Both arms of Ingles (so from Ferrol AND A Coruna) - any advice on logistics? Thanks

[debbie r]

I would like to do both arms of Ingles (so from Ferrol AND A Coruna) - any advice on logistics? Thanks

 

[Vacajoe]

Me too! There are earlier posts that advise to walk to from one end to the meeting point, then bus up to the start of the other arm and walk down to SdC, but that seems silly - when walking a pilgrimage, I want to WALK the pilgrimage! It looks like you can cut “cross-country” higher up before the two arms merge, but I have not done that yet.

My plan is to walk from SdC to Ferrol, then back down the route using the causeway bridge as a bit of a shortcut, then cross over to the A Coruna route before the merge in order to reach the town.

 

[Elle Bieling]

I cover both of them in my blog on the Camino Inglés. I hope you find my info useful. I did the Coruña arm first, then actually did bus from Mesón do Vento (just west of Bruma on the Camino) back to A Coruña, then onward to Ferrol. This is the way you must travel. It is short, easy and the buses run frequently to A Coruña. There are frequent trains and buses from A Coruña to Ferrol, and the stations are right next to one another, so you will find a schedule to suit your needs. Check my day two on the Coruña Arm for more info.

I would highly recommend a stay in A Coruña, before, after or in-between, as it is a lovely seaside town with lots to see, and I did I say beach??? You will not be disappointed.

I am not sure @Vacajoe which "causeway bridge" you are referring to for your shortcut. The highway across the Ferrol estuary is not recommended as a shortcut, and I could find no access for pedestrians both times I walked it. Also, the arm from A Coruña to Bruma is steep, so be prepared! We were very, very glad we did this in two days, not one.

Have a wonderful trip and Ultreia!
Elle

 

[debbie r]

Whilst I can see what you mean about just walking I am time constrained so if there is a bus I would be interested in that - I’ll read the threads below...
when are you going? Hope you

I cover both of them in my blog on the Camino Inglés. I hope you find my info useful. I did the Coruña arm first, then actually did bus from Mesón do Vento (just west of Bruma on the Camino) back to A Coruña, then onward to Ferrol. This is the way you must travel. It is short, easy and the buses run frequently to A Coruña. There are frequent trains and buses from A Coruña to Ferrol, and the stations are right next to one another, so you will find a schedule to suit your needs. Check my day two on the Coruña Arm for more info.

I would highly recommend a stay in A Coruña, before, after or in-between, as it is a lovely seaside town with lots to see, and I did I say beach??? You will not be disappointed.

I am not sure @Vacajoe which "causeway bridge" you are referring to for your shortcut. The highway across the Ferrol estuary is not recommended as a shortcut, and I could find no access for pedestrians both times I walked it. Also, the arm from A Coruña to Bruma is steep, so be prepared! We were very, very glad we did this in two days, not one.

Have a wonderful trip and Ultreia!
Elle

 

[debbie r]

Dear Ellie - your blog is AMAZING- Thankyou. I will be traveling alone so wonderful to have such detailed info - will buy PDF nearer the time. Will also try to spend a day at A Coruna - depends a bit on hubby who is doing Frances which he had to abandon last year. Thanks again. Buen Camino on any future walks x

 

[ciccioformaccio]

The only (and quite important) is relative to the shoes. I would highly recommend to use road running shoes, no boots, no trail running. Go for light shoes.

 

[Vacajoe]

Any way you do it (bus, walk, etc), make it your own and enjoy your journey! . I’m reverse-walking out of SdC on Easter Sunday.

 

[debbie r]

Any way you do it (bus, walk, etc), make it your own and enjoy your journey! . I’m reverse-walking out of SdC on Easter Sunday.

I will! - buen Camino! I will be starting roughly when you finish - have a great time.

 

[Vacajoe]

The “causeway” I was referring to is Ponte Das Pías - is it no longer open to pedestrians? At one time it had walkways on each side separated from the vehicular traffic.

 

[Tincatinker]

Still open, not recommended unless you are a city dweller and feel the need for a regular dose of CO & particulates.

 

[gypsy9]

Vacajoe, does this "reverse" route have waymarkers out of SDC?
I could well be wrong and assume nay in terms of scallops or signage ...
so wondering what your strategy may be?

 

[Vacajoe]

I reverse-walked the Aragon Valley route last year and it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, despite the fact that that route is poorly waymarked the “regular” way to SdC.

Not having walked the CI, I’m assuming my strategies will work again there: paying attention to what path is well-trodden, looking for pilgrims walking towards me, and utilizing a good mapping app like maps.me or the Buen Camino app.

 

[Pilgrim9]

I would like to do both arms of Ingles (so from Ferrol AND A Coruna) - any advice on logistics? Thanks

I took the train from Santiago to Ferrol about two years ago. It stopped in A Coruña and then the same train back-tracked a bit and went around the bay to Ferrol. The train ride itself went through some low mountains and was scenic and interesting. I think there were some station stops between A Coruña and Ferrol, but my memory on that is fuzzy and you would have to check the timetable.

Perhaps you could walk south from your first starting point to some station near where the train curves north again and catch a train to your other starting point.

 

[Tincatinker]

I've been mulling (thinking things over). Long time back in my home harbour there were two ships Captains licensed, at a fee, to take Pilgrims to Spain to make pilgrimage to Santiago. Most of those Pilgrims needed permission from Church or State & sometimes both. Some would have to pay a bond on security of their return from Spain. Captains would often employ guides, or 'heavies' as we'd more likely describe 'em, to ensure that the ship returned to port with the same number of pilgrims it set out with. Penalties for a shortfall could be fierce.

But that's an aside. I've been mulling the Camino Ingles with the thought that true journey is return. So I could make my way to A Coruna and walk to Santiago, make my offices and walk back to A Coruna. OK, so my ship might likely depart from Gatwick rather than home but Gatwick is walkable. In those sailing ship days it might have been A Coruna or Ferrol I'd made landfall, much would have depended on wind and tide, but Santiago would have been where it always is. These days its a doddle to walk from either port, to walk to either port or, to grab train, bus or taxi betwixt and between.

Good luck with your choices.

 

[Walking Lover]

I would like to do both arms of Ingles (so from Ferrol AND A Coruna) - any advice on logistics? Thanks

There are buses many times in a day from SdC to Ferrol.

 

[miguel_gp]

Hi Debbie,

I think I would probably do it this way to make most of limited time and avoid retracing any part of the route.

If arriving initially in Santiago or A Coruna

• Santiago by bus to Ferrol or train/bus from A Coruna to Ferrol
• Walk from Ferrol to Bruma/Meson Do Vento
• Bus from Meson do Vento to A Coruna (pre-Covid there were regular buses during the day)
• Walk back along the Coruna leg to Bruma/Meson Do Vento (the two routes meet just before that point at As Travesas)
• Walk the remaining stages shared by both routes into Santiago

Whatever combination you choose and, when it is possible to walk the Camino again, I wish you a Buen Camino.

For info, here is a link to a route and accommodation Google map

Camino Ingles Route and Accommodation @ Feb 2020 - Google My Maps

The map shows the Camino Ingles route from both A Coruna and Ferrol, together with some of the accommodation on or close to the route. Some of the old route variations have been shown where it is known that these are still requested by Pilgrims but these are not necessarily still way-marked now...

drive.google.com

 

[debbie r]

Hi Debbie,

I think I would probably do it this way to make most of limited time and avoid retracing any part of the route.

If arriving initially in Santiago or A Coruna

• Santiago by bus to Ferrol or train/bus from A Coruna to Ferrol
• Walk from Ferrol to Bruma/Meson Do Vento
• Bus from Meson do Vento to A Coruna (pre-Covid there were regular buses during the day)
• Walk back along the Coruna leg to Bruma/Meson Do Vento (the two routes meet just before that point at As Travesas)
• Walk the remaining stages shared by both routes into Santiago

Whatever combination you choose and, when it is possible to walk the Camino again, I wish you a Buen Camino.

For info, here is a link to a route and accommodation Google map

Camino Ingles Route and Accommodation @ Feb 2020 - Google My Maps

The map shows the Camino Ingles route from both A Coruna and Ferrol, together with some of the accommodation on or close to the route. Some of the old route variations have been shown where it is known that these are still requested by Pilgrims but these are not necessarily still way-marked now...

drive.google.com

Many thanks!

 

[debbie r]

Many thanks!

Will save this for when the time comes! Keep safe.