Transport from Santander to Ferrol?

[Kenneth Judd]

Hello everyone - total Camino newbie here. I'm planning to start the Camino Ingles from Ferrol on or about September 30th. I live in Colorado USA but I will be in the UK visiting family before heading out to Spain. I want to fly to Santander and then go by train or bus over to Ferrol mainly because I want to see that part of Spain. My question is what is the best way to get from Santander to Ferrol? And how much time should I expect it to take?

I'm very excited about my upcoming Camino and I have already bought two guidebooks and the Peregrino Credential. I've also been training regularly (I'm 73). Thank you all very much for any advice in advance!

 

[mspath]

Kenneth Judd,

Welcome to the forum!
You future trip sounds great. Tap this
Rome2Rio link for various transport possibilitie for your trip. Tap each possibility for more info.

Happy planning and Carpe diem.

 

[OTH86]

Hi @Kenneth Judd ,
If you have time, take the FEVE - https://www.iberian-escapes.com/slow-train-travel-in-northern-spain.html also this https://www.roughguides.com/spain/cantabria-and-asturias/the-feve-railway/ - just a couple of many articles if you do a search on Feve Spain. A few years ago I took it from Oviedo (before dawn in the Fall) to Ferrol (mid- to late-afternoon). BUT, it's comfortable, slow, stops at every little place - the locals use it - it consists of one or two cars, a clean toilet, but no food - so take a picnic and beverages. The scenery is wonderful...

 

[GettingThere]

@Kenneth Judd If you are not in a hurry, and want to see that part of Spain, you could take the FEVE "slow train" from Santander to Ferrol. It's very slow and stops a lot, and while technically possible in a day you would probably be better to take two or more days just to give yourself a break and to see something of the places you pass through (you would have to change in Oviedo anyway). But it is a beautiful route that follows the coast part of the way and some more inland scenery the rest of the time. You'll find the timetables here (they are separate to the other train schedules on Renfe's site, and don't appear in those): https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/cercanias-feve

Highly recommended!! A word of caution though - if you decide to stop off on the way some of the stops are in the middle of nowhere, so you'd need to check the map when choosing your stop!

EDIT: @OTH86 beat me to it and posted while I was typing!

 

[Corned Beef]

The usual starting point is to go to Rome2Rio to see which options (bus / rail) and combinations are available. The Renfe website is easy to use and there is a Renfe app for your phone too.

Also as you are in the Tarjeta Dorada age band, get one in Santander so you can use it in Spain for up to a year. Great discounts on train travel

Santander to Ferrol - 9 ways to travel via train, bus, night bus, and car

The cheapest way to get from Santander to Ferrol costs only $37, and the quickest way takes just 4¼ hours. Find the travel option that best suits you.

www.rome2rio.com

 

[SabsP]

Yes, absolutely , like others already wrote do take the FEVE. I did so from Santander with a stop in Oviedo ( time enough for a coffee at the cafeteria of the station ) and then another train to Ferrol.
It is a perfect example of slow travelling.And you can see lots of places on the Camino del Norte.

 

[peregrino_tom]

Hi Kenneth
FWIW, as I haven't been this way for a few years, but unless there've been some major renovations in Santander recently... airport bus takes about 10 minutes, straight into the transport hub where the bus station sits below the Feve railway station in the centre of town.
I've used the ALSA longer-distance bus service several times and really enjoyed it. As far as I can see both train and bus options take a while, so it'll probably come down to your arrival time in Santander. Looks like weekday Feve runs once a day, leaving at 8.29 and takes 13.15 hours to Ferrol. Check here.
Looks like weekday ALSA runs twice a day to Coruña (not Ferrol) - 03.45 and 11.45. The day bus takes 8.5hrs and and night one is 2 hours less. Check here.
Cheers, tom

 

[JaneyCanuck]

Hello everyone - total Camino newbie here. I'm planning to start the Camino Ingles from Ferrol on or about September 30th. I live in Colorado USA but I will be in the UK visiting family before heading out to Spain. I want to fly to Santander and then go by train or bus over to Ferrol mainly because I want to see that part of Spain. My question is what is the best way to get from Santander to Ferrol? And how much time should I expect it to take?

I'm very excited about my upcoming Camino and I have already bought two guidebooks and the Peregrino Credential. I've also been training regularly (I'm 73). Thank you all very much for any advice in advance!

Hi there! We took the ferry from the UK then the FEVE train from Santander to Ferrol in late July this year. You can read about our adventures at caminodonruthmc.blogspot.com
We are 69 and 70, from Canada.

 

[OTH86]

@JaneyCanuck - loved your Feve experience in your blog!

 

[JaneyCanuck]

@JaneyCanuck - loved your Feve experience in your blog!

It truly was an adventure! Glad we did it!

 

[KieranM]

Hi

Check the timetables carefully if you intend to take FEVE from Santander to Ferrol in one go. I made the reverse journey about 6 weeks ago and there was only 4 minutes to change trains at Oviedo. Not surprisingly, I missed the connection....