Camino De Santiago - Travel Blog

Two newlyweds walking across the northern coast of Spain to start a world adventure - Pebbls Adventure Tracking App

Transport Types Used

Legs of this Journey:

Home To Gatwick, 3:15am

1.5 hours sleep, but on our way to catch our flight to Biarritz!

EasyJet To Biarritz

Train From Bayonne To St-jean

Quick train to the starting point of the walk, where we will get our ‘Camino passports’ and stay for one night. Train full of peregrinos from around the world with their hiking bags and walking sticks

St Jean Pied De Port -> Roncesvalle

First part of the walk!

Day 2: Roncesvalles -> Larasoaña

Today is mainly flat/downhill (apparently!). Heading 26km through Basque hamlets and forests to the riverside village of Larasoaña. Slightly late start but a shorter hike than yesterday time-wise

Day 3: Larrasoaña -> Pamplona

A short hop (16k-ish) to Pamplona where we’ll be staying in a hotel that was one of Hemingway’s favourites. Possibly staying there for two nights depending on how we feel.

Day 5: Pamplona -> Puente La Reina

Rainy start. Walking with two lovely californians who are also relying on James’ map skills

Day 6: Puente la Reina -> Estella

A ‘short’ walk today (21km). James feeling great. Jules feeling a bit like the Tin Man but spirits are high. Think Tin Man post oil, skipping stiffly down the Yellow Brick Road.

Day 6: Estella -> Torres Del Río

This is the longest yet - 28km. Feet bandaged up for support. Going to push through 5km at a time then take a foot massage break

Day 7: Torres Del Río -> Logroño

Closing in on our next big town - just 20km today as we pushed through the extra miles yesterday. Taking a day off tomorrow. Bet you can’t guess what we’ll be doing. (Hint: Logroño is in La Rioja) 🍇

Day 9: Logroño To Ventosa

19km to Ventosa, and if feeling good will continue on for another 10k. Not the early start we hoped for - had a bad night’s sleep

Day 10: Ventosa -> San Domingo

Actually out the door by 7:30am! Rainy, cold, dark. Long walk today to San Domingo - expecting about 9 hours including a break for lunch.

Day 11: Santo Domingo -> Belorado

23km. Let’s go.

Day 12: Belorado -> San Juan D. O.

Trying our luck at an albergue today as no accommodation was available to book online. Let’s hope they have beds for us. First, a ‘lovely forest walk’ according to guidebook. 24.5k-ish, mainly uphill.

Day 13: San Juan D. O. -> Burgos

After a hilarious night’s experience (although, to be fair, we slept quite well on our top bunks), we got kicked out of the monastery at 8am. So we march unshowered to a nice hotel in Burgos.

Day 16: Into The Meseta

Blisters healed, new shoes bought. Heading into the next big chunk of the camino - Burgos to León - via the divisive Meseta (a pretty barren samey path that doesn’t change much in 7 days of walking!)

Day 17: Short Hop To Castrojeriz

Couldn’t find accommodation anywhere further so today just doing a short 9k walk then resting/doing laundry all afternoon 😴

Day 18: Castrojeriz -> Población

29k. Hoping hurricane has cleared and we’ll see a bit of sunshine ☀️

Day 19: Población To Carrión

Rolled my ankle weirdly and not taking any risks so going ahead to a physiotherapist in the next town, as James takes this short 16km walk for the both of us. Feels like cheating but walking with an injury would be stupid.

Day 20: Carrion -> Ledigos

A long straight Roman road to our next destination

Day 21: Ledigos -> Calzada D.L.H.

Last long day before León. Skies are clear and so is my mind. Embrace the Camino, and the holy trinity will embrace you. (James wrote that, he’s feeling spiritual)

Day 22: Calzada D.L.H. -> Reliegos

Quick 16km hop today.

Day 23: Reliegos -> León

This day feels quite monumental - once we reach León we enter the final third of the journey! Walking with a friend we made at last night’s albergue dinner: Zoltan, a Hungarian sailor

Day 25: León -> San Martin d.Camino

Loads of tour groups joining the walk today from León to Santiago. Even more will join later on (as you only NEED to walk 100km to get your Compostela). Taking an alt route as all accom was booked up.

Day 26: San Martin d.c. -> Astorga

Up at the crack o’ dawn, faffed around, but have still managed to make it out before the crowds.

Day 27: Astorga -> Foncebadón

Let the climb begin! ⛰️🥾

Day 28: Foncebadón -> Ponferrada

Misty start to this leg, which goes via Cruz Ferro (a famous sight on the camino - will post photos). Steady downward incline to Ponferrada which is meant to be the most beautiful town on the way.

Day 29: Ponferrada -> Villafranca

22km, fairly flat, warm. 🌥️ Happy to have a slightly shorter walk after yesterday’s beast.

Day 30: Villafranca -> La Laguna

26k. Winding up into the mountains again today. Last 5k is a REALLY steep climb up towards our albergue, so need to be prepared for that. Going to be tough (especially with such sore leg muscles!)

Day 31: La Laguna -> Triacastela

Quick steep hike to start, then an easy rolling hike over the top of the Galician mountains and a downhill to Triacastela. 23k-ish. Don’t even know any more!

Day 32: Triacastela -> Barbadelo

Via Sarría, where lots of tour groups join to walk the last 100km to Santiago (the minimum you need to do to get the ‘Compostela’). Think this may be our last truly peaceful walk.

Day 33: Barbadelo -> Gonzar

Late start as we’ve been desperately trying to book a campervan for our impending New Zealand trip. Today’s walk: 25km to GONZAR! (Sounds like a town straight out of The Lord of the Rings 🧌🔥)

Day 34: Castromaior -> Melide

Long walk (31km), early start. Let’s go!

Day 35: Melide -> Salceda

25km so not the longest, but apparently it’s a relentless bumpy ride, with steep ups and steep downs the whole way. So expecting today (our penultimate day!) to be quite knackering.

Day 36: Salceda -> Santiago!

The final day! 27km into Santiago, where we’ll join the pilgrims’ mass at the cathedral, and collect our Compostelas. Started at 5am - hopefully will be there by 11! Feeling snotty after a mouldy room