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Hello! At the risk of offending some, here are my thoughts. If all you want is a piece of paper, go for the Ingles or Sarria to Santiago plan. If you would like to see beautiful countryside, challenge yourself physically for a few days and enjoy a wonderful Spanish city go for the SJPdP to Pamplona plan. In later years you might choose to return to walk the entire pilgrimage. Personally, I enjoy staying in a Spanish city long enough to explore it and find some gems.
I like the way you think. In 2009 due to the previously twisted ankle I stopped my CF in Logrono. And almost 10 years later I'm confirmed Camino addict. That female doctor at Logrono ER was right, the Camino will always be (t)here. I would say start in SJPdP (if you want to experience the Pyrenees, well just one day actually) and get that sniff, touch of the Camino. And come back some time later, maybe continue from Pamplona or start in SJPdP again. Who knows. Although I was never on a pilgrimage to St.James it's different when you come to Praza do Obradoiro after a month of heat, rain, good, bad... It's rewarding after such long time. It really is. The feel of accomplishment is so overwhelming even for a non-believer (in my case).Thanks Sparrow! Yes I was thinking, on one hand it would be nice to get a compostela at the end, but on the other hand if I do want to do the entire 800km one day I can see the point of doing the first section first and coming back in the future to do the rest. I don't know if doing Sarria to Santiago first would "spoil the ending" as such if/when I do decide to do the whole CF one day?
...
My first time, I only had 5 days, and intended to walk from Saint Jean PdP to Pamplona - but ended up walking on to Puente la Reina, where I had one of the best evenings. It was a short bus ride back to Pamplona the next morning.
Who knows......
Another question: which section tends to be less rainy/have better around mid-late September?
Who knows...
Nobody!
Well, there's only one definite thing about Camino Frances: "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the ... Galicia."Haha thanks! I guess that's the way it goes.
Having walked both, I think Tui-Santiago is more interesting than Sarria -Santiago. They both have good infrastructure and you will see other pilgrims, so you get the "Camino feeling".
In terms of weather, it is indeed a gamble.
Have lots of fun and Buen Camino!
Sarria to Santiago was a let down (in terms of scenery) as opposed to the SJPdP to Pamplona (or a little bit further). It is a tougher walk (whether you take Napoleon or Valcarlos) but it's not as crowded, the food is a bit better, and the countryside is wonderful. I'd do this first.
Well, I have to say, you should seriously consider the Camino Ingles, from Ferrol to Santiago. 5 days would do it and a day in Santiago. It gives a taste of a longer Camino, and you have the benefit of starting and finishing a complete ( if short) camino. Lovely scenery, some urban, more rural, and by the end of day 1 you will connect with fellow walkers, who will remain your contacts throughout the journey, as there are fewer accommodation options. I did it in April,(my first Camino) and thoroughly enjoyed it, (I walked alone). At that time, on the same schedule, there were a group of 5 Spanish, a few Irish, 4 Italians, a few English, and 4 Germans. We all walked separately, but met up regularly throughout each day at cafe's etc, passing each other on the route, and every night for dinner/drinks, from the end of day 1 to Santiago. There was great camaraderie, but also lots of time on your own. I would definitely recommend this route, not too taxing, but challenging in parts, you complete a full route, and qualify for a Compostela, (if that's important to you), and you get a taster for a longer Camino. I am planning my second Camino on the Portuguese route towards the end of the year, so a word of warning , you may get hooked on this Camino thing if you choose this route!!
Buen Camino, which ever route you choose.
I've been looking into Camino Ingles but from what I've gathered it's very quiet for the most part that you barely meet anyone some days?
Another option to consider is Ourense Spain to Santiago on the Camino Sanabres. I thought it was a pretty route and liked it more than the Inglés and more than the Tui to Santiago portion of the Portugués. Easy and short bus or train ride from Santiago de Compostela.
The route from Valença/Tui to Santiagp is not super scenic, but the cities are very interesting. And for us Australians, where every building is new, some of the constructions in there are super impressive.
That said, Sarria to santiago is a little bit more scenic, but not thaaaatt much, I think. Quite comparable, although Sarria wins in that aspect. Tui wins for food and for finding acommodation without much worry.
I'm also a bit worried that it's harder to get to Tui than to Sarria/SJPDP and it would take up more travel time?
Tui is easy to reach from both Santiago Airport and Porto Airport, by bus or train. I believe it's the same for Sarria. Where are you landing?
EDIT: I just did some search, it is a 2-hour bus ride from Santiago with Alsa, the main bus company in Spain.
Or a 1h30min train ride from Porto, in Portugal. Directly from Madrid, it's a 8hour train ride with a change in Vigo.
If you don’t care about a Compostela, pick any coastal section of Norte and you will not be disappointed!!! You will have gorgeous ocean views and beautiful towns/cities each night to explore....Buen Camino whatever you decide!
Will you be in Morocco before or after if before there are Southern caminos to start on from Cadiz, Gibraltar, Sevilla, Malaga but they might not be the best options for a first timer.
I really liked Camino Inglés from Ferrol and it is suitable for 6 short walking days. But as you say it is quite solitary (for me a good thing).
San Salvador can be done in 6 days as well I pressume as I did it in 3 and normally do double stages). So Beautiful but also quite lonley. And you get a Salvadoriana in Oviedo.
Valenca/Tui to SdC wasn't the most scenic route.
Part of camino norte in the middle there are some really nice scenic routes but if you want the Compostela I say Inglés.
Another Aussie here. Last year at the end of August, I also had just 6 days available. I set out from St Jean PdP, and ended up in Logroño.
This year in late March I went back, started again at Logroño and after a further 29 days of walking I made it through everything including blizzards to Santiago, Muxía and Finisterra. My goal was to complete that before turning 70, and I made it by a month.
http://www.rayyrosa.com/loscaminosI'd never even heard about that route actually. Will have to look into it. But I do feel like being on a more social route this time than a super quiet one. I did a few days of Via Francigena last year and it was stunning and very quiet (some days I didn't see anyone all day), but that's why I chose it. This time I'd like to mingle with people more!
Somehow I don't like the idea of having to get to Santiago first tho if I'm going to finish there.. I know a lot of people do it.
Hi ShierlyHi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster. I'm from Australia and I'm planning to do part of the camino around September next year (would love to do the full camino one day but at the moment I can only have certain amount of time off, and I would like to combine it with a trip to Morocco).
My question is... for first time pilgrim (and novice hiker), for around 6 easy-ish walking days, which of these options would you recommend?
- Sarria to Santiago (my initial plan)
- SJPdP to Pamplona (and spend time sightseeing in Pamplona... the more I look into Pyrenees area, the more tempted I am, but also worried about the very challenging first part)
- Camino Ingles (which I can complete within my timeframe)
If you have any other suggestions as well, please let me know!
Thanks!
Hi Shierly,Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster. I'm from Australia and I'm planning to do part of the camino around September next year (would love to do the full camino one day but at the moment I can only have certain amount of time off, and I would like to combine it with a trip to Morocco).
My question is... for first time pilgrim (and novice hiker), for around 6 easy-ish walking days, which of these options would you recommend?
- Sarria to Santiago (my initial plan)
- SJPdP to Pamplona (and spend time sightseeing in Pamplona... the more I look into Pyrenees area, the more tempted I am, but also worried about the very challenging first part)
- Camino Ingles (which I can complete within my timeframe)
If you have any other suggestions as well, please let me know!
Thanks!
Hi Shierly
Hi Shierly,
I’m sure you’ll get many suggestions, but give the Camino Portugues a look. If you start at Tui, on the Minho River and hike north to Santiago, youcan do it in 6-7 days. Awesome countryside, fabulous food, wonderful people. I think it’s the perfect abbreviated Camino and depending on what you’re seeking in your personal Camino experience, you should find it. A wise peregrina told me whatever you thought you were looking for, you will find what you actually need. Buen Camino
I will definitely look into it. Do they have a good luggage transfer service on CP? Since I will be travelling onwards after the camino I will have more than just my backpack.
Thank you!There is a company called TuiTrans that does lugagge and backpack transfers between Porto and Santiago. Very reliable, lots of forum members have used them. Their website is https://tuitrans.com/
Or you can just send your stuff to Ivar for storage and pick it up when you arrive to SdC if you decide to walk a 100 km ending up in SdC.Thanks Michael!I will definitely look into it. Do they have a good luggage transfer service on CP? Since I will be travelling onwards after the camino I will have more than just my backpack.
That sounds amazing but I think the Norte might be too challenging for a novice hiker like myself?
I don’t think so...I’m 57 and recently walked from Irún to SdC with my son...It’s not that difficult especially if you’re not on a strict schedule....you can walk as long/far as you want each day....we averaged about 22 kilometers a day...weather was great...mostly cloudy days...
Buen Camino
I agree with Sparrow. I’ve done 2 “full” Caminos and I think the Compostella would feel better after a longer Camino. But I’ll let you know after I do my first short one (Camino Ingles) in November.Thanks Sparrow! Yes I was thinking, on one hand it would be nice to get a compostela at the end, but on the other hand if I do want to do the entire 800km one day I can see the point of doing the first section first and coming back in the future to do the rest. I don't know if doing Sarria to Santiago first would "spoil the ending" as such if/when I do decide to do the whole CF one day?
I'm also seriously considering Camino Ingles, but it seems a lot quieter than the CF route. When I did a section of VF in Italy it was fairly quiet I only met a few other pilgrims along the way (some days I wouldn't see anyone), and while it was exactly what I was looking for at the time I think I want my next Camino to be a bit more social?
Thanks for thisI am obsessed with folks not missing Santiago.
You can walk Sarria to Santiago this time.
When you walk full camino once you arrive in Ponferrada you can walk Invierno and have a different Santiago arrival.
Or, this time walk from Tui to Santiago.
Australia is long way to come from and not receive a Compostela.
Buen camino whatever path you take.
How did you get to Valença to start there or Tui?I recently walked the Camino Portugese from Porto to Santiago, which was 10 walking days. I love the idea of you starting at the Valenca, Portugal/Tui Spain border. I’d spend a day exploring those 2 cities. They are fascinating. Then walk 5 days to Santiago. If you are looking for a very special hotel we loved Hotel A Torre do Xudeu which is directly on the CaminoView attachment 45384
Depends from where you want/need to get thereHow did you get to Valença to start there or Tui?
Last year, we just had 6 days available so we walked on the Portugese Camino from Vigo to Santiago, via the Espiritual Variante. Absolutely amazing and wonderful! This was early July but it was pretty quiet until the last day from Padron in to Santiago.My first time, I only had 5 days, and intended to walk from Saint Jean PdP to Pamplona - but ended up walking on to Puente la Reina, where I had one of the best evenings. It was a short bus ride back to Pamplona the next morning. Don't limit yourself more than you have to!
Otherwise you could consider walking the last part of the Portuguese from Valenca or Tui.
Yes this was my experience walking it a few days ago. We saw less than 10 pilgrims on the trail although we did do it in 3 days too. We didn’t stay in albergues so we missed out on probably a more social element. That said, It was my first Camino so nothing to compare to but I really liked the diversity of the “views”. You are by the water for a bit of the first part, you see a beach town in Mino if you spend the night there, and you see old town in Betanzos, some cool statues in Bruma.I've been looking into Camino Ingles but from what I've gathered it's very quiet for the most part that you barely meet anyone some days?
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