Fantastic Guidebook

[Magnara]

I'm sure this will provoke many opinions! But I would like to put an enthusiastic recomendation for the guidebook we used, after looking at several others people were using along the way. John Brierley "A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago Camino Frances". ISBN1-84409-069-8.

I think it also comes in languages other than English. We found it amazingly useful. detailed, comprehensive and interesting and with excellent little maps. Most of all, accurate (except for some information about which albergues are open in winter). It was an exceptional companion for us.

 

[santos]

i found this book today at CAA (canadian autobile...) called le chemin de st-jacque it comes in a plastic case and has 3 maps whit all the Gité on route and the book it else give you all the info you need i mean STEEP BY STEEP all you see around you walking!it tell you what it is for each STEEP you take it about 500pages wit all 31+ days. BUT the price is alot they want 60$canadian for it :?

 

[Endless9]

John Brierley "A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago Camino Frances". ISBN1-84409-069-8.

Magnara! Thank-you this is exactly what I was looking for...

When did you do the trail? Where to - from?

Thanks
Colette

 

[WolverineDG]

I second the Brierley guide. It's got its own place in my pack, along with the current CSJ guide & a print-out of albergues from http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk/index.html .

Buen Camino!

dg :arrow:

 

[Magnara]

Hello Endless9
We did the camino in December and January this year, starting from SJPdP and ending in Santiago (although we drove to Finisterre to put shells on the beach there).
Magnara

 

[Minkey]

Oh! Is this the one with the plasticky pull out maps?

 

[William Marques]

The Brierley guide great though it is and with maps in the book is not the one with the pull out maps, there are two of this kind:

BRAVO LOZANO, Millan. A practical guide for pilgrims: the road to Santiago. - León: Editorial Everest SA, . - 261 pp. with maps in a separate waterproof pocket. [Regarded as the best of the heavyweight (literally) guide for walkers]

ANGUITA JAEN, Jose Maria. Pilgrim's guide, the road to Santiago - Leon: Editorial Everest SA, - 360 pp. with maps in a separate waterproof pocket includes Finisterre and Padron. [Sometimes issued free by Spanish Tourist Offices]

I would always take the CSJ guide myself which does not have much route detail and no maps but is always as up to date as possible.

 

[spursfan]

Very easy to convert the Brierley maps by just pulling out the pages with height diagrams, outline maps and detailed town plans - say 80 pages in all

 

[Anonymous]

I've been using the (Spanish language) Guias de "El Pais/Aguilar," "Anton Pombo's," and the one published by the Xunta re: the Camino to Fisterra. So far so good. In my experience there are no perfect guidebooks, they all compliment one other. Add in hospitaleros for info + people we meet along the roads, townfolk & fellow-pilgrims.

Buen Camino :arrow:

xm 8)

 

[sillydoll]

Guide Books

I photocopied the relevant pages of the Brieley guide and chucked them as we went along.

I found a small error in his latest guide and sent him an email to tell him. He has asked for any info on any other anomalies in the guide so if you find any, let him know.

What mistake?
Page 61 Map 02 Roncesvalles to Zubiri 27,7km - should be Roncesvalles to Larrasoana.

 

[klarita]

Guide

BRAVO LOZANO, Millan. A practical guide for pilgrims: the road to Santiago. - León: Editorial Everest SA, . - 261 pp. with maps in a separate waterproof pocket. [Regarded as the best of the heavyweight (literally) guide for walkers]

ANGUITA JAEN, Jose Maria. Pilgrim's guide, the road to Santiago - Leon: Editorial Everest SA, - 360 pp. with maps in a separate waterproof pocket includes Finisterre and Padron. [Sometimes issued free by Spanish Tourist Offices]

I am desperately seeking one of these two books (the second is actually an update of the first, if I understand correctly?). I know they can be ordered from Everest, but the shipping (to Czech Rep.) costs more than the book (almost twice as much)... Has anybody used this guide? My parents had it on their camino and said it was fantastic, unfortunately their friends lost it, otherwise I would be using that. Is it very heavy? We might want to take it along (on bike). Thanks!

 

[William Marques]

I know it is a risk but I have seen these guides and the El Pais one at bookshops in the larger towns on the route.

 

[Ann Davidson]

Have you tried amazon.com? That's where I got John Brierley's guide to the Camino Portugues. Looks really good - the real test will be later this year when I get to Porto.

Ann.

 

[klarita]

book

Yes. They don't have the newer edition, and the older one is currently unavailable. i assume i might be able to get it in Spain upon arrival, but i would prefer to have it in advance. i want to take the maps for sure, but as the book is apparently quite heavy, I might just want to study up a bit and then leave it at home, just taking some notes. I have tried to arrange with a friend to have it sent over from spain. The publisher ships to CR, but it's ridiculously expensive (like 35 EUR)... so I am trying to get a friend to buy it in spain and send it via regular post (for about 10 EUR max.). But thanks for the tips.

 

[Anonymous]

The "El Pais/Aguilar" guide book is easy to buy in Spanish bookstores, as r some others, Madrid's Casa del libro is one of them. This year am using "Anton Pombo's" guide. To me, an investment in an agreeable guide book, is essential. Also, it does make a nice remembrance of the experience. Best, xm 8)

 

[KiwiNomad06]

John Brierley Book

I got the latest edition of the John Brierley guide by ordering it through my local bookshop about a month ago. The info looks interesting about the walk, and with 'older' eyes, I think the maps of each stage are magnificent. (But I must admit, I find some of his spiritual ponderings a bit annoying, but maybe that's me...)

 

[KiwiNomad06]

I second the Brierley guide. It's got its own place in my pack, along with the current CSJ guide & a print-out of albergues from http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk/index.html .

:

Thanks for that link. It looks like a very interesting website to explore.

 

[Anonymous]

I've gone through both of them, dg, and they look excellent. Suggestion: bring down guide books, to one, for weight's sake, and more. Nix, list of albergues. Most of them r included in guide books (look out to see that they've been updated, u want one that came out this year :!: :!: ), u'll hear about the new ones through ur Caminos. Best, xm 8)

 

[Minkey]

I've two copies of the El Pais guide and the second seems considerably more comprehensive. It's a handy guide to have as it shows refuges, approximate distances between towns, that kinda thing...

 

[Anonymous]

Is there an "El Pais/Aguilar" edition, updated, for this year, out (yet)? Best, xm 8)

 

[Minkey]

Dunno... I got an older in Castrojeriz that was a bit more comprehensive than my previous edition.

However, having read about the Brierley version on these here forums, I'd say maybe go for that.

Not entirely sure how much I'd need another guide though...

 

[Anonymous]

I buy a guide book every time I walk, a yearly event for some time now. I find that with all the new albergues popping up, and changes in Camino routes, among other things, it helps quite a lot. They make great souvenirs, btw. Best, xm

 

[Minkey]

I hear ya. Although there were still many albergues not listed, such as the newish ones in Atapuerca, in my latest one... can't remember when it was published though.

To be honest, I have had very little negative feelings towards the albergues in which I've stayed... So I'm happy to stay in em again (assuming they're still there of course!!!) Ok, they might be handy, then.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think there's a perfect guide, too many factors come up all the time. I think a combo of a guide one feels comfortable with (bottom line), + info gathered on the Roads from fellow-pilgrims, hospitaleros, town folk, etc., does the trick. Best, xm 8)

 

[Anonymous]

John Brierley "A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago Camino Frances".

It's excellent, though I haven't seen it in Spanish.

Best, xm 8)

 

[vinotinto]

Yep, I heartily endorse Brierley's book. It was the only one I used during my July-Aug 2007 Camino trek from St. Jean to Santiago. I also brought the Conf. of St. James one, but I gave it away in Roncesvalles. I kept Brierley's in my front pocket for easy access, protected by a plastic bag, and it was indispensable to me.

Of course, like any guidebook it has obsolete or incomplete info (such as listings for old albergues that had closed, or new ones that had opened after the book had gone to print). But the maps were great for planning my daily distance, the packing list and English/Spanish phrases were helpful, and even his somewhat weepy spiritual musings were intriguing.

A cool bonus is the large number of color pictures - it's almost like having a supplementary photo album. He even includes lined pages to write your own reflections (since I had my own journal, I used them for stamps that I didn't want to put in my main credencial). Indeed, his book is a Camino souvenir on its own. Definitely recommended!

 

[MermaidLilli]

My son last year walked with a group of young people that met and gathered as they walked, and one of them was John Brierley's daughter. Salvador told me she took notes as they walked and another one of the group will have his pics published in it. They have all stayed in touch so I wrote to her (love Facebook) and told her :

"...this is Sal's mom. On my camino forum people were saying they are having a hard time obtaining your dad's guides. Maybe you could pass this along to him? Or if you have a message I can pass on to the forum re: where are those books, anyway.... let me know.
Love your phonebooth picture, gypsy."

And she wrote:

"Haya.
Dad has just finished the latest rewrite of the book which is being printed now so will be on the shelves soon. The last version pretty much sold out already even though only printed last year so that will be why they are harder to get hold of now. New and improved print should be on shelves soon, although you can let people know it now has a new cover, although same name etc.
Hope everything is going well with you back in the states. All the best. xx"

Hope this helps.
Although soon can mean anything.
Lillian

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I really like the Jose M. Anguita guide, (Editorial Everest) with the blue cover. I´ve sent my battered old copy along with three beloved young pilgrims, and none of them ever got lost. It´s thick and a bit biggish but obviously not too heavy, else it wouldn´t have made it back to me all those times. Brierly is great, but a bit loopy for my taste.

It is listed on http://www.everest.es , phone 902 123 400 . I got my copy for free at the Tourist Office of Spain in New York City. (Or maybe Chicago.)

Reb