Now this is something the YourHols team has always wanted to do – walk the Camino Way.
The city of Santiago de Compostela celebrates St James’ Day this Saturday, July 25 with special church services, art exhibitions, theatre productions, street shows, concerts and processions.
The patron saint of Portugal and Spain has also inspired pilgrims to flock to the city from many corners of Europe using the ‘Way of St James’. It is probably the most popular long distance walking routes in the world with more than 200,000 people striding out on their own personal journey each year.
Macs Adventure, the walking and cycling specialist, has 45 different self-guided itineraries within the Way of St James’ network. For all trips, they provide flexible durations and start dates, offers daily door-to-door baggage transfers and all customers are provided with detailed maps, route notes and B&B accommodation.
The routes include:
The Camino Frances (the French Way). This route starts in the beautiful town of St Jean Pied de Port, in the French Pyrenees, from where it takes 753 km to reach Santiago. There are 12 different Macs Adventure alternatives to choose from including the 13-night ‘Camino stage 1&2 St Jean-Pied-de-Port to Burgos’ trip, which starts from £690 per person. The price does not include flights. Fly to Biarritz, with easyJet from about £40 per person one way or from Madrid, about £30. See more
Camino del Norte (the Northern Way). This 836 km of trail offers great maritime walking through Northern Spain and the towns of San Sebastian, Bilbao and Santander. Try the 7 night ‘Stage One – San Sebastian to Bilbao’ section from £515 per person. Return flights with easyJet from Bilbao are about £65 per person. See more
Camino Portugues (the Portuguese Way). Officially starting in Lisbon, this route is a mixture of coastal, forest and open countryside trails, but the 611 km to Santiago de Compostela is almost entirely flat. The 7 night ‘Camino Portugues: final stage Tui to Santiago’ covers 110 km and is easy to navigate following quiet country roads and woodland paths. The price is £415 per person. Return flights with Ryanair to Santiago are about £124 per person.
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Le Puy-en-Velay. This 743 km route passes through charming French villages and towns such as Mossaic. Walk through vineyards, rolling hills, hamlets, villages and alongside river streams and over rocky, volcanic landscapes.
Try ‘Stage 3 of the Camino Le Puy’ (above) over 7 nights, which takes you from Conques overlooking the River Lot to the medieval town of Cahors for £555 per person. Fly to Rodez Airport with Ryanair from Stansted for about £61 per person return.
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Camino Ingles. In the Middle Ages, the news of the Camino spread all over Europe, and pilgrims from the UK and Ireland would sail down to Spain to start their pilgrimage. Today, Macs Adventure uses the route from Ferrol – and the distance to Santiago is just over 100 km. Try the 6 night ‘Camino Ingles’ trip from £365 per person. Fly with Ryanair to Santiago for about £124 return per person.
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Camino Primitivo. Offering tranquility and a challenge, this route crosses the diverse and rugged landscapes of Asturias in Northern Spain and was an essential part of any medieval pilgrimage as diverting to the Camara Santa cathedral in Oviedo was just as important as arriving at Santiago.
The 10 night ‘Camino Primitivo: Stage 1’ route from £660 per person starts in Oviedo and stretches across the unspoilt Spanish regions of Asturia and Galicia. Shadowed by the peaks of the Picos de Europa you follow ancient paths through the Cantabrian Mountains.
Fly into Oviedo with easyJet for £48 one way and return from Santiago with Ryanair for about £77 per person.
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Camino de Finisterre (the Finisterre Way). The Camino Finisterre is the only Camino where you walk away from Santiago de Compostela. This trip takes you from the magnificent Cathedral in Santiago, through spectacular Galician countryside to finish at the ocean and gaining a real sense of completion to your Camino de Santiago.
Pilgrims would traditionally walk to the ocean to burn their possessions after completing their pilgrimage and even today, modern pilgrims will burn their boots at Finisterre. Walk the 5 nights ‘Camino Finisterre’ for £230 per person. Return flights to Santiago with Ryanair for £124 per person.
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