THE CAMINOS
THE WAYS OF SAINT JAMES
The Camino de Santiago (the Way of Saint James) is the name given to a series of pilgrimage routes throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Europe that lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela in the northwest of Spain, where legend has it that the bones of the apostle Saint James are interred. It is a path that calls tens of thousands of people from all over the world to walk or bike it every year. Some walk for just a couple of days, while others endure weeks or even months. Nobody who sets foot on the Way will leave it unchanged.
There are many different paths that lead to Santiago de Compostela. The Camino Frances, which covers approximately 800 kilometres in length and runs from the Pyrenees across the northern Spanish plains, is by far the most popular route. Other more challenging and less populated paths run along the northern Spanish coast (Camino del Norte), through the heartland of Portugal (Caminho Portuguese), and the long and lonely road from Seville in the south of Spain (Via de la Plata).
On these pages I provide an outline of each Camino and a brief synopsis of the stages. For more detailed accounts of the lived experience please take a look at my blog.
BUEN CAMINO!!
The most popular of all the Caminos, stretching 800 kilometres from the Pyrennes across the north of Spain, this path is packed full of history, character and plenty of good company.
Running across the northern coast of Spain, this challenging walk combines a stunning mixture of beaches, forests and mountains, which will inspire all those who choose to follow this path.
A long and often isolated walk through the heartland of Portugal, this Camino is a challenge for modern pilgrims. Sparsely populated, thinly resourced, this is the path for those who want to experience the real demands of the pilgrims life.
Starting in the city of Oviedo, and wandering through the majestic mountains in the ancient kingdom of Asturias to the city of Santiago, this was the Camino where it all began.
For many, the journey does not end in Santiago. This ancient path leads pilgrims to the lighthouse in Finisterre, the end of the world in ancient times, and on to the charming seaside town of Muxia on the Galician coast.
VIA DE LA PLATA
An epic journey of 1000 KM, from Seville in the south, through the forgotten lands of Extramadura and the isolated plains of Castilla y Leon, this is one of the longest and least walked paths, but such challenges make it one of the most rewarding Caminos.