Has anyone been on a pilgrimage? Advice and ideas please

[DelinquentSnails]

Any advice from someone who has done this would be great. Where did you go? Where did you stay? What are the logistical arrangements? What was it like spiritually, emotionally, physically?

DD19 and I take a holiday alone tigerher each summer. This year (inspired by the bbc series and her granny who did the Campino de Compistella aged 65 and is still dining out on it ) she wants us to do a pilgrimage (pilgrimage hostels/convent stays and all.) It would be in mid-late August and I’m pretty up for it. Happy to consider UK, Ireland or a little further afield. She’s quite religious, and we are both reasonably fit. We would only have 3-5 nights so unlikely to make it from Canterbury to Rome.

Friend of mine did the Camino in spain.

i think it was weeks rather than days but not sure.

The last 100km of the camino from Sarria to Santiago de Compostella take 5 days, more than 80% of pilgrims do this shortened distance rather than the whole 5 week journey.

I am trapped with caring responsibilities, so there's no way i could ever get away for 5 weejs, but it still felt like a proper pilgrimage walking from Sarria, and I still felt I deserved my compostela when I was awarded it.

The whole thing was very special, its really clearly marked, each town along the way is geared up for pilgrim hospitality, good food, beautiful views. You can visit as many of the churches / masses along the way as you choose. Id really recommend.

I'm not religious, but would suggest flying to Ireland West (Knock) airport in Co. Mayo, Ireland, and staying a night or two at the Knock House Hotel (other hotels and B&Bs are available) - directly opposite the basilica and Knock shrine, then maybe a day trip to climb Ireland's holy mountain, Croagh Patrick (if, as you say, you're reasonably fit). Stunning views from the summit, and there's a chapel up there too.

Re the logistical arrangements:
You fly to madrid then theres a direct train to Sarria ( about 4 hours). And a direct train back to madrid from santiago at the end

You can pre book hotels or hostels on booking.com or similar, or if you are happy to stay in hostels, you dont have to prebook as each hostel reserves a large quota of beds for pilgrims turning up each day. Bed in a dormitory 15 to 20 euros per person incl breakfast of coffee, toast or croissants. Most restaurants have a 3 course pilgrims lunch or dinner 15 to 20 euros inc wine or soft drink .

You can choose to carry your own gear or use the luggage services there, 6 or 7 euros per day, they pick up from the hostels/ hotels around 10am and deliver it to the next place before you get there on foot

@CaminoDays thank you so much, that’s great information. It sounds like a real adventure and congratulations on completing it?
Is the experience quite social? It’s not like we want karaoke every night, but I’m conscious that 5 days walking is a long time for any mother and daughter to spend together!

taize in france is great for youth

Theres literally hundreds of people walking it every day! So any hotel / hostel on the route will have pilgrims you meet over breakfast/ doing laundry etc...and as you walk you have a little chat with someone, you'll get separated and after a while get talking to someone else, then maybe 2 or 3 days later you bump into the first person on another stretch and chat again.

One of my favourite memories is walking into Melide one lunchtime, which is apparently world famous for Octopus...so we went to the most famous of the restaurants, Pulperia A Garnacha, and it took us about 20 mins to actually sit down and eat as every table we passed had pilgrims we'd met we'd want to chat to! Then everyone who came in after us also did the rounds!

At the Pilgrims mass in Santiago, everyone who has walked the same time as you is in there together, its honestly fab!

Yes, I’ve walked a Camino in Spain and done a few shorter pilgrimage routes in England. I’m not Christian (I’m Jewish actually), but I still enjoyed the spiritual aspect of it. It’s a lovely experience to meet other pilgrims and have a shared experience.

In the UK, you can have a little look at what options there are. I’d really like to walk St Kevin’s Way in Ireland, but it’s quite short. More of a 2 day out and back really.

If you want a proper pilgrimage experience, I would go to Spain. You don’t really find it in the UK. I would recommend the Camino de Finistera y Muxia. It’s short enough for a first time (4-5 days, you can go to Fisterra or Muxia or both), but not as packed with annoying tourists who treat it like a pub crawl (which the last 100km or so of the Camino de Santiago is).

Buy a guidebook, look online for information about stages depending on how long you want to walk each day. Then I mostly just looked on booking .com and booked albergues and guesthouses for each night. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants along the way, so with rare exception (it will say in the guidebook), you don’t have to worry about food.

It’s a lovely experience and especially if you are religious, I expect you’ll find it quite meaningful.

@mindutopia this is all such helpful information. I think we would love to do the Camino, but might start with something a little more time! I will definitely be looking into Saint Kevin’s way. We both absolutely love Ireland and so that would be a treat (whatever the weather!)

I haven't been on it, but the Peak Wesley way looks good - it's one I'm hoping to do at some point.

Great idea! No advice but I've also enjoyed the bbc series and my tiktok algorithm loves people walking the camino. Not a religious bone in my body but love the idea.