Walking from the Midlands to Portsmouth and ferry to Bilboa

[Pam Scott]

Hi has anyone walked anything similar to the above? I am planning to pick up the Camino del Norte at Bilboa. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[crackmrmac]

Hola Pam, Long term plan so wish you well. My guess is walking in UK will be more problematic than Norte which I walked last September enjoying nature plus figs, walnuts, hazlenuts and other goodies left by locals. Hopefully some UK pilgrims will see your post. Enjoy planning.

Buen Camino.

 

[Tincatinker]

Hmm, Grand Union Canal; Thamesway, Pilgrim's Way to Winchester. After that you might have to improvise a bit.

Happy planning

 

[Castilian]

Grand Union Canal to London. From London to Portsmouth, the report made by a fellow pilgrim at: http://julietteswayofsantjames.wordpress.com may be useful.

 

[Davey Boyd]

Have a look at the national cycle routes too, some of them are good walking if you can't find any better. Good luck and Buen Camino!

Davey

 

[Davey Boyd]

Actually, what about the Monarchs Way, Worcester to Shoreham on the South Coast, then coastal to Portsmouth?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch's_Way

Davey

 

[gigibarry]

I was doing some research on getting from the UK to Bilbao a while back and it seemed that you couldn't go on the ferry as a walk-on passenger. Anyone know if this is true? Kind of defeats the purpose for me to have to take a car

 

[Bradypus]

I was doing some research on getting from the UK to Bilbao a while back and it seemed that you couldn't go on the ferry as a walk-on passenger. Anyone know if this is true? Kind of defeats the purpose for me to have to take a car

Not quite the situation the last time I checked. You could not book online as a foot passenger on the Bilbao route but it was possible to book by phone if space was available. Situation may have changed but a quick phone call to Britanny Ferries should clarify things.

A couple of years ago I walked from Swansea to Portsmouth, then from St Malo to St Jean Pied de Port. Mostly the Wales coast path and Kennet & Avon canal to Pewsey. I had real trouble finding footpaths south to Portsmouth and ended up taking minor roads through Romsey and Southampton.

 

[Tincatinker]

Actually, what about the Monarchs Way, Worcester to Shoreham on the South Coast, then coastal to Portsmouth?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch's_Way

Davey

Anyone who makes it to Shoreham drop me a PM. I'll take you the finest bar in this corner of Christendom

 

[gigibarry]

Not quite the situation the last time I checked. You could not book online as a foot passenger on the Bilbao route but it was possible to book by phone if space was available. Situation may have changed but a quick phone call to Britanny Ferries should clarify things.

A couple of years ago I walked from Swansea to Portsmouth, then from St Malo to St Jean Pied de Port. Mostly the Wales coast path and Kennet & Avon canal to Pewsey. I had real trouble finding footpaths south to Portsmouth and ended up taking minor roads through Ramsey and Southampton.

It was a bit of long range planning (dream camino kind of thing ) so I didn't actually ring them. Thanks for the tip. How long did it take from St. Malo to St. Jean Pied de Port? Were there reasonable paths/ accommodation on this section? I just finished reading "All the Light We Cannot See", so I have a bit of a fascination with St. Malo at the moment. You've just taken my plans off on another tangent. I'll never get to Santiago at this rate!

 

[Bradypus]

@gigibarry - I walked from Swansea to Portsmouth then ferry to St Malo. I then crossed to the Atlantic coast near St Nazaire via Rennes along river and canal towpaths. I began in autumn and walked for about 3 weeks, finishing in Redon. I returned to Redon in the spring and basically followed the coast south via Pornic (small town where my soldier grandfather is buried) and La Rochelle to Royan. Ferry across the Gironde then the Voie Littorale from Soulac to Bayonne. River Nive footpath and minor roads to Bidarray - about 20km south of St Jean. That stage took 4 weeks in May. All fell apart there after I slipped and fell awkwardly with the result being a slipped spinal disc. Taxi to St Jean, 4 days recovery at Beilari, then limped home by train/plane. Returned six months later to walk the final 20km. I carried a tent and camped everywhere except for hostels in Rennes, Rochfort and La Rochelle. From St Nazaire to Royan I walked on minor roads which tend to be almost traffic-free in rural France outside the July/August holiday period.

Edit: the above was written in a bit of a rush at Trondheim airport. I also stayed in a hostel in Dinard, a hotel in Arcachon, and an F1 motel in Bayonne. Mostly 'camping sauvage' though as few French campsites are open in May. I navigated using pages from a road atlas and occasionally the mobile version of the IGN mapping website. Government cartography, free to use and excellent on detail.

 

[Davey Boyd]

Anyone who makes it to Shoreham drop me a PM. I'll take you the finest bar in this corner of Christendom

I might take you up on that Tincanter, I live in Hove!

 

[Davey Boyd]

I was doing some research on getting from the UK to Bilbao a while back and it seemed that you couldn't go on the ferry as a walk-on passenger. Anyone know if this is true? Kind of defeats the purpose for me to have to take a car

Yes I couldn't either, but you can get the ferry Portsmouth to Santander. I have it booked this year for June 14th as a foot passenger.

Davey

 

[Tincatinker]

I might take you up on that Tincanter, I live in Hove!

The Old Star in Shoreham, "Richard's bar" to some. I would be pleased to share a pint with a fellow Peregrino and Forum member. Little Dog drags me in there most days - thats the trouble with terriers, thirsty

 

[Davey Boyd]

The Old Star in Shoreham, "Richard's bar" to some. I would be pleased to share a pint with a fellow Peregrino and Forum member. Little Dog drags me in there most days - thats the trouble with terriers, thirsty

I'm a real ale man myself (Dark Star Brewery etc) I am sure you are too, i think a beer is in order, even too meet your dog! However I can't figure out how to PM you, mainly because I'm rubbish. Can you PM me Tincantinker?

Sorry for hijaking this thread Pam Scott, but if you do walk from the midlands and you pass me by my home (Brighton/Hove) is yours, you are always welcome.

Davey

 

[Tincatinker]

Davey, you should see a little red alert, top right of your screen under 'Inbox". Click on that and you are into the PM zone.

And Pam. Same applies if you find yourself down here ...

 

[PEI_Heather]

Anyone who makes it to Shoreham drop me a PM. I'll take you the finest bar in this corner of Christendom

Geeez...I might have to give you a shout... I'll (potentially) be in Brockenhurst at the end of October for a course. I know that the finest bars in any corner of England/Christendom serve hot and cold drinks: tea and lagers/stouts...a hot tea would be a delish treat along with meeting you face-to-face/in person, Tincatinker!

 

[gigibarry]

@gigibarry - I walked from Swansea to Portsmouth then ferry to St Malo. I then crossed to the Atlantic coast near St Nazaire via Rennes along river and canal towpaths. I began in autumn and walked for about 3 weeks, finishing in Redon. I returned to Redon in the spring and basically followed the coast south via Pornic (small town where my soldier grandfather is buried) and La Rochelle to Royan. Ferry across the Gironde then the Voie Littorale from Soulac to Bayonne. River Nive footpath and minor roads to Bidarray - about 20km south of St Jean. That stage took 4 weeks in May. All fell apart there after I slipped and fell awkwardly with the result being a slipped spinal disc. Taxi to St Jean, 4 days recovery at Beilari, then limped home by train/plane. Returned six months later to walk the final 20km. I carried a tent and camped everywhere except for hostels in Rennes, Rochfort and La Rochelle. From St Nazaire to Royan I walked on minor roads which tend to be almost traffic-free in rural France outside the July/August holiday period.

Edit: the above was written in a bit of a rush at Trondheim airport. I also stayed in a hostel in Dinard, a hotel in Arcachon, and an F1 motel in Bayonne. Mostly 'camping sauvage' though as few French campsites are open in May. I navigated using pages from a road atlas and occasionally the mobile version of the IGN mapping website. Government cartography, free to use and excellent on detail.

Been away for a while... Thanks for the detailed info. So sorry to hear about your back. What a shocking and abrupt finish to your walk! It seems I have a chance to sail on a brigantine from Portsmouth to A Coruna in early September (not nearly as long a walk as I'd like in Spain but disappointment balanced by excitement over sailing!) but would really like to sail (as opposed to ferry) from Dublin to Portsmouth to meet my next leg of the journey. Anyone know of a passing ship looking for novice crew around then? May need to do this on a new thread perhaps?

 

[Bradypus]

So sorry to hear about your back. What a shocking and abrupt finish to your walk!

Many thanks for the sympathy! Wasn't much fun at the time but all mended pretty quickly. Since then I've walked 3 Caminos in Spain, a 580km route through Sweden and Norway, and from Canterbury to Rome. No more major problems. I do treat my back more carefully these days and try not to trip over my own feet again.

Must confess that I am green with envy at your chance to sail to A Coruña on a brig. If you could combine that with walking the Camino Ingles (a lovely route!) that really would be a Camino to remember. All the best!

 

[gigibarry]

@Bradypus Green with envy over your trips as well! Planning to combine our sail with a stroll on the Ingles and getting very excited about it If you can be tempted, there's probably space for more on the ship. It's a commercial tall ship heading south for winter in the Canaries and continues around to Porto and Lisbon if you prefer the Portuguese route! The ship is the Jean de la Lune, owned and operated by a lovely Polish couple and their little girl. They're hoping to beat last year's record of 80 hours across the Bay of Biscay - excitement on the high seas!

 

[Bradypus]

Thanks for the information. I may look into that. Been a while since I've sailed and that was in dinghies and small yachts. Nothing I'd fancy crossing the Bay of Biscay in for sure

PS. Just looked up the ship's website. The dates are during the only time in the next six months I've already arranged something for Walking with a friend on the first few stages of an epic walk he has planned around Wales. Might try for another time/route though. Many thanks for giving my imagination a nudge in a totally unexpected direction!

 

[Tia Valeria]

To sail in a tall ship would be wonderful but to return to ferry crossings:-
The ferry sailings from Portsmouth to Bilbao strike me as being at awkward times and the port (Bilbao) is well outside of the town. I think this is the reason that foot passengers need to phone about their booking. Portsmouth to Santander and Plymouth to Santander are easier as the ferry port is in the town, just walk off the ferry and cross the road. It is as easy/hard to walk to Plymouth as to Portsmouth from the Midlands - Buckfast Abbey has rooms (and a sello for pilgrims).
We have always found Brittany Ferries very helpful in replying to emails asking for advice etc. We then either book online or by phone.
Happy planning.....

 

[Castilian]

port (Bilbao) is well outside of the town.

Yes, but to pick the Camino del Norte you don't need to go all the way to Bilbao. You can pick the camino in Kardeo that it's just roughly 2 or 3 kms away from Zierbena where the ferry docks.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Yes, but to pick the Camino del Norte you don't need to go all the way to Bilbao. You an pick the camino in Kardeo that it's just roughly 2 or 3 kms away from Zierbena where the ferry docks.

Thank you @Castilian . This is useful information if Brittany Ferries are reluctant to take a pilgrim as a foot passenger on the Bilbao route. (Our only experience has been going to Santander.)