3200 EURO PER PERSON
500 EURO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
Imagine yourself disembarking a small wooden boat, after braving the violent seas, crawling ashore disheveled and windblown, with your heart set on reaching the holy city of Santiago. Follow in the footsteps of British, Irish and Nordic medieval pilgrims who arrived by boat, landing on the savage north coast of Galicia, las Rias Altas, and walked inland for the remainder of their different, though no less arduous, Camino. We cannot wait to walk with you from the bustling port city of Ferrol, skirting along the magical blue coastline before heading southwards into the untouched interior of Spain’s northwest corner. This Camino is still a bit of a secret, a peaceful alternative. The tranquility is an extra special gift, so come, join us now, before the rest of the world discovers the Camino Inglés. This 116-kilometer (72 mile) walk offers coastline, green mountains, Camino Reales (royal pathways) through eucalyptus and oak forests, bustling and charismatic towns, sleepy farming villages, medieval bridges and churches, quiet country roads, gushing creeks and somber rivers and being Galicia, of course, cows galore! Part of the trail passes through a Biosphere Reserve ‘Mariñas Curuñesas e Terras do Mandeo’, protecting the natural river corridors and their coastal habitats which provide excellent refuges for birds, invertebrates and algae species. Also protected are ‘fragas’: ancient and vast natural forests host to a significant number of unique species, many of which are threatened or endemic. The Camino Inglés offers a special journey from the coast deep into rural Galicia.Who better to take you there and take care of you along The Way, than Judy and her team of experienced and passionate guides?
All hotels, breakfasts, dinners, with wine, van support w/ healthy snacks are included in the tour price.
Itinerary
Day 1– Ferrol to Neda
At 10am, your Spanish Steps guide will meet in the lobby of the hotel in Ferrol. We suggest that you spend the night here before the trip begins. Please have your hiking boots on, because from here, we will begin our walk as we head to the port to find the beginning of the Camino. It is marked with a monolith of seven crosses, representing the original regions of Galicia. Let us imagine we just embarked from a ship across the Cantabrian Sea and off we go! A couple of kilometers of meandering the city streets of Ferrol bring us past the impressive city hall, the Sanctuary of Nossa Señora das Angustias Claretianos, the vast Navantia shipyards, the Military Installment, and the oldest military arsenal gate (mid-18th century) before arriving at the seafront. We follow the estuary of Ferrol, onto a small peninsula upon which sits the tiny Capela de Caranza and past a small beach. Our pathway morphs into a gravel track through a small industrial area before returning to stone path and a climb and descent rewarded with views of the Ria Ferrol. We skirt around the town of Narón, passing the tranquil Monastery of San Martiño de Zubia and its 12th century church. Crossing the bridge over the Xubia Grande river, we arrive in Neda and the end of our day. We will shuttle/walk to our hotel.
14 kilometers – Dinner included.
Day 2-Neda to Pontedeume
A day of hills and coastal views will bring us to the medieval town of Pontedeume. Leaving the town take note of Neda town hall, once known as the Hospice of the Holy Spirit used for medieval pilgrims, and the Church of San Nicolas, that has one of the oldest crosses of Galicia in its atrium. Up, up we go climbing to the villages of Silva and Conces affording us lofty views of the glorious Ferrol estuary. The way continues climbing through tiny villages before it turns into a dirt path through glorious eucalyptus and pine forests, carpeted with luscious ferns. From the top of the climb, the Camion descends a few more kilometers through pastoral green Galicia and arrives at the coast once more, greeted by the delightful beach of Magdalena and views of the seventy arches of the 14th century bridge leading us into Pontedeume, a picturesque city nestled between the hills and River Eume. The bridge was commissioned by Fernan Perez de Andrade and a tower honoring his name is now all that remains of the grand Palacio de Condes where he lived.
16 kilometers – Breakfast and Dinner included.
Day 3-
Today is a hard but glorious day. From the riverfront we begin our day straight uphill, to begin the biggest climb of our journey (165meters in 2.5km); but the reward is a gentle downhill of pathways though the verdant countryside scattered with buildings, horreos, vines, fields and an old oak forest. From Viadeiro, we climb again, gentler this time, and then descend to cross over the Baxoi river with its 14th century bridge. A quiet track takes us into the small town of Miño. Onwards we are rewarded with bucolic vistas along the Lambre river (option to visit Alameda Beach) and quiet country roads for the rest of the day, as we climb again. The views make our efforts worthwhile.
Our final few kilometres bring us into the walled medieval town of Betanzos via the Porta da Ponte Vella. Originally a port town before the river silted up, it is now a bustling market town and home to the Iglesia de Santiago and the Iglesia de San Francisco within we find the tomb of Fernán Pérez de Andrade.
21 kilometers – Breakfast and Dinner included.
Day 4-Betanzos to Presedo
A gentle amble through the quiet streets of Betanzos brings us to the 13th century As Cascas bridge, rebuilt in the 19th century. Another day of climbing greets us from here, up and over tracks and quiet lanes, through eucalyptus forest and scattered villages. We are afforded sweeping views for our toils, of the deep green luscious countryside. Take a break in the cool shade of Capela de San Estero de Cos or the bar in Meangos before the final big push up to the hamlet of Presedo, in the middle of nowhere!
We will finish our day in Méson Museo, a restaurant cum museum exhibiting the works of historian Alfredo Eiras. His vibrant paintings depict the Galician way of life during the Middle Ages. This is a special place!
14 kilometers – Breakfast and Dinner included.
Day 5-Presedo to A Rua/Buscas
A day for solitude. Today’s route presents a very rural day of sustained uphill walking through forest after forest on mainly dirt and gravel tracks, interspersed with a handful of sleepy Galician hamlets. Make sure to stop in As Traversias at the bar and take time to visit the pilgrims chapel here, Capela de San Roque. It is supported entirely by pilgrims and always available to visit. Here the two arms of the Camino Inglés come together. The shorter of the two begins in A Coruña, just 85 kilometers from Santiago and therefore walking it does not qualify for a Compostela. Shortly thereafter the Camino arrives at Hospital de Bruma, a traditional end of stage for pilgrims. We will continue downhill and to the amusingly named Cabeza de Lobo (wolf’s head) and onwards to arrive in O Porto at the 6-meter-tall statue of Santiago erected in the last Holy Year, 2010. A classic Camino Inglés photo op! A creative sculpture park is also to be found here. We will finish our day’s walk with a gentle descent on a forest path to A Rua where we find the 18th century Parochial church of Buscas, dedicated to the child martyr San Pelayo.
18 kilometers – Breakfast and Dinner included.
Day 6-A Rua/Buscas to Sigueiro
Rolling fields as far as the eye can see mixes with dense forest, deep set stone walls thick with moss lining our path. We pass through villages with the blink of an eye in this tranquil stretch of trail. Approaching Sigüiero, it becomes obvious that Santiago is not so far away as we parallel the highway for a while and sense growing urbanization. Our trail is easy on us today though, with plenty of shade and very little climbing. Ultreia!
15 kilometers – Breakfast and Dinner included.
Day 7 – Sigueiro to Santiago
Our final day of walking, and, as with most of the Caminos into Santiago, we must go up before walking down into the holy city. We start by crossing the Rio Tambre and despite the city’s proximity, the first 12 kilometers are filled with country lanes, stone pathways and some enchanting forest stretches. This is probably the most charming final day of all the routes up to this point. Feel the pull of Santiago and its colossal cathedral during the last hour. The approach from the north brings us past the Capela de Pastoriza (start looking for the cathedral spires now) and Convento do Carme, through Porto de Pena, one of the original gates, then called Porta Poennae, into the old walled city. Our Camino walking journey ends at the steps of the cathedral today. We will gather for a celebratory dinner together.
16.5 kilometers – Breakfast and Dinner included.
Day 8-Buen Camino
After a leisurely breakfast, a local tour guide and historian will show us the main sights on a two-hour guided walking tour of the city and the cathedral, finishing in time to attend the Pilgrims Mass.
Breakfast included.
* This itinerary may change slightly due to accommodation availability, rain, festivals, and spontaneous side trips.
** You will see the number of kilometers mentioned with the daily description. We are flexible in the amount you personally walk. We have the van to assist in whatever amount you would like to walk on this pilgrimage.
*** This is not an endurance race, nor a competition. Please be respectful of all the different paces and walks of life that come together on this group trip.
**** There may be several occasions where we sleep for two nights in one hotel or B&B due to lack of accommodations where we end our daily stage of the walk. Most people find this to be an advantage as you can unpack or take a rest day if you chose not to walk one day.
Gallery
FAQs
How many miles do we hike per day?
We average between 10-13 miles per day or 14-21 kilometers. A lot depends on the group dynamics. I encourage people to ride in the van if their feet are feeling fatigued or to walk more miles if they have the energy. Most pilgrims walking the trail independently walk 15 miles a day with a heavy pack. With Spanish Steps, we have the luxury of a fully supported van which carries our baggage and carries us the extra mile when needed.
What kind of hotels do we use?
We use beautifully restored farmhouses known as Casa Rurales and family run Pazos, Galician manor homes. Most are located a little off route from the Camino de Santiago situated in small towns and villages away from the large cities, so each day will involve a group transfer at the beginning and end of the day. All rooms have private baths. The smaller inns have no phone or TV in the room.
Is there WIFI at our hotels?
Our hotels nearly always have free WIFI available, though it is often just in the lobby/public areas. We generally stay at historical hotels, which often have thick walls, so WIFI rarely works in the rooms. Most bars and cafes en route have free WIFI also.
How does one get to FERROL?
- We suggest you fly directly to Santiago de Complostela (SCQ) or A Coruna (LCG). From both these airports you can take a taxi to the main train or bus station in the city. (Around 15 Euros). From both airports, you can take a shuttle bus to the city center hubs. Shuttles typically depart every thirty minutes.
- A taxi from A Coruna airport to Ferrol will cost around 100 Euro.
- Bus from Coruna bus station
- Bus from Santiago bus station or from Madrid: www.alsa.es.
Train from Madrid or from Santiago. www.renfe.esWhat kind of equipment should I pack?
The hikes are not fancy. I will supply you with an equipment list of basic items to pack. You are limited to one bag weighing 30-lbs and a one-day pack to hold items such as your camera, rain gear and water bottle. Hiking boots will be your most important piece of equipment. Please be sure they are well broken in and that you have proper socks before arriving in Spain.
How do I access spending money/how much should I bring?
Most people travel with an ATM card. Money machines are everywhere in Spain but be sure you know your PIN number before arriving in Spain. Do not bring traveler’s check. Most banks will turn you away. Most expenses are already built into Spanish Steps trips. Extra snacks and beverages at the cafes and stores are additional. Lunches will be a separate expense. The Menu del Dia or Menu del Peregrino is available in local cafes/bars and will cost between 9 and 12 Euros. These are three course meals with wine and water included – great value.
How many meals are included?
All breakfasts and dinners are included in the price of this tour. Our hotels will be happy to provide a vegetarian option should it be required. Lunches are not included in the tour price; however, there are a few options along the trail to purchase sandwich items and fruit, or plan to eat at one of the small bars that cater to pilgrims. The van will be stocked with healthy snacks and water. We will do our best to accommodate any dietary requirements. Please let us know in advance as much as possible.
What is the average age of the group?
The average age of the hiker on a Spanish Steps tour is 50 years old during the spring and fall months but younger during the summer months. Most trips are a mix of a 40/60 ratio of men to women. I have taken school groups where the age range is 13-20 years old. With an eager heart and a mind full of curiosities, any age is able to walk the Camino. There may be as few as four participants on this trip or as many as 12.
Should I leave a gratuity for our guides?
This is a very common question my clients ask–As a person working hard in the service industry to please the traveler, a gratuity is much appreciated by the staff members at the end of the tour. As a general guideline, people tip around 10 Euros per day, per guide. For trips where we have a bus driver, a gratuity of around 15 Euros per person at the end of the trip would be appreciated.
What is the terrain like?
The trails are well marked with yellow arrows and the scallop shell tile. There are some long, slow climbs through farming areas but not Himalayan or Rocky Mountain like terrain. The paths are well worn and are not difficult. We walk along a lot of secondary farming roads, paths through vineyards, beech and chestnut forests, and old country roads.
Is there a single supplement?
Some people would like to be matched with a roommate. I can’t guarantee a match but will try to place you with someone if there are any requests. The price of the single supplement is 500 EUROS per person.
Can you provide references?
We would be delighted to share with you some references of former clients who have walked with us. If you would like to contact any former Spanish Steps participants, let us know by calling us or sending us an email.