Page 13 - Camino

Camino del Norte
San Sebastian – Santiago, 804km
The English Way
Ferrol – Santiago, 110km
Camino Finisterre
Santiago – Muxia – Finisterre – Santiago, 114km
Why the Camino del Norte
Why the Camino Ingles?
• Avoid the crowds, traffic and cities and enjoy a Camino journey in real solitude
• Discover an unexpected side of Spain, with weather more akin to Ireland
Why the Camino Finisterre
The Northern Way follows the northern coast of Spain through dynamic cities such as San Sebastian, Santander and Bilbao. This Camino travels to Santiago via the towns of Gijón and Ribadeo, however many early pilgrims preferred to connect with the Camino Primitivo in Oviedo thanks to King Alphonso II making it a safer and more well known path.
Given its coastal route, this Camino is also referred to as the “Ruta de la Costa”, and it became an important way for Christian pilgrims when the Camino Francés became dangerous due to the Moorish invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. Following the coast was also deemed easier than trying to traverse the Cantabrian Mountains and it provided a cooler option in summer.
• Cooler coastal option in summer with swimming opportunities
• Experience the food scene of San Sebastian, home to more Michelin Star restaurants than any other city
• Visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
• Enjoy the lush vegetation and sea views of the Basque Country
• Challenge yourself to the longest and toughest Camino de Santiago
The Camino Ingles, or English Way, came about in the 12th century when boats
of pilgrims from England and the Nordic countries arrived in the north of Spain to embark on their pilgrimage to Santiago. Those who came via the ‘seafaring way’ would land
at A Coruna, which is the shortest and most direct route to Santiago (96km). This is not long enough for today’s pilgrims to earn their Compostela, which is why most begin in Ferrol, which is 110km from Santiago.
The Camino Inglés is the least travelled Camino de Santiago, with an average of 4%
of pilgrims choosing this route. There are no major cities along the route, just tiny villages where locals often speak Galician over Spanish.
The Camino's 'kilometre zero' is not Santiago – it actually lies on the Galician Coast, which was considered the 'end of the world' in the Middle Ages. The name Finisterre derives from Latin, 'finis terrae' which translates to 'end of the earth'.
Many early pilgrims would continue the extra 90km from Santiago to collect the scallop shell to prove their successful pilgrimage. Today’s pilgrims head there to burn their clothes and boots to symbolise their complete pilgrimage and a new beginning. Traditionally, the Camino Finisterre concludes at Cape Finisterre, however many who choose this option hike the extra 6km along the coast to Muxia to enjoy the wild Atlantic coastal views.
• Finish at the real end point of the Camino for early pilgrims
• Walk the only Camino that begins in Santiago
• Collect a scallop shell from the Galician coast like early pilgrims did
• It’s quiet, less than 1% of all Camino travellers complete this section
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