Where to start

[Hellmuth66]

My wife and I we are planning to walk the Camino for the first time. We are both 70 years old. We only have 4 weeks and want to avoid the too mountainous sections . Where should we start. We both have knees and feet problems but in spite of this we would still like to do this. We would like to hear your suggestions about this. Thank you. Hellmuth

 

[Icacos]

That's wonderful that you are planning this. Is it important to you that you get your Compostela? If so, you will need to walk the last 100 k, e.g. from Sarria. Are you thinking of choosing the stretches with the least changes in elevation and taking transportation to avoid the higher points, and are you thinking of the Camino Francés. Provide a bit more information and we would be able to help further.

 

[lettinggo]

Hola

I think Pamplona or Burgos can be good starting points for you, as they both are easy to access within Spain.
Depending on your walking speed you will be able to arrive at Santiago from Pamplona within 4 weeks, and do bear in mind that you can skip some parts with a taxi, when needed (some mountainous parts).
If you start from Burgos you may have time over and can then walk to Finisterra or Muxia after Santiago.
Once you decided your starting point, it becomes much easier as you then just have to focus how to get to the starting point and take it one day at the time.

I hope this helps.
Buen Camino
Lettinggo

 

[Camembert]

Start from Porto in Portugal. Great walk ! 2 weeks. Enjoy famous places along the route..Porto, Barcelos, Braga, Ponte de Lima ,Valença do Minha Pontevedra, Padrón.
You can follow yhe central route, encounter one 400 meter high mountain(eventually skipped by taxi or bus) or along the coast.
Great walk, very kind Portugese people, great food and wines. Beautiful landscapes, no bed race.
Next week I will be there for the next caminho Portugese.see forum Portugese camino here.

 

[zammy]

My wife and I we are planning to walk the Camino for the first time. We are both 70 years old. We only have 4 weeks and want to avoid the too mountainous sections . Where should we start. We both have knees and feet problems but in spite of this we would still like to do this. We would like to hear your suggestions about this. Thank you. Hellmuth

the most important thing is not where to start but your feet and knee problems. no point in starting the walk and after 2 or 3 days get off it with painful feet and great disappoinment. can you discribe your porblems in detail?have you consulted a sport physician?have you trained or plan to before the walk?if you able to start it a d walk without problems you need not worry about climbs. the o ly climb you will ha e is after ponferada and the o cebreiro. by the time you arrive there you will be in a good shape. you can always walk up these climbs very slowly. no need to worry.
first let us understand the nature if your knees and feet problems.

 

[NualaOC]

Welcome Helmuth. Assuming that you are intending to walk the Camino Frances, I suggest starting in Burgos. You should definitely get to Santiago at a leisurely pace and you may also have time to walk to Finisterre or Muxia if you wish.

Beginning in Pamplona is also an option, but (a) you might not want an uphill climb and steep descent on your first day and (b) depending on your pace, it may not be possible to reach Santiago in 4 weeks.

Buen Camino to you both.

Nuala

 

[Mark Lee]

Since you have four weeks go ahead and start in Pamplona. It's a cool city and easy to get to from Madrid.
Get a guidebook that has maps and elevation charts. Study them and decide which parts of the Camino Frances would be best for you to skip over. Do some research on bus and taxi services to get you around those points.
Plan your trip accordingly and take time to smell the roses. Oh, and pack as light as possible.
Cheers.