Camino way

[Jenkibuble]

I have done several multi day treks in the UK and am keen to hike part of the Camino way. Probably the Spain/Portugal part.

Has anyone done it / got any advice ?

TIA :)

I haven’t but my mum is doing the French leg. She has been getting lots of info from Facebook groups. She loves it.

I did the northern route a few years ago was brilliant. Second Facebook groups also Reddit and Camino guides online. If you are doing the route in Spain the post office offer a bag collect at your accommodation and then drop and the next for a few euros which is great on heavier/longer days.

There've been a few Mumsnet threads. This one was lovely, with details and pictures:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5032932-2-weeks-to-go-to-my-big-solo-adventure-and-starting-to-lose-my-nerve

There’s a lovely novel based around this, Call of the Camino by Susan Redfearn. I read it last year. It might be a nice read along the way.

Thanks everyone.
SO tempted to do the whole lot ...... my own kids both at uni and I feel very redundant . Work allows sabaticals. Would have to number crunch to see if I could afford it !

I’d love to walk the whole thing and It’s the only thing on my bucket list actually but I am slightly apprehensive to walk it alone as I will inevitably get lost as I have no directional sense whatsoever..

That made me laugh.
TBH, the trails I have walked so far have all been National ones and are excellently marked!

Watching! Hoping to do it in Spring 2028 as part of my 50th celebrations. Had never heard of it until it appeared in a novel I was reading. Now I keep hearing about people doing it. Am fascinated by the whole concept.

If you aren't sure if it's the right route the Fisherman's Way in Portugal is worth a look. Probably less busy than the Camino but far from lonely. Glorious coastline too

You apparently follow the shell directional markers don’t you? but yeah I’ll miss them and end up in some poor farmers back yard unable to speak Spanish and subsequently I will probably end up getting arrested 😂

You have to get this book, I love Tim Moore at the best of times, but this was on of his best, only outdone by Continental Drifter.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2004/aug/15/travel.features

I’ve done sections and it’s a really good route to hike because of the facilities and the shared experience even if you have no religious affiliation.

Do check likely temperatures, I didn’t!

Sorry to hijack your thread, OP- I'm also thinking about doing this but can;t decide between the last 110ish km of the Portuguese Camino and the English. Would welcome any views.

I’ve seen the shell markers in northern Germany and Denmark. I understood there were route starting ‘practically everywhere ‘

What does doing the whole thing really mean? It’s on my bucket list and I’m keen to start planning.

DH has done the Porto to Santiago route - he’s done it in two sections, it’s a week from Porto to Valença on the border, then another week from there to Santiago.

There are 3 main routes - litoral, coastal and central - with a spiritual route between Pontevedra and Padron.

This is how DH walked it (central way):

From Porto:
Day 1 19 miles to Labruge
Day 2 14 miles to Arcos
Day 3 26 miles to Barcelos
Day 4 12 miles to Ponte de Lima
Day 5 13 miles Rubiaes
Day 6 13 miles to Valença / Tui

From Valença / Tui:
Day 1 17km to O Porrinno
Day 2 16km to Redondela
Day 3 22km to Pontevedra
Day 4 22km to Caldas de Reis
Day 5 20km to Padron
Day 6 26km to Santiago

Trail is marked all the way. DH used a company called Top Santiago to transport his bag.

Stingy Nomads is a good resource for planning.

stingynomads.com/portuguese-camino-routes/

Did you use the pilgrim hostel?
Albergues I think they are called.

Interestingly, a couple of Dutch girls I met when I did West Highland Way enjoyed this one.