Hi there pilgrims!

[Frans57]

Hi there pilgrims!
I am a new member and I would like to introduce myself.
My name is Frans van der Hulst and I live in the Netherlands in a town called Leiden.
In May 2025 I hope to walk my first Camino and I am thrilled! I cannot wait!
I am planning to walk the Camino Del Norte and I am planning this trip for over 2 years now.
I have read almost everything there is to read and have seen all videos I could find.
But, there will always be more to learn about the Camino.
If you have this underestimated but essential tip for me, I am looking forward to your reply.
Thank you all and Buen Camino!
Frans

 

[Guneyd]

Welkom en alvast veel plezier Frans!

 

[Kirkie]

Hi there pilgrims!
I am a new member and I would like to introduce myself.
My name is Frans van der Hulst and I live in the Netherlands in a town called Leiden.
In May 2025 I hope to walk my first Camino and I am thrilled! I cannot wait!
I am planning to walk the Camino Del Norte and I am planning this trip for over 2 years now.
I have read almost everything there is to read and have seen all videos I could find.
But, there will always be more to learn about the Camino.
If you have this underestimated but essential tip for me, I am looking forward to your reply.
Thank you all and Buen Camino!
Frans

Frans, your enthusiasm is palpable! Keep picking up tips. Pack them all, weightlessly, in your rucksack. Drop them as you go. If you have time, send reports so others can learn from your exprience.

 

[LeaWR]

Hi Frans!
My name is Lea. I am also planning to walk the Camino in 2025! I live in Canberra, Australia. I am currently reading Brierly and working out how to get to Toulouse so I can catch the train to st Jean pied de pont.

 

[LeaWR]

Hi Frans!
My name is Lea. I am also planning to walk the Camino in 2025! I live in Canberra, Australia. I am currently reading Brierly and working out how to get to Toulouse so I can catch the train to st Jean pied de pont.

I should mention that I’m planning on walking the Camino Frances and not the Camino del Norte. I’d like to walk the Camino del Norte but I’m not sure that I know enough people (I’m a solo traveller).

Thank you,

Lea

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

@Frans57 , @LeaWR : welcome to the forum.
Both the Frances and the Norte are very well traveled, there is a wealth of information on here. Your friend is the search function (magnifying glass top right); try limiting your search initially by using the 'search titles only' function. Even then you can be overwhelmed with choice.
If you get stuck don't hesitate to reach out.

Lea many people start walking the Norte as a solo traveler but end up either travelling as part of a group, or at the very least regularly meeting the same people. So don't let that limit you.
That said the Frances is perhaps a little more 'beginner friendly' because of the wealth of infrastructure. It's also cheaper.

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

The "official" camino is much on asphalt and is not so close to the sea. There are many alternative routes that get you closer to the sea and followore natural paths
Check out the thread " coastal alternatives to the nortes asphalt" or similar words. It was posted by Peregrina.
One stage I would recommend for certain is the stage leaving Santander. You just follow the sea, it is beautifull ( the caminoroute seems to be dull much industry and so on, I did not walk it. The alternative route will probably take one more day ( +20km)
(Als je meer wil weten stuur maar een persoonlijk bericht)

 

[Frans57]

Frans, your enthusiasm is palpable! Keep picking up tips. Pack them all, weightlessly, in your rucksack. Drop them as you go. If you have time, send reports so others can learn from your exprience.

Thank you! I will!

 

[Frans57]

The "official" camino is much on asphalt and is not so close to the sea. There are many alternative routes that get you closer to the sea and followore natural paths
Check out the thread " coastal alternatives to the nortes asphalt" or similar words. It was posted by Peregrina.
One stage I would recommend for certain is the stage leaving Santander. You just follow the sea, it is beautifull ( the caminoroute seems to be dull much industry and so on, I did not walk it. The alternative route will probably take one more day ( +20km)
(Als je meer wil weten stuur maar een persoonlijk bericht)

Thank you Antonius!

 

[Frans57]

Thank you Antonius!

That is actually my intention: to follow the coast as much as possible and avoid suburbs and industries if I can.
I am really interested in the alternative paths. Looking forward to hear all about it. (P.S. Hoe stuur ik je een persoonlijk bericht?)

 

[Frans57]

Hi Frans!
My name is Lea. I am also planning to walk the Camino in 2025! I live in Canberra, Australia. I am currently reading Brierly and working out how to get to Toulouse so I can catch the train to st Jean pied de pont.

Hi Lea,
Good to hear that you are also making more or less the same plans for 25.
When do you want to start?
I will fly to Bilbao and will try to carpool to Irun. All the best with your preparations!

 

[trecile]

Check out the thread " coastal alternatives to the nortes asphalt" or similar words. It was posted by Peregrina.

Here's the thread:

Thread 'Coastal alternatives to the Norte's asphalt'

Jul 25, 2017

To explain -- I walked the Norte in 2007 and suffered mightily with all the pavement. In fact, I found my foot in a walking cast for about 4 months afterwards due to the pounding. Tarsal tunnel is what they called it.

I went back to the Norte this year and got a lot of forum help in finding coastal alternatives. For me one of the biggest Norte frustrations was that it is a Camino that is frequently within a few kms of beautiful coastlines but the arrows keep you pounding the pavement on the side of the national highway.

I'm attaching a document that contains descriptions of my...

• peregrina2000
• route variant/side-trip
• Replies: 220
• Camino de Santiago Forum: 🇪🇸 Camino del NORTE (from Irún)

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