UK to SJPP in a day (early May)

[Rich1]

Trying to sort out travel from UK to SJPP in early May - ideally leaving early in morning in order to get to SJPP in plenty of time to explore & get sorted to leave the next morning.
The Easyjet flight to Biarritz isn't operating then, and the Ryanair flight doesn't land til 17:00.
Flights into Bordeaux land at 10:30 but looking at train times, there doesn't appear to be a train to Bayonne until 13:51, arriving 15:32.
Do I just have to accept that I will have to be spend an extra night before SJPP or does anyone know of a better option?
Thanks

 

[Rich1]

Or change back to my original plan of Camino del Norte, onto Primitivo - but having asked the question, nearly everyone says do the Frances as your first Camino
Decisions decisions

 

[Al the optimist]

You don't say where you are in the UK and I know you say the start of May but just in case you have no fixed dates Flybe from Birmingham to Biarritz land at 1pm from 23rd May.

 

[Rich1]

Thanks
I'm in Lincoln - so Birmingham is easier. Looking around 10-12th

 

[Walter1407]

Are you in a rush? I don't have the details of your travel options. but I would probably plan to spend a night wherever you are sure you will get to on the day of your arrival.
The following morning travel to SJPP, have a nice lunch there and then hike up to Orisson or Honto. This will avoid stress and should make the crossing of the Pyrenees easier.
The airport is actually pretty close to the coastal French Camino which continues as the Norte in Spain. There are also three transfer routes to the Francés, only one of which passes through SJPP. Drop me a line if you want to have detailed information; I'll have to look it up.
Buen Camino!

 

[Rich1]

Thanks Walter - I'm on a relatively tight schedule but your suggestion about SJPP is a good one - like the idea of setting off after lunch and getting a few miles done.
Was considering doing del Norte followed by Primitivo as it looks less busy but this is my first Camino and the consensus of opinion seems to be do Frances

 

[Walter1407]

I'm on a relatively tight schedule ....Was considering doing del Norte followed by Primitivo as it looks less busy but this is my first Camino and the consensus of opinion seems to be do Frances

If time is an issue, do the shorter (and easier) route, and that is the Frances. It's good if you have a few days to play with, as unexpected things can happen.

 

[Castilian]

Flights into Bordeaux land at 10:30 but looking at train times, there doesn't appear to be a train to Bayonne until 13:51, arriving 15:32.
Do I just have to accept that I will have to be spend an extra night before SJPP or does anyone know of a better option?

You don't need to spend an extra night before SJPP. The arrival time to Bayonne that you quote allows you to take a train plus bus combination to get, on the same day, from Bayonne to SJPP changing transports in Cambo des Baines. You could even take a later departure from Bordeaux. Take a look at the web of the SNCF for info about options from Bordeaux to SJPP on your travel dates.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Can you find a flight into Santander? and then from there walk the Norte-Primitivo as you first thought. There are pilgrims who walk that as their first Camino rather than the Francés. Maybe you should go with your heart on that one rather than the recommendations of others.

Another alternative if starting in Santander would be to see if you can still get a ticket as a foot passenger on Brittany Ferries direct from either Plymouth (Sundays) or Portsmouth (Tuesdays). You land right in the centre at mid-day Monday or late afternoon Wednesday. Then either book your return trip or fly home.
Buen Camino

 

[Al the optimist]

What about Easyjet MAnchester - Bilbao 10th May 07:05 landing 10:10? £37 Start the Norte there?

 

[Rich1]

Well....after much dithering, I'm all booked up for my flight to Bordeaux and doing the Frances
My wife and I watched The Way a few years ago and just looked at each other and said we have to do that, so that was always my driving force. Jenny has just had knee surgery so perhaps we'll do a shortened France's or Primitivo for her 50th in 2018
Anyway, flights all booked so no turning back.
So excited

 

[William Marques]

If time is tight look at the Biarritz to SJPP taxi sharing thread for the day you are travelling.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-share-thread-biarritz-bayonne-to-sjpp.29089/

 

[Former member 42123]

Based in Liverpool,I took o/night bus to London ,first tunnel train to Paris,train south ,and if not for accident on line ahead of us would have made train to SJPdeP in plenty of time.We were late,but still stayed in SJPdeP that night.(the rest is history).

 

[Former member 42123]

Should have read you already booked, oooops!!!!!!