Sam Hardman
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2006, 2007 Camino Francés
2017 SJPdP - Belorado
2018 SJPdP - Fisterra/Muxía
2019 Camino Primitivo
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Cheapest but slowest would be bus. Megabus or National Express to London. Flixbus or ALSA to Madrid. ALSA to Lisbon. Then returning Santiago - Madrid - London. Flixbus is very cheap.
Faster option would be train but that is quite expensive on standard tickets. Interrail have changed the passes recently to allow 4, 5 or 7 days travel within a one month period. That might be worthwhile but check carefully for additional reservation fees that boost the prices.
Dream on - 43 hours on the bus!
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Any age or occupation these days. I bought myself one a few years ago as a 50th birthday present and went all the way to the Iranian border and back from the UK. Then another one later to go watch the northern lights in the far north of Sweden. And used a few spare days to travel home via Bayonne and BarcelonaAre interrail tickets available for anyone. I hadn’t looked into that because I thought they were only for students. Would be perfect though!
It’s do-able by train and careful planning would keep costs down. Likewise a train / ferry combination via Plymouth & Santander. The argument about the net carbon costs of aviation versus railways is not one for this forum.
Certainly doable but more time consuming and expensive than flying. I am wondering how you came by a figure of £300 for return travel from Scotland. Unless you are tied to school holiday periods it is probably possible to cut a fair bit off that.If there was a good alternative I‘d like to know about it though.
Any age or occupation these days. I bought myself one a few years ago as a 50th birthday present and went all the way to the Iranian border and back from the UK. Then another one later to go watch the northern lights in the far north of Sweden. And used a few spare days to travel home via Bayonne and Barcelona
Certainly doable but more time consuming and expensive than flying. I am wondering how you came by a figure of £300 for return travel from Scotland. Unless you are tied to school holiday periods it is probably possible to cut a fair bit off that.
If it is any consolation to you in your planning my wife has twice travelled overland from Wales to Thailand via Russia and China and a few other countries that happened to be in the way- and the same coming back again. On the second trip she also included Korea and Japan. All without flying. Much easier to get to Spain and back
And sorry Turga, I hadn't seen your post as I did a bit of daydreaming on the Seat61 website while I was replying!
With Ryanair I usually book a 10kg hold bag. Sometimes it's cheaper than the extra carry-on bag and you can take all the things you're not allowed in the cabin.Actually, that price doesn't sound so very extravagant. Assume about £70 single to Stansted with Ryanair in the summer, and about the same from Stansted to Spain/Portugal. In February you can do Stansted-Santiago for £14.99 but not in summer. And a similar price to return from Spain to Scotland via Stansted.
You might be able to buy an advance train ticket to London for maybe £40, thence train to Stansted and fly. But I can't see a way of avoiding the fact that Scotland is a long way from Santiago.
But .. beware Ryanair baggage charges. The cheap ticket now includes your carry-on bag that goes not in the overhead lockers but under the seat in front of you. It is limited to 40 x 25 x 20 cms. This is significantly smaller than the 55 x 40 x 25 others allow. If you want to take a rucksack suitable for the Camino you might finish up with a fare almost doubled.
Good luck
We live in Lancaster and have walked on the Camino 5 times. We have used a combination of train and ferry on each occasion apart from this last year, when we flew from Manchester. We were walking on the Francés and once on the Baztanés so used train and bus to reach starting point each time. I just love working out routes, finding timetables etc but this may not appeal to everyone. It allows me to immerse myself in the Camino before we start walking. Sorry that I can't quote cost, though.I am planning to walk the Camino Portuguese this year, hopefully Lisbon - Santiago. Travellng from the UK means a lot flights as there is not direct flight from where I live in Scotland. I feel a bit guilty about this since flying is terrible for the environment and would love to find a practical alternative. I suspect it‘s not possible but does anyone know of any reasonably priced way to get from the UK to Lisbon and from Santiago to the UK which avoids planes and isn’t really expensive? Flying would be around £300 so anything around this price would be fine.
Check out Scotrail Glasgow to Euston then Eurostar from St Pancras to Hendaye (through ticket) then onwards (not sure how). returning from Santiago is a pain unless you flyI am planning to walk the Camino Portuguese this year, hopefully Lisbon - Santiago. Travellng from the UK means a lot flights as there is not direct flight from where I live in Scotland. I feel a bit guilty about this since flying is terrible for the environment and would love to find a practical alternative. I suspect it‘s not possible but does anyone know of any reasonably priced way to get from the UK to Lisbon and from Santiago to the UK which avoids planes and isn’t really expensive? Flying would be around £300 so anything around this price would be fine.
How about a long drive. Drive to Stranraer, ferry to Belfast, drive to Cork, ferry to Santander then drive to Santiago. Park in railway station (dont know if long term parking allowed but think about that later). Train to Lisboa and start walking. Back in Santiago do the journey in reverse. I know it sounds daft but it is something I have thought about myself apart from the Scotland part. I met a mother and daughter who drove there a couple of years ago parked up in Pamplona, bussed to St Jean and walked back to their car. Obviously they were only on a short walk and they lived in Plymouth but they showed it is doableI am planning to walk the Camino Portuguese this year, hopefully Lisbon - Santiago. Travellng from the UK means a lot flights as there is not direct flight from where I live in Scotland. I feel a bit guilty about this since flying is terrible for the environment and would love to find a practical alternative. I suspect it‘s not possible but does anyone know of any reasonably priced way to get from the UK to Lisbon and from Santiago to the UK which avoids planes and isn’t really expensive? Flying would be around £300 so anything around this price would be fine.
"Old School" Camino?Well... you could walk and paddle!
I live in Cornwall. I always go on the Plymouth-Santander ferry.I am planning to walk the Camino Portuguese this year, hopefully Lisbon - Santiago. Travellng from the UK means a lot flights as there is not direct flight from where I live in Scotland. I feel a bit guilty about this since flying is terrible for the environment and would love to find a practical alternative. I suspect it‘s not possible but does anyone know of any reasonably priced way to get from the UK to Lisbon and from Santiago to the UK which avoids planes and isn’t really expensive? Flying would be around £300 so anything around this price would be fine.
Santiago to Santander is a fair bus journey,buen CaminoI live in Scotland and am a dedicated non flyer for over 40 years. For my caminos,and I am leaving for another one this week,I go by coach to London then Eurostar and TGV to Bayonne for the Camino Frances.I usually return from Santiago by bus or train to Santander,then ferry to Portsmouth and bus home.
The round trip comes in at less than £300 which is still much more than the cheap flights that folk rave about but I wouldn't get on a plane if you paid me to.
I'm hoping to \going to cycle from Irvine in Ayrshire in April,weather permitting,but not trying to fit into summer holidays,!"Old School" Camino?
Moray coast,not quite the Camino!Hello all
In January I booked return Gorebridge to Lisbon return by train. Required an overnight in Paris as I couldn't get to Hendaye to catch the sleeper by 1800 (approx). I used Seat61 extensively and have a Senior Railcard.
So
Day 1: Depart Edinburgh 8am, afternoon Eurostar to Paris. LNER Train approx £29 single Advance Purchase; Eurostar £56 return
Day 2: TGV Paris to Hendaye either 0900 or 1200 approx €42 1st class (2nd class few euros less) single.
Day 2 evening Renfe sleeper to Lisbon Promo+ couchette single fare about €40. Arrive Lisbon 0730.
Coming back much the same with slightly different timings. I planned a few days in Lisbon at end, and trains Santiago to Lisbon not expensive. All fares seem very reasonable but they add up to considerably more than airfare.
Now Covid19 - I have cancelled trip as I am in high risk age group >70. While middling healthy I depend on nicely functioning accommodation and transport links and family goodwill. Additional risks over 4 week period are unknown. So sadly am not now going on Camino Portugues next week.
I got refunds (with smallish fees) from OUI-SNCF and Renfe, but NOT LNER & Eurostar.
In previous years I have gone by train to Hendaye, then wee train to San Sebastian, then bus to Pamplona to start there. It is possible to get from Edinburgh to Bordeaux in one day - did that last year.
I might go to Moray Coast, Scotland for a short fixed base trip instead. Obviously not a Camino.
Buen Camino everyone
Ena
What month are you thinking to go?I am planning to walk the Camino Portuguese this year, hopefully Lisbon - Santiago. Travellng from the UK means a lot flights as there is not direct flight from where I live in Scotland. I feel a bit guilty about this since flying is terrible for the environment and would love to find a practical alternative. I suspect it‘s not possible but does anyone know of any reasonably priced way to get from the UK to Lisbon and from Santiago to the UK which avoids planes and isn’t really expensive? Flying would be around £300 so anything around this price would be fine.
What month are you thinking to go?
I have done an overland route from Bristol to Bayonne!
GW Train to London
Eurostar to Paris
Metro across Paris (worst part of entire journey!)
SNCF Train to Bayonne
Very affordable option too providing you book well in advance!
Hello all
In January I booked return Gorebridge to Lisbon return by train. Required an overnight in Paris as I couldn't get to Hendaye to catch the sleeper by 1800 (approx). I used Seat61 extensively and have a Senior Railcard.
So
Day 1: Depart Edinburgh 8am, afternoon Eurostar to Paris. LNER Train approx £29 single Advance Purchase; Eurostar £56 return
Day 2: TGV Paris to Hendaye either 0900 or 1200 approx €42 1st class (2nd class few euros less) single.
Day 2 evening Renfe sleeper to Lisbon Promo+ couchette single fare about €40. Arrive Lisbon 0730.
Coming back much the same with slightly different timings. I planned a few days in Lisbon at end, and trains Santiago to Lisbon not expensive. All fares seem very reasonable but they add up to considerably more than airfare.
Now Covid19 - I have cancelled trip as I am in high risk age group >70. While middling healthy I depend on nicely functioning accommodation and transport links and family goodwill. Additional risks over 4 week period are unknown. So sadly am not now going on Camino Portugues next week.
I got refunds (with smallish fees) from OUI-SNCF and Renfe, but NOT LNER & Eurostar.
In previous years I have gone by train to Hendaye, then wee train to San Sebastian, then bus to Pamplona to start there. It is possible to get from Edinburgh to Bordeaux in one day - did that last year.
I might go to Moray Coast, Scotland for a short fixed base trip instead. Obviously not a Camino.
Buen Camino everyone
Ena
I'm hoping to \going to cycle from Irvine in Ayrshire in April,weather permitting,but not trying to fit into summer holidays,!
Bom cahmino.
Hello Sam,
I agree with all those who direct you to the Seat61 website and suggest travelling overnight from Hendaye to Lisbon. Living in Scotland I understand only too well the added difficulty and expense of travelling to the start of my walking the Camino. You don't say where in Scotland you live, but if you are near enough to a station on the Caledonian Sleeper route booking a reclining seat for the journey to London will cost around £48 (less if you have a railcard), get you into London in time to catch the Eurostar to Paris and save the cost of overnight accommodation there. Then the website https://en. oui.sncf allows you to sign in to receive notification of when the cheapest fares for your journey & date become available. I am over 60 so get an extra reduction, but last year was able to travel from Paris to Hendaye first class for £27 with a similar price for the return. Buen Camino!
Feels to me like if you are not working and have plenty of time to leverage stops on a ground trip into a cool trip, would be great. If you are trying to get your camino into annual leave, it's a terrible idea! Also bear in mind that you'll arrive really tired from long train or bus travel.
I was about to suggest to the OP that he consider taking the sleeper train to London, then a train to Portsmouth, then ferry to Bilbao or Santander, then walk the Camino del Norte.I usually return from Santiago by bus or train to Santander,then ferry to Portsmouth and bus home.
Thanks Sam,just getting my Camino fix at the weekend,try not too watch much t.v.news,been a bit out of the loop re the virus,so my trip may be put on hold,keep watching the news now,Wow! That sounds like an amazing trip. I'm a keen cyclist myself and am a bit jealous!
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