Neda or Pontdeume?

[SilverPink]

So I’m starting the íngles from Ferrol today, and I know that the most common stage split is Pontdeume/Betanzos/Hospital de Bruma. However I was looking at Stingy Nomad’s stage split and they’ve done Neda/Miño/Presedo. The reason they’ve done this is because they were getting into Ferrol later in the day and so it was best to walk 15km to Neda instead of 29 to Pontdeume.
I want to be sociable and actually see people and so ideally I’d do the more popular Pontdeume split, but I’m only getting into Ferrol at noon-ish. Which means I’d be getting to Pontdeume quite late- planning to stay in public alberges so worried there won’t be any beds left! Thoughts?

 

[J Willhaus]

Mwybe slow down and stay in Farrol? You can chose where you want to land the next day?

 

[OzAnnie]

I would savour the time. If you’re not pressured for time ., stop at Neda.
It’s such a ‘curly’ exit from Ferrol .. it still seems you can see Ferrol for a long time.
Nothing to stop you stopping in Pontedeume too. Btw you don’t have to follow any ‘standard ‘ stages. Let it flow.
Decide when you get to Neda

Buen camino

 

[SilverPink]

Mwybe slow down and stay in Farrol? You can chose where you want to land the next day?

A good suggestion but I’ve already booked my flight home so will have to walk some amount today to get to Santiago on time! Does anyone know if the municipal albergue in Pontdeume often fills up quickly?

 

[SilverPink]

I would savour the time. If you’re not pressured for time ., stop at Neda.
It’s such a ‘curly’ exit from Ferrol .. it still seems you can see Ferrol for a long time.
Nothing to stop you stopping in Pontedeume too. Btw you don’t have to follow any ‘standard ‘ stages. Let it flow.
Decide when you get to Neda

Buen camino

Thank you for the advice!

 

[Corned Beef]

Are you going around the bay through Xuvia? At the Monastery of San Martiño there is a rail bridge with a walkway where you can cross to Neda and save a few miles. It's been talked about before on the site such as this one. Have a search

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/ferrol-to-neda-pedestrian-walkway-alongside-the-train-track-causeway.61129/

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

A good suggestion but I’ve already booked my flight home so will have to walk some amount today to get to Santiago on time! Does anyone know if the municipal albergue in Pontdeume often fills up quickly?

If there's a lot of people on the trail at the moment, yes. @Wolfinho is a couple of days ahead of you and posted two days ago that he was struggling to find a bed, but he didn't wait to see if he'd have room in the Albergue or not. Apparently they're not opening until 16.30.
You'll enjoy the walk a heck of a lot more if you don't have to stress! Take it easy today, it's a pleasant stroll to Neda and a lovely little Albergue.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Incidentally, strongly recommend that you book the private Albergue in Bruma (tonight!) should you plan to include that in your stages. Either that, or plan on an early start that day.Personally I'd try and go ' Off stage ', much easier for you to do if you stay in Neda tonight.
I love the Inglès, Buen Camino!

 

[SilverPink]

Are you going around the bay through Xuvia? At the Monastery of San Martiño there is a rail bridge with a walkway where you can cross to Neda and save a few miles. It's been talked about before on the site such as this one. Have a search

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/ferrol-to-neda-pedestrian-walkway-alongside-the-train-track-causeway.61129/

Was just looking at this! Thanks!

 

[SilverPink]

Incidentally, strongly recommend that you book the private Albergue in Bruma (tonight!) should you plan to include that in your stages. Either that, or plan on an early start that day.Personally I'd try and go ' Off stage ', much easier for you to do if you stay in Neda tonight.
I love the Inglès, Buen Camino!

Thank you for your advice! I’m leaning towards Neda too was just worried about some things said on other threads about that Albergue possibly being uncomfortable for a solo female traveller

 

[JohnLloyd]

If the albergue at Neda isn't to your taste, try Hotel Kensington.

When I walked the English Way last April, the albergue was still shuttered, so I had to walk backwards to get a room there!

Back and Forth

After a day of happily mooching around A Coruña, here I was at the Estacion de Autobuses wondering how to buy my bus ticket to Ferrol, where the Camino Inglés has its official starting point. Natur…

johnelsewhere.blog

 

[natefaith]

Neda is a super cute town by a tidal river. I stayed there overnight (16 km the first day is a nice way to get into the trek I think) and then the next morning leisurely walked out of town on the boardwalk. I’d recommend stopping there if you can. I booked ahead at Pensión Maragato and also ate lunch there.

 

[JohnLloyd]

Neda is a super cute town by a tidal river. I stayed there overnight (16 km the first day is a nice way to get into the trek I think) and then the next morning leisurely walked out of town on the boardwalk. I’d recommend stopping there if you can. I booked ahead at Pensión Maragato and also ate lunch there.

That was closed when I walked too!

 

[natefaith]

Aww bummer! The proprietors there are so nice, and the food was really good, just what was needed after the first day of walking.

 

[jcat]

Was just looking at this! Thanks!

The bridge shortcut sounds like the perfect option for you. Shortens your first day after a late start, but still gives you 100+ KM to Santiago.

 

[Rachel from Seattle]

I walked this route a few weeks ago. In order to make it in five days and make the stages reasonable for me I cut off the 4-5 KM by crossing the pedestrian/bike path by the train bridge just before the monestery. I heard from several people that the first stage to Neda was “too short “. I was still able to receive a compostela for walking more than 100 KM. Pontedeume is very nice. You’ll meet lots of pilgrims there. Buen Camino

 

[jimmyc]

I walked this Camino in June. Because of my advanced age I tried to keep the legs to 20klm each day. I therefore stayed the first night in Neda then Pontedeume, Bezantos, Presedo, O Outeiro, Segueiro and santiago.
There are some steep climbs so I would not recommend long legs unless you are a very fit person.

 

[David with new Kit!]

We arrived late on Monday night and opted to split the Pontedeume stage by stopping at Neda. We are glad we did as we did not fancy a long first day after a late arrival.

 

[David with new Kit!]

Aww bummer! The proprietors there are so nice, and the food was really good, just what was needed after the first day of walking.

It's open!
The kitchen was closed on Tuesday, but the Pension and bar are open. They also served breakfast on Wednesday morning

 

[jimmyc]

I stayed at the Pension Maragato in June. My son and grandchildren stayed in the albergue.