Santiago - Lisbon (part of the way)

Hello Footloose
Did you get any more information from elsewhere to answer your question? Karen and I are hoping to walk the whole route from Santiago to Lisbon October 2013. I am guessing that the way marking will not be suitable for going in that direction for example, and I don't know whether albergues would accept us because we would be going in the wrong direction. We have a good reason for going in this direction, but still...
Have you found anything else out? If so, could you share?!
Emma

footloose said:

Hi
I am arriving into Santiago at the end of May and would like to walk some of the camino portugues from there (i know, it's in the wrong direction so to speak). I walked the camino frances on 06 and loved it but I my heels get sore after a couple of hours these days and i'm concerned about the distances between stages.
I'm only banking on being able for about 12/15k a day and don't want to get stuck without somewhere to stop and stay. I'm happy to take the train and start further down if there are more suitable stages.

I'd appreciate any advice. Many thanks.

Linda

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emma and karen said:

Hello Footloose
Did you get any more information from elsewhere to answer your question? Karen and I are hoping to walk the whole route from Santiago to Lisbon October 2013. I am guessing that the way marking will not be suitable for going in that direction for example, and I don't know whether albergues would accept us because we would be going in the wrong direction. We have a good reason for going in this direction, but still...
Have you found anything else out? If so, could you share?!
Emma

Click to expand...

Hello Linda, Emma and Karen,

Last December after finishing the Camino Frances I continued to Finisterre, per usual, and then walked to the Portuguese border at Tui. This involved going " backward " along the Camino Portuguese from Santiago. To go backward is more complicated than you might think; since this path is hardly well marked, searching for the famous yellow arrows pointing opposite my direction wasn't easy. Viewed backwards the arrows resembled anchors. Thus it all was a bit of a treasure hunt!

However there is no problem with acceptance in the albergues as long as you have Credential.

For more information on the Camino Portuguese you might check out the latest edition of The Camino Portugués by John Walker who is a well known Forum member. This guide published by the CSJ is now available on-line. Click on the tab beneath the map printed above to download it in return for a donation. It describes the 245 km route from Oporto to Santiago, with sketch maps and accommodation details.

For the sections of the route within Spain see these links --http://www.mundicamino.com/rutas.cfm?id=43 and http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es./los-caminos-de-santiago/portugues/.

For the sections Portugal see these links in Portuguese --http://www.caminoportugues2010.blogspot.fr/ and http://www.vialusitana.org/

Remember to read all this information in reverse since you are beginning in Santiago!

Happy planning and Buen Camino,

Margaret

mspath said:

Last December after finishing the Camino Frances I continued to Finisterre, per usual, and then walked to the Portuguese border at Tui. This involved going " backward " along the Camino Portuguese from Santiago. To go backward is more complicated than you might think; since this path is hardly well marked, searching for the famous yellow arrows pointing opposite my direction wasn't easy.

For more information on the Camino Portuguese you might check out the latest edition of The Camino Portugués by John Walker who is a well known Forum member. This guide published by the CSJ is now available on-line. Click on the tab beneath the map printed above to download it in return for a donation. It describes the 245 km route from Oporto to Santiago, with sketch maps and accommodation details. Margaret

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Hola - If you use this guide please also make sure you download the updates. I am overdue writing a new edition. I was hoping someone might volunteer to take it on!

Also if you wish to walk 12/15 kms a day you will have to plan very carefully and I don't think it will be all that easy on this route. However on the other hand there are good train links between Santiago, Padron, Pontevedra and Redondela. There are also local buses but take care they can be few and far between.

I recently walked from Santiago to Padron with Ivar and another friend using the guide in reverse. I discovered I am now so used to the yellow arrows I got every one lost but only for about 1km before their sense of direction over ruled my arrow searching. I'd advise you to take a map if you can.

Best wishes

John