Women walking solo

[Bridin Ní Cheallaigh]

I am planning on walking the Camino Frances in July/Aug 2017 (no dates confirmed yet) starting at Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port to Burgos (hopefully) I am going as a solo walker but I am very nervous about the whole experience and would love to meet up with someone else that's in the same boat as me and maybe we could walk together. I'm curious to hear the thought of women who walked this route alone etc.

Thanks. x

 

[Kitsambler]

In July and August you are in absolutely no danger of walking alone on the CF. You will naturally find people who are walking at your pace. You will find familiar faces at the hostels every night, and practically every eatery along the way. It will be ok!

 

[donalomahony]

Hi Bridin There are many discussion threads such as you asked e.g.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...fe-for-a-woman-to-walk-alone-on-camino.45913/

Walking in July /August will be busy with people and in fact going solo may be a challenge

The decision to walk to Burgos is a good one. It's very easy restart from Burgos with a bus from Madrid Airport.

Buen Camino Donal

 

[nycwalking]

Buen camino.

 

[Shefollowsarrows]

I've always arrived alone and ended my walk with lifelong friends. It will naturally happen if you are friendly and open to it. July/August, you will have no problem meeting people! I remember worrying about this my first time and I found after day one I worried for nothing. The hard part will be leaving your Camino friends (family) in Burgos! I did that in Leon and I couldn't believe how attached I became with them in such a short period of time. Very special relationships form on the Camino and I'm sure you will find this too. Buen Camino!!!

 

[Mark Lee]

July-August on the CF? Oh yeah, you gonna meet lots of fellow pilgrims. No need to reserve a friend beforehand, ha ha.
ultreia

 

[ginniek]

I am planning on walking the Camino Frances in July/Aug 2017 (no dates confirmed yet) starting at Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port to Burgos (hopefully) I am going as a solo walker but I am very nervous about the whole experience and would love to meet up with someone else that's in the same boat as me and maybe we could walk together. I'm curious to hear the thought of women who walked this route alone etc.

Thanks. x

There is a Facebook group called Camigas https://www.facebook.com/groups/CaminoBuddySystemForWomen/ Lots of support and suggestions and possible walking partners.

 

[JillGat]

I highly recommend walking solo! On the Camino, you will have all the advantages of experiencing your environment and making your own decisions by yourself, but will have constant opportunities to socialize, too. I advise not trying to set up a walking partner ahead of time. What if it doesn't work out? Best to let these relationships evolve naturally on the path.

 

[Bridin Ní Cheallaigh]

There is a Facebook group called Camigas https://www.facebook.com/groups/CaminoBuddySystemForWomen/ Lots of support and suggestions and possible walking partners.

I did send them a friend request but not have accepted yet. Txs

 

[november_moon]

I would venture a guess that at least 30% of the pilgrims on the CF are women walking solo.

I agree about not trying to set up a walking partner ahead of time - just go with the flow and see how things unfold. I think it would be really hard to make a plan to walk with someone I didn't really know well and hadn't trained with and traveled with already. There are so many things that may not match up - desired daily distance, stride, desired type of accommodation, thoughts on rest days, will you slow down for each other in case of injury or illness? My husband and I walked together and it worked out great for us, but we walk together all the time and have traveled together for years - we've got the kinks worked out.

 

[JulieLC]

I appreciated reading these responses. I will also be doing my first Camino this year (June/July) and walking solo. I'm so excited but very nervous, too. I worry most about not finding a bed each night - at 53 years old (I'll turn 54 a few days into my walk), I'm not sure I'm ready to sleep under the stars alone in an unfamiliar place!

Really love this forum and look forward to interacting with everyone!

 

[Mark Lee]

I appreciated reading these responses. I will also be doing my first Camino this year (June/July) and walking solo. I'm so excited but very nervous, too. I worry most about not finding a bed each night - at 53 years old (I'll turn 54 a few days into my walk), I'm not sure I'm ready to sleep under the stars alone in an unfamiliar place!

Really love this forum and look forward to interacting with everyone!

I've got over 120 nights on the Camino, and never had to camp out under the stars. I always found room at the inn. Don't sweat it.
ultreia

 

[HighlandsHiker]

I did send them a friend request but not have accepted yet. Txs

Bridin, let me know if they don't respond, and I'll let them know your name is a female's name if you submitted a Gaelic name. They keep a closed group so women can address concerns in an alternative forum.

 

[Hutton24]

I am planning on walking the Camino Frances in July/Aug 2017 (no dates confirmed yet) starting at Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port to Burgos (hopefully) I am going as a solo walker but I am very nervous about the whole experience and would love to meet up with someone else that's in the same boat as me and maybe we could walk together. I'm curious to hear the thought of women who walked this route alone etc.

Thanks. x

You will meet others quickly - don't stress you will make it worse and this is meant to be a really fun time preparing for your Camino. Once you get there you will realise your worries were in vain.
Buen Camino.

 

[trecile]

The great thing about walking alone is that you can walk with others when it suits you, but you aren't "stuck" walking with someone who you find you don't get along with, walks a different pace, doesn't want to walk the same distances, needs more/less rest days, etc. Don't obligate yourself to someone before you even start!

 

[Bridin Ní Cheallaigh]

Bridin, let me know if they don't respond, and I'll let them know your name is a female's name if you submitted a Gaelic name. They keep a closed group so women can address concerns in an alternative forum.

They accepted the request. Thank you for the reply.

 

[Rentia]

Also my first Camino. Is there still a lot of people on the road in the time from August-September?

 

[Bridin Ní Cheallaigh]

I thinks it's supposed to be very busy during August and September.

 

[Rentia]

Thank you Bridin!

 

[JohanNilsenNagel]

I am planning on walking the Camino Frances in July/Aug 2017 (no dates confirmed yet) starting at Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port to Burgos (hopefully) I am going as a solo walker but I am very nervous about the whole experience and would love to meet up with someone else that's in the same boat as me and maybe we could walk together. I'm curious to hear the thought of women who walked this route alone etc.

Thanks. x

Just got back from Camino in March and saw more solo female hikers than men. Depending on how social you want to be, you'll have no problem meeting other hikers on a daily basis. In fact, in July/August you'll probably have to go out of your way to be alone! If someone or something is making you feel awkward don't hesitate to split from that situation and seek out company in a larger group or with a friendly couple. I met some really wonderful people every day. Be safe and have a great time!

 

[HighlandsHiker]

Also my first Camino. Is there still a lot of people on the road in the time from August-September?

Rentia, that will probably be a very good time to walk for being around others. I've walked it Sept/October and May/June, and although people here are sometimes fond of telling others "there will be a parade of walkers all the way to Santiago and you'll have trouble finding any solitude", I did not find that to be the case at all. There were a number of days when I walked hours without seeing any other hikers, but I made "mistakes" in that I did a couple of bus-aheads and wasn't comfortable about committing to walking permanently with any one person or couple of people, and also didn't stay in albergues every night. Still, there were others that I kept in contact with the entire way by messaging, which gave a nice sense of connection. Exchange contact information with others that you feel comfortable with so you can reconnect on the road ahead, maybe stay in larger albergues to make contacts and have others to start the day's hike among, and be careful about side-trips/sightseeing and bus-aheads because it's easy to lose your cohort that way (if your goal is to stay among others). Buen Camino to you!!

 

[Lisa HS]

I appreciated reading these responses. I will also be doing my first Camino this year (June/July) and walking solo. I'm so excited but very nervous, too. I worry most about not finding a bed each night - at 53 years old (I'll turn 54 a few days into my walk), I'm not sure I'm ready to sleep under the stars alone in an unfamiliar place!

Really love this forum and look forward to interacting with everyone!

Hi JulieLC. I walked solo on my first Camino last Spring (SJPdP to Santiago). I am 60, had plenty of time, and I knew I didn't want to walk really long days. I also knew I didn't want to stress out about getting a bed and feel that I couldn't make frequent rest stops for coffee, snacks, etc. It worked REALLY well for me to call ahead each day (usually late morning/noonish) to a private Albergue (only around 10-12 Euros) and book a bed for the following night. I speak almost no Spanish but "Por favor, quisiera una cama para manana" worked great and I never had a problem booking one day ahead. Doing this allowed me to walk out in the morning, stress free, knowing I had a place for the evening, and stop to recharge whenever I wanted. I never felt like I'd lost my flexibility, either. The few times I ended up changing my mind, I just called and canceled. They were grateful I bothered to call! You are going to have an amazing time....Buen Camino!

 

[RiaSmit2047]

I walked alone as a woman from SJdP to Santiago de Compostela from middle August to end of September last year. I usually saw people in front of me and behind me, and especially over weekends and after Sarria there were many. I made a point of taking photos in which other pilgrims were visible, so that my husband at home wouldn't worry about me "being alone". I never felt unsafe, even when occasionally I could not see other pilgrims (e.g. in wooded areas). I often walked along with other people whom I met along the road, and we would strike up conversations. Those people would then be around for a couple of days until I took a rest day, and then I found other "new ones" to chat with. But I enjoyed the quiet walks on my own most, because then I had the time to look at the environment and really see things. While talking with someone else I found that I was concentrating on the conversation and did not see the surroundings. So, one does have a choice, and even up to the end of September "being alone" will not be your problem.

 

[Thornley]

I am planning on walking the Camino Frances in July/Aug 2017 (no dates confirmed yet) starting at Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port to Burgos (hopefully) I am going as a solo walker but I am very nervous about the whole experience and would love to meet up with someone else that's in the same boat as me and maybe we could walk together. I'm curious to hear the thought of women who walked this route alone etc.

Thanks. x

Read your local paper this week Bridin , the crimes you read about will not be present on your walk to Burgos.

 

[waveprof]

My standard reply. I'd rather a daughter of mine walk alone on the camino frances than with a group of friends down most streets in my home country. Is it "safe" from any risk of danger? No. Nothing in life is, unfortunately, especially for women. But the camino frances is safer, especially that type of year, than those of us from north america can easily imagine until we've experienced it

 

[JulieLC]

Hi JulieLC. I walked solo on my first Camino last Spring (SJPdP to Santiago). I am 60, had plenty of time, and I knew I didn't want to walk really long days. I also knew I didn't want to stress out about getting a bed and feel that I couldn't make frequent rest stops for coffee, snacks, etc. It worked REALLY well for me to call ahead each day (usually late morning/noonish) to a private Albergue (only around 10-12 Euros) and book a bed for the following night. I speak almost no Spanish but "Por favor, quisiera una cama para manana" worked great and I never had a problem booking one day ahead. Doing this allowed me to walk out in the morning, stress free, knowing I had a place for the evening, and stop to recharge whenever I wanted. I never felt like I'd lost my flexibility, either. The few times I ended up changing my mind, I just called and canceled. They were grateful I bothered to call! You are going to have an amazing time....Buen Camino!

Thank you, Lisa. This is so helpful. So you could just reserve by calling? You paid when you arrived? I'm like you, I don't want to feel stress about it, or rushed. How many days did you take to do it, at the more leisurely pace you describe?

 

[Robo]

The great thing about walking alone is that you can walk with others when it suits you, but you aren't "stuck" walking with someone who you find you don't get along with, walks a different pace, doesn't want to walk the same distances, needs more/less rest days, etc. Don't obligate yourself to someone before you even start!

Totally agree....

Unless you are Married to them! Kinda have to then...........

 

[Hutton24]

I am planning on walking the Camino Frances in July/Aug 2017 (no dates confirmed yet) starting at Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port to Burgos (hopefully) I am going as a solo walker but I am very nervous about the whole experience and would love to meet up with someone else that's in the same boat as me and maybe we could walk together. I'm curious to hear the thought of women who walked this route alone etc.

Thanks. x

Just wanted to say to you that uou really do meet good people that you connect with - I met one lady at the bus station on the way to SJJP and another at the alburgea and walked with both - this was just a few days ago. You will constantly meet new people so please, relax.

 

[Bridin Ní Cheallaigh]

Just wanted to say to you that uou really do meet good people that you connect with - I met one lady at the bus station on the way to SJJP and another at the alburgea and walked with both - this was just a few days ago. You will constantly meet new people so please, relax.

Thank you. I have booked my flight etc heading out on the 8th Aug i am so happy that i am going now. Have relaxed alot about the whole thing. I'm sure i will enjoy it and make loads of new friends. Thanks for the kind words.

 

[Rentia]

Thank you so much for all your replies. I really appreciate and it makes me excited, but also there is a lot of butterflies on my stomach if I start thinking of it I started with my training programme too, walk to work (3km one way) and back. But need much more training than that. But at least...something is happening !!
I read someone said - the most stressful time of this walk is to get to the location and get over the mountain the first day at SJPP...so I take deep breaths so long.
I love this forum! Thank you for all the encouragements and good tips!!!

 

[Annie Little]

I am planning on walking the Camino Frances in July/Aug 2017 (no dates confirmed yet) starting at Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port to Burgos (hopefully) I am going as a solo walker but I am very nervous about the whole experience and would love to meet up with someone else that's in the same boat as me and maybe we could walk together. I'm curious to hear the thought of women who walked this route alone etc.

Thanks. x

A more challenging question is : how can I be alone on the Camino ... especially in high season !