridge !I think so?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Mere puppies!!!!

On this forum anyway!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I too, have a phobia of heights, but having a fence makes a big difference in my fear factor as I feel safer. I didn't think the bridge at Portomarin was so bad, although I mostly chose to look straight ahead. Having walked it in late April twice, I never did see the other old, low bridge I have heard about.

 

[Former member 95219]

I too, have a phobia of heights, but having a fence makes a big difference in my fear factor as I feel safer. I didn't think the bridge at Portomarin was so bad, although I mostly chose to look straight ahead. Having walked it in late April twice, I never did see the other old, low bridge I have heard about.
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It all depends on the height of the bridge to me. Chest height and quite relaxed! Hip height and noooooo!

 

[J Willhaus]

Is this the bridge !I think so?

Yep, that's it.

 

[Former member 95219]

Yep, that's it.

Thank you! I definitely walked on the road not path then. It was peak covid so I think very quiet!

 

[Maureen Anne]

Hi, we are first time travellers; my husband and I are planning for Sarria to Santiago last 100 KMS.

We are 57 and 60 years and I have a bit of knee problem but otherwise fit. Also I get afraid of the heights when I walk narrow elevation.

Can you please provide some details on this route? Is this something I can do?

Thank you

Hello ..Maureen from Colorado. Did Sarria to Santiago in 2017 and heading back this September. age late 60’s. Knees aren’t the best. I do ortho visc shots in my knees paid for by Medicare that helps a great deal. Met and hiked with 83 yr old man …if he got really tired…stop in cafe and they can call a taxi if necessary for a couple euros. I would not stress. Take your time and plan on a rest day in a nice place along the way. I have all my rooms booked already for late September. Buen Camino…it is a joy

 

[Anamiri]

I have a fear of both bridges and heights and at Portomarin I walked inside the guardrail against traffic and then stepped back over to the walkway and stood perfectly still with eyes shut till traffic passed. Then stepped over again back into the trafficway and continued. I was able to get across without having a panic attack.

I don't like that bridge much either, and last time I put on a cracking pace to get to the other side quickly.
Then a couple with a double stroller stopped in front of me, and started to take photos of each other. My desperate need to be on the other made me cross the barrier and walk in the traffic lane to get around them.