Anyone get the “A Coruña” Compostela

[jdriver]

Hi all!

Planning on my second Camino (July 2019) this time with my thirteen year old son and a college friend. While I am excited to share this experience with them, we are also trying to fit other places in as this will be my friend’s first trip to Europe and we have a limited amount of time (this will be my son’s third trip to Europe with me, but first time in Spain, so an interesting comparison of experiences there!)

In any case, as we are flying in to Dublin before starting the Ingles, we have talked about starting out of A Coruña to Santiago, as this might save us a day for other adventures and would allow us to see that town before we left. We are from the US, and I’m trying to make sure we have the proper sellos for our 25km prior to leaving A Coruña...So, my questions are:

1) I’ve read Jonnie’s guide but is three to four days reasonable for this part and,

B) has anyone outside of Europe received the Compostela after walking from A Coruña and if so, what did you use for evidence of the pre-A Coruña 25km?

Admittedly we are not doing this solely for the Compestela, but it is a nice reminder of the accomplishment later and I want that for my son. Here in Florida there are sadly few cathedrals and I can get Post Office or National Park stamps galore but they will not speak to distance walked. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[mylifeonvacation]

There was actually a guy on Facebook from the US who just got a Compostela last month by walking from A Coruña and documenting the additional 25k at home. I don't know if he's on this group too, but he said "Our "sellos" were a couple of bars on the US bike trail hand-writing we were there into our credentials we had obtained already and a formal letter from a Catholic shrine that we were there.". (He's from Missouri, so I assume he's talking about the Katy Trail bike path.) I asked if he did anything to document the distance. He said he had that info on an app, but they didn't ask for it at the Pilgrim's office in Santiago.

I would probably do 4 days rather than 3 (A Coruña to Bruma is doable, but whew, that's a long hilly day!). But many people do it in 3.

A Coruña - Sergude albergue
Sergude - Hospital de Bruma albergue (if full, there are hotels in nearby Meson do Vento)
Hospital de Bruma - Sigüeiro (book ahead at one of the private albergues, especially in July, which is busy!)
Sigüeiro- Santiago

Sounds like you guys will have a wonderful trip! A Coruña is a great town to explore beforehand! Buen Camino!

 

[Theatregal]

Hi @jdriver
Since you are going to Dublin first, do you have time in your schedule to walk the 25km there? See this thread for further info:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/celtic-camino-2018.51953/#post-571718

Buen Camino!

 

[jdriver]

Hi @jdriver
Since you are going to Dublin first, do you have time in your schedule to walk the 25km there? See this thread for further info:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/celtic-camino-2018.51953/#post-571718

Buen Camino!

I saw that and we were interested but we won’t have time this visit. As is with the Camino and any travel, this isn’t “the” trip, just the trip before the next one - but my friend is not as able to travel as I am so there are things he wants to see....

Also we are wanting to working in a short (day or two) visit to Morocco as none of us have been there, and I am desperate for my son to see different cultures, peoples, and lifestyles so that he has a better appreciation of a world beyond what he sees here in the US or hears about by those who haven’t traveled but have opinions.

 

[jdriver]

There was actually a guy on Facebook from the US who just got a Compostela last month by walking from A Coruña and documenting the additional 25k at home. I don't know if he's on this group too, but he said "Our "sellos" were a couple of bars on the US bike trail hand-writing we were there into our credentials we had obtained already and a formal letter from a Catholic shrine that we were there.". (He's from Missouri, so I assume he's talking about the Katy Trail bike path.) I asked if he did anything to document the distance. He said he had that info on an app, but they didn't ask for it at the Pilgrim's office in Santiago.

I would probably do 4 days rather than 3 (A Coruña to Bruma is doable, but whew, that's a long hilly day!). But many people do it in 3.

A Coruña - Sergude albergue
Sergude - Hospital de Bruma albergue (if full, there are hotels in nearby Meson do Vento)
Hospital de Bruma - Sigüeiro (book ahead at one of the private albergues, especially in July, which is busy!)
Sigüeiro- Santiago

Sounds like you guys will have a wonderful trip! A Coruña is a great town to explore beforehand! Buen Camino!

Thanks for the info! I’m going to look at some church options around here and see what I can come up with.

Yeah, when I walked the Ingles back in 2014(?) out of Ferrol, Bruma was a hike! Four days sounds perfect I think, and then a day or two in Santiago for the Feast of St James before we continue our travels.

 

[mylifeonvacation]

@jdriver Sounds like a lovely plan! The week leading up to the Apostol festivities is a very busy one on the camino, so you would be well advised to book a place in Santiago in advance also. Buen Camino!

 

[VNwalking]

I just did this earlier this month.

is three to four days reasonable for this part

Easily, I would think, depending on your condition. I started the first day in the early afternoon, having taken a morning train from Santiago and walking in the city a little, and having lunch.
Four days was comfortable, three would be quite do-able, but with at least one longer day.

has anyone outside of Europe received the Compostela after walking from A Coruña and if so, what did you use for evidence of the pre-A Coruña 25km?

Yes, but I walked the 'Celtic Camino,' taking as the outside kms a pilgrimage path in Ireland. If you can manage this, do consider it - a long layover could work. There is information here. Alternatively other routes are possible, as this thread indicates.
I just got stamps or even handwritten/signed and dated acknowledgement in my credencial - start and end is important. With that, there was no question at the Pilgrim's Office.

 

[peb]

Would vouch for what @mylifeonvacation says about breaking the A Coruna stage up into two.

The walk out of A Coruna is an uphill slog, as you are going from sea level, and for the most part the suburbs of A Coruna are not picturesque. It is 32km or so from A Coruna to Hospital de Bruma and with it being all uphill, you would need to be fit and trained to do that.