Starting from the UK

[Hansel]

This thread may have been covered before,
Looking at starring from home,Ayrshire in Scotland,not walking,there would be way too much road walking involved.
But cycling to Santiago,would I be able to find anywhere in the UK to stamp a compostella?
Thanks Bill

 

[NorthernLight]

It doesn’t have to be a special stamp. Lot’s of businesses have some sort. The Royal Mail’s local offices would suffice.

 

[wayfarer]

Your local church should be able to stamp it for you.
Buen Camino.

 

[Hansel]

It doesn’t have to be a special stamp. Lot’s of businesses have some sort. The Royal Mail’s local offices would suffice.

Thanks

 

[Hansel]

Your local church should be able to stamp it for you.
Buen Camino.

Gracias ,Bill

 

[Jeff Crawley]

If you're passing through Canterbury then the cathedral has this one:



Copied from a floor tile in an nearby leper hospital/church.

I collected some good ones on my way from Canterbury to Dover - most parish churches have a stamp - and then lost my passports (UK and Camino) on the way home

And it's the Credential you get stamped - you don't get the Compostela until Santiago!

 

[Bradypus]

If you're passing through Canterbury then the cathedral has this one:

There have been a few days when my back is playing up when I have walked just like that myself...

 

[SYates]

This thread may have been covered before,
Looking at starring from home,Ayrshire in Scotland,not walking,there would be way too much road walking involved.
But cycling to Santiago,would I be able to find anywhere in the UK to stamp a compostella?
Thanks Bill

I wouldn't be so sure about the road walking, there are a lot of splendid walking trails in Scotland and England available! Stamps are available pretty much anywhere, for example, try the post offices (no joke!).
BC SY

PS The Compostela is what you get at the end, in Santiago, the pilgrim's passport is called a credential in Spanish - Hair splitting German here, sorry ...

 

[Mary Doll]

Possibly council offices, registry office, tourist offices.

 

[Former member 49149]

Possibly council offices, registry office, tourist offices.

The police, museums, libraries, solicitors... old fashioned shops, and pubs. I tried a few places en route from Bray to Dublin and it was quite funny to see the reaction from some people, it may have been the last century when the stamp was last used!

 

[mmmmartin]

If push comes to shove you could take a picture of yourself by a village sign to show you were there. The pilgrim office staff last October accepted a photo of a couple by the Sarria town sign as proof that they were there, and that Sarria was where they had started from. They also had the necessary two stamps for each day during the final 100k in the credentias so they were awarded the compostela.

 

[nedspencer]

Might be an idea to contact your local group - see www.csj.org.uk

 

[jl]

When I walked in the UK (apart from Canterbury to Dover) stamps were few and far between. Even in Southwark Cathedral I had to chase up a number of people in order to get a stamp. Further North from London I found them even harder to obtain. I got some very strange looks from people at times. Granted, that was 5 years or more ago now so things may have changed. I did get a sticker from the Rochester Cathedral - one they give the children, the priest used lateral thinking for that one!

 

[Hansel]

Thanks for all replies,glad I'm not setting off today,yes I realised I had credential mixed up with compostella, too much practice with the vino tinto,

 

[Hansel]

Possibly council offices, registry office, tourist offices.

Thanks Mary how are you getting on with planning your Camino?

 

[Mary Doll]

Thanks Mary how are you getting on with planning your Camino?

Hi Bill
17 weeks till I start walking on 7 June. I’ve booked my first few nights as far as Zubiri and will take each day as it comes after that and stop wherever I feel like it. I retire from work in 11 weeks so nothing to rush home for. I plan to do Finisterre/Muxia circuit if I’m not sick of walking by the time I get to Santiago and then have a couple of weeks travelling. At the gym Monday to Saturday and doing mixture of weights, cardio and core work. Walking once or twice a week at the moment. Will get easier when the weather gets better and the nights get lighter.
When are you planning to start your cycle?
Marie

 

[Mycroft]

Hi Bill
17 weeks till I start walking on 7 June. I’ve booked my first few nights as far as Zubiri and will take each day as it comes after that and stop wherever I feel like it. I retire from work in 11 weeks so nothing to rush home for. I plan to do Finisterre/Muxia circuit if I’m not sick of walking by the time I get to Santiago and then have a couple of weeks travelling. At the gym Monday to Saturday and doing mixture of weights, cardio and core work. Walking once or twice a week at the moment. Will get easier when the weather gets better and the nights get lighter.
When are you planning to start your cycle?
Marie

I am excited for you, Mary, on both counts--retiring and pilgrimaging, all in a matter of weeks!

 

[Hansel]

Hi Bill
17 weeks till I start walking on 7 June. I’ve booked my first few nights as far as Zubiri and will take each day as it comes after that and stop wherever I feel like it. I retire from work in 11 weeks so nothing to rush home for. I plan to do Finisterre/Muxia circuit if I’m not sick of walking by the time I get to Santiago and then have a couple of weeks travelling. At the gym Monday to Saturday and doing mixture of weights, cardio and core work. Walking once or twice a week at the moment. Will get easier when the weather gets better and the nights get lighter.
When are you planning to start your cycle?
Marie

Hi Marie, all sounds good,I am hoping to leave at the beginning of April,weather dependant,and cycle to Santiago,then down to Fatima,and start volunteering at a small family organic farm near Lisbon.
I have written it here,so it's happening!
I also have Ryanair tickets for Porto in June,which was my original plan,and finish the Portuguese cahmino, but yolo,
Bill

 

[Mary Doll]

Hi Marie, all sounds good,I am hoping to leave at the beginning of April,weather dependant,and cycle to Santiago,then down to Fatima,and start volunteering at a small family organic farm near Lisbon.
I have written it here,so it's happening!
I also have Ryanair tickets for Porto in June,which was my original plan,and finish the Portuguese cahmino, but yolo,
Bill

Sounds like you’ve really got the Camino bug. You may as well enjoy life while you can who knows what the future holds. That’s why I decided to take early retirement while I’m still in good health. The farm work sounds interesting and another opportunity for new experiences. Enjoy!

 

[notion900]

If you're passing through Canterbury then the cathedral has this one:

I received a warm welcome (and free admission) to the pilgrim albergue museum in Canterbury

Visit the Eastbridge Canterbury, A Place of Hospitality Since 1180

Situated in the centre of the City of Canterbury and composed of the Eastbridge Hospital, Greyfriars Chapel and The Franciscan Gardens. Visitors welcome.

www.eastbridgehospital.org.uk

I didn't have a credential with me but I am sure they will have a stamp.
It was quite funny going into the medieval building as it seemed a very normal albergue to me. I was thinking, where are the bunks?

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I received a warm welcome (and free admission) to the pilgrim albergue museum in Canterbury

Visit the Eastbridge Canterbury, A Place of Hospitality Since 1180

Situated in the centre of the City of Canterbury and composed of the Eastbridge Hospital, Greyfriars Chapel and The Franciscan Gardens. Visitors welcome.

www.eastbridgehospital.org.uk

I didn't have a credential with me but I am sure they will have a stamp.
It was quite funny going into the medieval building as it seemed a very normal albergue to me. I was thinking, where are the bunks?

Took my younger daughter there once (born and raised in Kent, BA in Archaeology and Anthropology).

Looking at the 12th century frescos: "How come nobody ever told me about these?" and then "So you sleep in places like this all across Spain? Cool!"

 

[Hansel]

Sounds like you’ve really got the Camino bug. You may as well enjoy life while you can who knows what the future holds. That’s why I decided to take early retirement while I’m still in good health. The farm work sounds interesting and another opportunity for new experiences. Enjoy!

You will have too,when you get to Muxia or Finisterre ,which ever you finish walking to.
I had never heard of Muxia ,until about ten days in,and folk were telling me about Muxia,I have walked to both twice now,
Galicia in spring time is very much like Scotland,I can see the appeal,but hopefully I will find somewhere slightly drier.
Bill

 

[StewartJ]

This thread may have been covered before,
Looking at starring from home,Ayrshire in Scotland,not walking,there would be way too much road walking involved.
But cycling to Santiago,would I be able to find anywhere in the UK to stamp a compostella?
Thanks Bill

Hi, how did you get on with stamps in the UK please? I'm looking to walk from home to Santiago via France and the daily stamp is probably my biggest concern! Thank you

 

[Tincatinker]

Hi, how did you get on with stamps in the UK please? I'm looking to walk from home to Santiago via France and the daily stamp is probably my biggest concern! Thank you

As has been said above all sorts of places have some sort of stamp. Post Offices, Police Stations and even parish offices are the easy ones. And it doesn’t even have to be a “rubber” stamp. Several of my credencial feature signatures and dates. “I saw this pilgrim, here, on this day”. And be minded that the Pilgrims Office requirement for obtaining a Compostela are only that you obtain TWO stamps per day in the final 100km into Santiago. That which you have achieved before is of little interest to them.

 

[StewartJ]

As has been said above all sorts of places have some sort of stamp. Post Offices, Police Stations and even parish offices are the easy ones. And it doesn’t even have to be a “rubber” stamp. Several of my credencial feature signatures and dates. “I saw this pilgrim, here, on this day”. And be minded that the Pilgrims Office requirement for obtaining a Compostela are only that you obtain TWO stamps per day in the final 100km into Santiago. That which you have achieved before is of little interest to them.

Fantastico! Muchas Gracias. I hadn't comprehended correctly the 100km rule. I really appreciate you putting my mind to rest.

 

[Tincatinker]

You are more than welcome. Your plan sounds wonderful. I will urge you to gather yourself several credencial and collect a stamp whenever and wherever you can. I am proud of my Compostelas but it is the reviewing of my credencials and remembering all those places and peoples that bring me joy.
Buen Camino

 

[Hansel]

Hi, how did you get on with stamps in the UK please? I'm looking to walk from home to Santiago via France and the daily stamp is probably my biggest concern! Thank you

Hi Stewart,
I cycled all the way to Santiago,and Muxia,
didn't get to Portugal,Covid!
I only started collecting stamps from Vezelay,
I noticed Camino shells from Belgium.
Buen Camino.