Ending in Sarria?

[JustJack]

My plan for my 2025 camino was originally the CP, however I just can't seem to get myself excited about that route, for no good reason. So I've tentatively planned to return to the CF in late May 2025. It's possible that I may not have quite as much time as I'd like to have so my options may be to move relatively quickly and take no rest days, or move much slower and not make it all the way to SDC, ending in Sarria instead.

For context, I walked the CF from SJPDP in 2023 and the VDLP from Seville in 2024. While I enjoyed walking into SDC both times, it's not a huge deal to me. It's a bittersweet feeling, and generally underwhelming. This spring I didn't even pick up my compostela after walking the VDLP. So the idea of not walking all the way to SDC isn't as unthinkable to me as it might be to some others. (although I've never not walked all the way to SCD so I may be underestimating its importance to me...)

Ending in Sarria would allow me to avoid the busyness of the last 100km, which is good. But most of those 100km are also very beautiful, and I hate to miss that.

So it comes down to walking the entire CF more quickly than I'd like, or walking at a slow leisurely pace and ending in Sarria. Obviously the choice is completely personal, but I'm just curious how many others may have ended their camino in Sarria and whether or not it felt really strange and more negative than expected.

 

[Robo]

Switch to the Invierno at Ponferrada?
It's a great route.
With limited time, I would even start further along the Frances, in order to include the Invierno!

Get in quick though as I see the Tour Groups already have a toe hold there!
It's a lovely quiet finish, as you would know from the last day on the VdlP/Sanabres.

 

[CarolamS]

How important is it for you to start in SJPdP? I have started in Logrono which is an easily accessible place. You have a lot of choices. If you like the Pyrenees, perhaps you'd like the Primitivo? If you definitely want the CF and have restricted amount of time I'd suggest missing the start or the end rather than putting yourself under pressure to walk more quickly than you would prefer.

 

[J Willhaus]

I think it is fine if that is what you want. Check Monbus for connections to get you back to a city with a plane or train connection. You probably will end up in Santiago for this even if you don't walk there.

 

[Moniq]

My plan for my 2025 camino was originally the CP, however I just can't seem to get myself excited about that route, for no good reason. So I've tentatively planned to return to the CF in late May 2025. It's possible that I may not have quite as much time as I'd like to have so my options may be to move relatively quickly and take no rest days, or move much slower and not make it all the way to SDC, ending in Sarria instead.

For context, I walked the CF from SJPDP in 2023 and the VDLP from Seville in 2024. While I enjoyed walking into SDC both times, it's not a huge deal to me. It's a bittersweet feeling, and generally underwhelming. This spring I didn't even pick up my compostela after walking the VDLP. So the idea of not walking all the way to SDC isn't as unthinkable to me as it might be to some others. (although I've never not walked all the way to SCD so I may be underestimating its importance to me...)

Ending in Sarria would allow me to avoid the busyness of the last 100km, which is good. But most of those 100km are also very beautiful, and I hate to miss that.

So it comes down to walking the entire CF more quickly than I'd like, or walking at a slow leisurely pace and ending in Sarria. Obviously the choice is completely personal, but I'm just curious how many others may have ended their camino in Sarria and whether or not it felt really strange and more negative than expected.

I am thinking about this too. Not because of time but I didn’t like the crowds after Sardis. Walked the whole CF in 2023, but I do like the rest of the CF. Might want to start a few days earlier on the Podiensis.
Last year I did more or less the same. Started in Leon on the Salvador (really really enjoyed that one, so quiet and beautiful. Went then on the Primitivo to Lugo and then from Bilbao along the coast back to Bayonne. I didn’t mind not walking to SdC. But doing three shorter Caminos felt strange. I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. So reading what I just wrote I might reconsider (one in Sarria).

 

[alexwalker]

Next year I may travel from Sarria and down to Zamora or Ourense and walk the Sanabres. Don't think I'll walk from Sarria anymore.

 

[Moniq]

I am thinking about this too. Not because of time but I didn’t like the crowds after Sardis. Walked the whole CF in 2023, but I do like the rest of the CF. Might want to start a few days earlier on the Podiensis.
Last year I did more or less the same. Started in Leon on the Salvador (really really enjoyed that one, so quiet and beautiful. Went then on the Primitivo to Lugo and then from Bilbao along the coast back to Bayonne. I didn’t mind not walking to SdC. But doing three shorter Caminos felt strange. I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. So reading what I just wrote I might reconsider (one in Sarria).

Btw. The CF is nice! It was my first Camino, so I you ever change your mind ….

 

[AK2112]

I have walked both CF and CP, I can asure you that CP is a lovely route. And you could always stop in Lugo (or Melide), I undestand what you say about the underwhelming feeling of walking into SdC.

 

[Philtration]

If you want to do the Frances all the way, just get off the normal stages. Three years ago, we encountered the conga line starting at Sarria. At Portomarin we taxied ahead 1/2 stage and it was back to meseta level density.

 

[Moniq]

If you want to do the Frances all the way, just get off the normal stages. Three years ago, we encountered the conga line starting at Sarria. At Portomarin we taxied ahead 1/2 stage and it was back to meseta level density.

Do you remember where you spent the nights?

 

[Philtration]

We stayed in Melide, Salceda, and Lavacola. But given the crowds/commercialization starting at Sarria, I would get off-stage earlier and avoid it and Portomarin. I also felt Palas de Rei was pretty busy and commercial on a Camino from Leon last year. Just my opinion.

 

[dougfitz]

I'm just curious how many others may have ended their camino in Sarria

Both times I have walked the CF, I have walked from Sarria. The second time was with my wife, and we walked short stages, including some more commonly used stage boundaries like Portomarin and Melide, but others that broke up those traditional stages in 14-15 km legs. We had the time to do this, which I hadn't allowed myself when I first walked.

As an aside, I recall it took perhaps the day of leaving Sarria and one more on my first CF to realise that the busyness of that first day doesn't last. I was still able to walk in quiet contemplation for much of the day. Of course there were more people walking with whom to exchange greetings, and albergues, etc were more crowded in the evenings, but I never felt that I wanted to avoid walking into Santiago.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Just a quibble. There are all kinds of people doing all kinds of things on the camino trails, but if you are not going to Santiago de Compostela, you're not a pilgrim. Technically speaking. You shouldn't use the dedicated, low-cost pilgrim albergues if you are not on a pilgrimage.

 

[JustJack]

I think it is fine if that is what you want. Check Monbus for connections to get you back to a city with a plane or train connection. You probably will end up in Santiago for this even if you don't walk there.

I haven't checked yet, but I assume there is a train from Sarria to Madrid so I shouldn't need to walk into SDC for that reason. I may well end up walking there just to complete my camino, but if I decide to stop at Sarria I assume I can get to Madrid from there easily.

 

[Tincatinker]

Echoing Reb; a pilgrimage to the shrine of Santiago is a pilgrimage to Santiago. Other wise your venture is just a nice, well supported, hike.

There are a thousand roads to Santiago. If you don’t want to walk a popular one walk another one.

 

[J Willhaus]

I haven't checked yet, but I assume there is a train from Sarria to Madrid so I shouldn't need to walk into SDC for that reason. I may well end up walking there just to complete my camino, but if I decide to stop at Sarria I assume I can get to Madrid from there easily.

The "train" will likely be a bus to Ourense then train to Madrid as those lines are under major works.

 

[JustJack]

The "train" will likely be a bus to Ourense then train to Madrid as those lines are under major works.

Yeah you’re right. Just checked my Trainline app and it doesn’t show a train from Sarria to Madrid. Oh well, that’s just another sign that I should be walking all the way to Santiago.

 

[trecile]

If you want to do the Frances all the way, just get off the normal stages. Three years ago, we encountered the conga line starting at Sarria. At Portomarin we taxied ahead 1/2 stage and it was back to meseta level density.

That's fine if you don't care about getting a Compostela, but the same can be accomplished by not staying in the traditional end of stage towns.