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Original poster

I want to walk the Camino but I’m nervous!!

56 replies

Snapsnap44 · 06/02/2025 08:35

Not sure why I’m posting but I have been thinking about the Camino for a few years, I have an opportunity to do it this year with a local hiking group.
i feel like I just need to take the plunge and sign up…why am I nervous??

OP posts:
Zimniy · 06/02/2025 14:47

I walked the last 120 km of a Camino in 2023. It was truly an amazing experience - I walked with a female friend (we are both of a certain age 🤣) and we decided to just go for it and set off. We really pushed ourselves and did the 120 km in 5 days. In hindsight we should've taken a bit more time. We booked one place in advance and the rest we booked over the internet once we had an idea of how far we were going to walk that day.
I walked because I wanted to know I could. Arriving in Santiago was deeply moving in a way I did not expect. The Pilgrims Mass moved me to tears.

Lyn348 · 06/02/2025 14:58

Bobadob18 · 06/02/2025 13:06

@Snapsnap44 i was 45 when I dit it. We did mostly 15 miles a day but one day 20 miles. As another poster said the hardest day was the walk to Arzua.That was the 20 miles day. I wished we had stayed in Ribadisso (I think that’s the name) its before Arzua and much nicer. I have my daughter that advice and she and the people she met all sat by the river and said it was lovely.
Happy to give any more tips.

I agree, Ribadiso is lovely and has a restaurant with good food right by the river (well it did at the time, pre covid). I'm not sure how many places there are to stay nearby but it is a really nice spot if there are places.

Of course you should do this OP, there is literally not a single reason not to. Anything outside your comfort zone makes you feel a bit anxious, but I very much doubt that you'll regret doing it. You might well regret not taking this opportunity though.

user04 · 06/02/2025 14:59

I assumed this was a sex thing that I didn't know the lingo for.

As you were - enjoy the walk

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Camping
Originblueberry · 06/02/2025 15:35

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Bobadob18 · 06/02/2025 18:00

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we Didn’t use a guide. We pre booked the first night and then booked on the way to the next place. We stayed in twin rooms but my daughter stayed in dorms and sometimes just turned up at a hostel to see if they had a room.
we carried our backpacks as only did it for 5 days. I didn’t mind having it on my back at all and liked the challenge. You can do it for as many days you want to, so say in more of the hilly days you could get someone to deliver it. I don’t think it’s that cheap but I can’t remember a price.

mindutopia · 06/02/2025 18:17

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I just bought a guide book from the British Pilgrimage Trust (there is a sort of ‘official’ one) and used my phone. It’s very generously waymarked though.

I booked accommodation in advance, a mix of private albergues (pilgrim hostels) and guesthouses.

I carried all my things. I think a big part of the Camino is consciously simplifying life for a bit. I had walking boots and flip flops. I had maybe 3 lightweight changes of clothes and a book, a few simple toiletries, guidebook, waterproofs. Very minimal. In my experience, most people carried their bags.

2024riot · 06/02/2025 18:53

@Snapsnap44 I walked the whole thing on my own, I wasn't particularly fit but I took it at my own pace
I did pay for my luggage to be taken from hostel to hostel
I met all sorts of people from all walks of life and had the best most interesting conversations on route
I am still in touch with lots of the people I met

I did it in memory of my mother who loved spain and loved the idea of the camino but never got to walk it

SabrinaThwaite · 06/02/2025 20:15

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DH and friends self guided - there are maps and look for the way markers.

Pre booked accommodation - mix of hotels and AirBnBs. One lovely host did their washing for them. Also stayed at the pousada at Valença.

DH used a baggage transfer service, easy to arrange and worked well.

They would set off fairly early and generally arrive at around 2 or 3 pm at the next location.

soupyspoon · 06/02/2025 20:22

YogaLite · 06/02/2025 08:45

@Billybagpuss I have done Canterbury to Dover 🤣

In one day? Thats quite a lot though isnt it, how far?

soupyspoon · 06/02/2025 20:27

I would imagine that I would want to do this sort of thing but I reckon the maximum I could ever walk in a day would be about 10 miles and that would be with lots of stops

I just dont know how the average person can walk about 20 miles a day

qwertyasdfgzxcv · 06/02/2025 20:49

It's amazing! Very busy at the end of you arrive for the festival of St James

qwertyasdfgzxcv · 06/02/2025 20:52

soupyspoon · 06/02/2025 20:27

I would imagine that I would want to do this sort of thing but I reckon the maximum I could ever walk in a day would be about 10 miles and that would be with lots of stops

I just dont know how the average person can walk about 20 miles a day

You can't be serious! 10 miles is about a 3-4 hour walk. It's not that much really. 15-20 miles over a day between 9am-5pm is perfectly reasonable

steelingmyself · 06/02/2025 20:55

My parents (in their 60s) did it last year and they absolutely loved it. They also said it was more emotional than they were expecting.

biggreenapple24 · 06/02/2025 21:24

It is such a wonderful experience! Just do it!

We found 25km/15 miles a day to be a good amount. We did it in our early 30s and in reasonable fitness but not super sporty.

Did 44km one day and wouldn't recommend that regularly.

Which route are you thinking of doing?

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 06/02/2025 23:19

@qwertyasdfgzxcv

I think there are a lot of people who wouldn't feel comfortable walking more than 10 miles a day. Especially over undulating terrain, with a back pack and doing this several days in succession . In fact there will be many more people who wouldn't be comfortable doing this than would be. And if someone wants to do a long distance walk but prefers doing a smaller distance each day then it's far better to encourage them than making snarky comments at them .

CrystalSingerFan · 07/02/2025 00:26

Good luck! I did the #CaminoIngles when I was 60 (Ferrol to Santiago) in 7 days. It was completely brilliant. My advice is:

  • Do your research - Stanfords in London has great books and maps.
  • Decide if you want company or quiet, The #CaminoFrances (especially the last 100km from Sarria) is busy and sociable. The #CaminoIngles much less so.
  • Peeps I met on the way (the Jersey Bankers) booked a service from the Spanish post office to transport their heavy rucksacks from pre-booked B&B's to the next stop. It worked well.
  • The small albergues are co-ed. Think about how that works for you.
  • There are lots of online resources - I like #CaminoTuesday on X and Bluesky.
  • NEVER turn up unannounced at a town with a local trout and bacon festival and expect to easily get a room. Looking at you Sigüeiro.
CrystalSingerFan · 07/02/2025 00:37

mindutopia · 06/02/2025 10:53

Just do it. But also don’t feel like you need to bite off more than you can do. There is not just one ‘Camino de Santiago’. There are many many routes across a lot of different terrain. I walked the Camino de Finisterre a couple years ago (alone btw) and did it in 4 days. I think one of the challenges of doing it with a pre-determined group is that you are stuck with them, in terms of pace, accommodation type, rest days, etc. I appreciated having the freedom to do what worked best for me.

Do train especially carrying gear, especially so if you are planning to do any of the more hilly routes. I do a lot of hiking and long distance walking in the UK, and it was really rough on my knees. I was 42 at the time and did about 12-18 miles a day.

Edited

This^

Originblueberry · 07/02/2025 06:22

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Original poster
Snapsnap44 · 07/02/2025 16:27

CrystalSingerFan · 07/02/2025 00:26

Good luck! I did the #CaminoIngles when I was 60 (Ferrol to Santiago) in 7 days. It was completely brilliant. My advice is:

  • Do your research - Stanfords in London has great books and maps.
  • Decide if you want company or quiet, The #CaminoFrances (especially the last 100km from Sarria) is busy and sociable. The #CaminoIngles much less so.
  • Peeps I met on the way (the Jersey Bankers) booked a service from the Spanish post office to transport their heavy rucksacks from pre-booked B&B's to the next stop. It worked well.
  • The small albergues are co-ed. Think about how that works for you.
  • There are lots of online resources - I like #CaminoTuesday on X and Bluesky.
  • NEVER turn up unannounced at a town with a local trout and bacon festival and expect to easily get a room. Looking at you Sigüeiro.

Thank you for these tips! I’m a natural worrier but trying to push myself

OP posts:
viralviv · 07/02/2025 16:31

Check out Camino de Santiago All Routes on facebook. Loads of good posts and pictures

Totallymessed · 07/02/2025 16:41

@Snapsnap44 This thread has inspired me to decide to do this myself.

It will have to be only a bit of it though, as I can only take about a week. I'm thinking maybe Irun to Bilbao or the bit of the Camino primitivo between Oviedo and Lugo, both sound spectacular....

Original poster
Snapsnap44 · 07/02/2025 16:43

Totallymessed · 07/02/2025 16:41

@Snapsnap44 This thread has inspired me to decide to do this myself.

It will have to be only a bit of it though, as I can only take about a week. I'm thinking maybe Irun to Bilbao or the bit of the Camino primitivo between Oviedo and Lugo, both sound spectacular....

Amazing! I’m only doing a week too. That’s all I can do for now but that’s plenty for me I think

OP posts:
CrystalSingerFan · 08/02/2025 10:27

Snapsnap44 · 07/02/2025 16:27

Thank you for these tips! I’m a natural worrier but trying to push myself

Show quote history

Keep going! Onwards and upwards...

2024riot · 08/02/2025 12:49

There are Facebook groups as well

Radiatorvalves · 08/02/2025 14:34

They were discussing this on radio 4’s Saturday live this morning. Worth a listen. I quite fancy it myself.