Solitary Camino.

[wayfarer]

At present I am driving up along the coast of Portugal in my campervan and have just entered Galicia. I have seen the beloved yellow arrows for the last two weeks but only have seen about three pilgrims so far. The Camino is beautiful and the scenery stunning and I would love to walk it sometime but I feel it would be a very solitary Camino and one of the things I loved about the Frances was all the interesting and lovely people I met along the way.

 

[Madidi]

The Camino Portugues is on my bucket list too wayfarer and I hope to get there in the next couple of years. I suppose it's one of those imponderables: scenery over company? It's why I am going back to the Frances next year.

I'll leave the Portugues until I'm even more of any old sour puss and no-one would want to walk with me anyway!!

Be safe and enjoy your trip.

 

[billbennettoz]

I would love to walk it sometime but I feel it would be a very solitary Camino and one of the things I loved about the Frances was all the interesting and lovely people I met along the way.

Hi Wayfarer - my wife and I took a train down to Porto after my Camino in May, and then we made our way back north stopping in little towns along the way, through to Valenca and then to Tui over the border. Most of the towns we stopped in, along the trainline, were on the Camino.

I saw quite a few pilgrims. Most had started in Porto but a few had started in Lisbon. And this was in mid May. So if you were to do it, I don't think it would be solitary, depending on the time of year.

But it's certainly not as popular, or as crowded, as the Frances.

My next Camino (yes, even with a bung knee, I've started to think of my next one!) will be from the lighthosue at Sagres on the far southern tip of Portugal, through to Santiago then the lighthouse at Finisterre. That's what I'm now dreaming of...

Bill

 

[robventures]

billbennettoz, there are several different Portuguese routes. The most common of these (the "Camino Portugues") is indeed quite popular, passes through Valença/Tui, and is an entirely inland route.

wayfarer appears to be talking about the coastal route, which is indeed quiet. There are a few albergues on the way, but several nights must be spent in hostales. We only saw three other pilgrims on this route when we did it in May/June this year.

 

[billbennettoz]

billbennettoz, there are several different Portuguese routes. The most common of these (the "Camino Portugues") is indeed quite popular, passes through Valença/Tui, and is an entirely inland route.

wayfarer appears to be talking about the coastal route, which is indeed quiet. There are a few albergues on the way, but several nights must be spent in hostales. We only saw three other pilgrims on this route when we did it in May/June this year.

huh - didn't know there was more than one Portuguese route. thx.
Bill

 

[wayfarer]

Yes its the coastal Camino and its beautiful. It is the one I would walk at some stage PG. You should check it out Bill.

 

[billbennettoz]

Yes its the coastal Camino and its beautiful. It is the one I would walk at some stage PG. You should check it out Bill.

That would be wonderful - can you point me to a link or site where I could learn more about it?

Bill

 

[robventures]

There is actually a sub-forum here for the coastal route (can't link it, sorry, on the mobile app) although it's fairly quiet. I'll be writing my trip up in a couple of weeks and posting it there.

And it is indeed a beautiful coast.

 

[billbennettoz]

There is actually a sub-forum here for the coastal route (can't link it, sorry, on the mobile app) although it's fairly quiet. I'll be writing my trip up in a couple of weeks and posting it there. And it is indeed a beautiful coast.

Fabulous. Looking forward to your write up.

Bill

 

[wayfarer]

Thanks Rob, keep us posted.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

If you like solitary, try the Voie d'Arles and Camino Aragones. I have seen five pilgrims in two weeks! Once the weather stays good, there may be more.