Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

[eala]

fellow soul searchers, Myself and my husband have one week in April to walk the Camino to finish in Santiago, any suggesyions? we are fit but want to enjoy the scenery!
eala

[brendan nolan]

Hi Eala and Husband,
Welcome to the Forum .
It's a little difficult to advise since you don't give much information about yourselves, so the advice has to be a bit general.
Assuming you intend to walk for a week and not wanting to be too strenuous, (approx 20 km per day), it puts your start point at about Triacastella, something like 120+ km from Santiago; if you want to obtain the 'Compostela' you have to walk at least 100km. I don't know about buses, etc but I imagine your best plan would be to get to Santiago and then get a bus to your start point.
You want to enjoy the scenery, but bear in mind that Galicia is not known as 'Green Spain' for nothing, , even in June you can get cold, driving rain. I'm not expert on April weather, but don't be surprised if you miss some of the scenery because your head is down against the weather.
Then again you say you are fit, but I don't know what that relates to; fit for your ages, fit in regard to specific exercise, or fit in relation to walking with a pack for several days. To walk for a day with a small pack and return home in the evening is one thing; to repeat that walk, with a heavier pack, the next day and then for several more days is a different thing altogether.
I hope this doesn't sound negative - I want you to prepare well and enjoy your pilgrimage, not struggle each day.
Enjoy your planning.
Buen Camino,
Brendan

[sillydoll]

Perhaps you could walk the Camino Ingles. I think it was Rolf who submitted an excellent post on this Forum giving suggested stages as well as a daily report.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2392

[JohnnieWalker]

Hi

I very much agree with Sil about the Camino Ingles. In my opinion it is perfect if you have a week to walk:

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2858

Leaving from Ferrol you will qualify for a Compostela, but if you aren't bothered about that there is the alternative Camino Ingles from the more authentic departure point A Coruna. This route is shorter but might also allow time in your schedule to walk out to Finisterre with a day in Santiago in the middle.

Another alternative is the final stretch of the Via de la Plata - popular with a lot of Spaniards as the Camino Frances gets busier.

The departure point is Orense ( easily accessible from Santiago by public transport ) and from there it is 5 days walk to Santiago and at 108 kms qualifies for the Compostela.

Enjoy the decision making - they are all good alternatives

John

[Javier Martin]

If you are interested in Camino Francés I would begin in O Cebreiro, because the historical importance and because t's easy to go there by bus (the ALSA bus station is just 4 km away, to go by bus from Madrid or from Santiago). A very nice walk before beginning.

If other Caminos, the Camino Ingles from Ferrol, or the Camino Portugueses from Ponte de Lima or Tui.

But if it's your first Camino, I would choose the Camino Francés.

Enjoy it! And buen Camino,

Javier Martin
Madrid, Spain.