Walking solo and not wanting to get lost!

[YYC on the go]

In August this year, I will be walking solo from Lisbon to Porto on the Central route, meeting my travel companion in Porto. I just hate getting lost (yes, I know it's part of the 'experience') and am wondering if I could have your recommendations for the best step-by step directions. On my phone I have:
Wise Pilgrim
Offline Google Maps
Peregrino Online
Camino Ninja
Buen Camino

And in my day pack, Brierley

Of all of these, which do you think will be my go to, to have at my fingertips when facing a walking decision?

Frankly, the Brierley Guide is heavy and am wondering if it's necessary given the other tools I have?

 

[RJM]

I've walked multiple Caminos multiple times and I always bring my Brierley guidebook. I think it's worth the little bit of extra weight and I refer to it all the time.
I like books.

 

[naplesdon]

Trecile, who is a member of this Forum, just completed a walk from Lisbon. I would PM her and ask for advice.

 

[Tassie Kaz]

In August this year, I will be walking solo from Lisbon to Porto on the Central route, meeting my travel companion in Porto. I just hate getting lost (yes, I know it's part of the 'experience') and am wondering if I could have your recommendations for the best step-by step directions. On my phone I have:
Wise Pilgrim
Offline Google Maps
Peregrino Online
Camino Ninja
Buen Camino

And in my day pack, Brierley

Of all of these, which do you think will be my go to, to have at my fingertips when facing a walking decision?

Frankly, the Brierley Guide is heavy and am wondering if it's necessary given the other tools I have?

I walked Lisbon to SdC as a solo female in 2015. I took the Brierley CP map book only..not the actual guide. I'm trying to refrain from stating what I think of all things Brierley but I'll sum it up by describing some graffiti I saw...
there was a painted yellow arrow to SdC pointing right; underneath it someone had added an arrow pointing left & written 'Brierley'....
Enough said Of course later editions may or may not have corrected any...er...differences.

All that aside, I don't recall any navigational issues or ever being 'geographically misplaced' That was back in 2015 so with the big increase in popularity of the CP, I'd guess marking/signage/info is even better now.
@Looking4suggestions, I think it's just a case of pre-Caminho jitters. I'm sure you'll be ok once you get there & the unknown becomes known. In the meantime, just relax..it'll be fine!
Happy planning & happy trails!

 

[trecile]

Trecile, who is a member of this Forum, just completed a walk from Lisbon. I would PM her and ask for advice.

I have never used a guidebook.
I had the Camino Ninja and Buen Camino apps on my phone - the Camino Ninja app was the most accurate for Lisbon to Porto.

 

[ward4e]

mapy.cz for you phone. I have a pixel but its avalaiable for apple too.

Download the Spanish Map pack and you're good to go. No data is needed and most trails are waymarked.

It helped me on my last walk.

 

[Rick M]

I have never used a guidebook.
I had the Camino Ninja and Buen Camino apps on my phone - the Camino Ninja app was the most accurate for Lisbon to Porto.

Me neither. I use the Wise Pilgrim app occasionally if I think I may have wandered off track, but I never really do for long. The locals always point you right in the end. OP - you're not going to get lost....or at least not for long. To my knowledge, the total number of pilgrims found dead after getting lost = 0. BTW.....sorry about the disastrous outcome to yours.....hope the wing gets back to flapping soon!

 

[C clearly]

Follow downloaded tracks from one of the apps mentioned, or download them onto a free mapping app such as maps.me.

 

[Former member 22438]

Yes when my wife and I walked from Lisbon in2013 we got lost.
it was on the stage from Tomar to Avaiãzere , can’t remember exactly where.
in Tomar we stayed at the Bombeiros Volontarios , the voluntairy Firebrigade on a matrass on the floor in a big recreation hall with pilgrims from Chech Republic, Brasil, Italy among others
At a certain moment at a crossroad all of a sudden the yellow waymarkers had disappeared.
Nossa what now.?
in a garden a man was working and we asked him “ bom dia senhor , onde é o caminho para Santiago ? Where is the road to Santiago.
Espere he said wait. He disappeared and after some minutes he showed up, coming out of a door at the other side of the road with a piece of paper in his hand
where you from ? He asked.. fromTomar I said but obviously that wasn’t what he meant, From what country you are ? Oh… we are from the Netherlands ….
Obrigado he said and put two dashes after the name Holanda on his paper and also said that allready two Chechs , four Brasileans and an Italian couple had passed today.
For the statistics he said.
Then he invited us to enter the door he just came out and that seemed to be a small bar.
He introduced us to a woman who seemed to be his daughter and offered us a coffee And asked for the credentials and put stamps on them.
He adviced us to go to a specific hotel in Grijó on the last stage before Porto but he did not answer my question if he was the main shareholder of that hotel.
We paid the bill ,2,70 € for the coffees and 2 pasteís de nata and asked him where to go at the crossroads and he pointed out to one of the roads and after 100 meters we found the yellow waymarkers back and continued our caminho to Alvaiázere.
God gracious ! Later we met our Chech,Brasilean and Italian companions in the struggle of what is called the Caminho again and all individually they advised us to stay in a specific hotel in Grijó, just before Porto.We should meet us there by then they said.
So be careful if you come at a crossroads where the waymarkers have disappeared and all of a sudden a man comes to you with a statistics list . He is the shareholder of the hotel in Grijó and his daughter serves you coffee with a pastel de nata.

 

[TrvlDad1]

In August this year, I will be walking solo from Lisbon to Porto on the Central route, meeting my travel companion in Porto. I just hate getting lost (yes, I know it's part of the 'experience') and am wondering if I could have your recommendations for the best step-by step directions. On my phone I have:
Wise Pilgrim
Offline Google Maps
Peregrino Online
Camino Ninja
Buen Camino

And in my day pack, Brierley

Of all of these, which do you think will be my go to, to have at my fingertips when facing a walking decision?

Frankly, the Brierley Guide is heavy and am wondering if it's necessary given the other tools I have?

I like Briarley’s guide for the spiritual commentary, description of optional routes (some poorly marked), and sites he suggests. But some might consider all this extraneous. I also fall into the “getting lost is part of the experience” category. Like everything else on the Camino it’s about your Camino.

 

[Ctshagr]

In August this year, I will be walking solo from Lisbon to Porto on the Central route, meeting my travel companion in Porto. I just hate getting lost (yes, I know it's part of the 'experience') and am wondering if I could have your recommendations for the best step-by step directions. On my phone I have:
Wise Pilgrim
Offline Google Maps
Peregrino Online
Camino Ninja
Buen Camino

And in my day pack, Brierley

Of all of these, which do you think will be my go to, to have at my fingertips when facing a walking decision?

Frankly, the Brierley Guide is heavy and am wondering if it's necessary given the other tools I have?

You won’t get lost on central route. Even if you do you’ll get back on track without a major delay. I got lost once at the end but a jogger came by and put us right back on it. We actually were on the original route from years ago he told us but it had been changed to what it is today.

 

[Walter James Palmer]

Along with your phone, don't forget to use your voice and hand gestures. People are very, very helpful and you will easily get help if you ask (sometimes even without, they can see you are a pilgrim) and often with a coffee or whatever, and always with a smile and a "bom caminho!"

Enjoy!

 

[lt56ny]

I have never used a guidebook.
I had the Camino Ninja and Buen Camino apps on my phone - the Camino Ninja app was the most accurate for Lisbon to Porto.

I used guidebooks twice before I had a smartphone.
Now never.
I have walked from Lisbon and it is very well marked.
I found only a very few places that were a little tricky.
I think Wise Pilgrim has the best written instructions on his app.
I use Buen Camino for GPS locations when I am not sure or when I have gone a fair distance and not seen markings just to make sure I didn't make a mistake. I have never had a problem using Buen Camino maps. You can download and use it offline.
trecile is a very experienced pilgrim. If she said she found the Camino Ninja to be more accurate than by all means download it and use it. It is good to have multiple apps and use Gronze.com also. In these times of Covid and an great influx of pilgrims having more apps with more choices to sleep is only a great benefit. You can get the Brierley guide on a kindle. I know lots of people love his guides and they are excellent. The apps are all free.

 

[sharonmonty]

In August this year, I will be walking solo from Lisbon to Porto on the Central route, meeting my travel companion in Porto. I just hate getting lost (yes, I know it's part of the 'experience') and am wondering if I could have your recommendations for the best step-by step directions. On my phone I have:
Wise Pilgrim
Offline Google Maps
Peregrino Online
Camino Ninja
Buen Camino

And in my day pack, Brierley

Of all of these, which do you think will be my go to, to have at my fingertips when facing a walking decision?

Frankly, the Brierley Guide is heavy and am wondering if it's necessary given the other tools I have?

I took my Brierley despite the weight as it had been my constant companion in my preparations. I was glad I did. But if I thought I might be off route Camino ninja saved the day!
Looks like you have a good set is apps there
Buen Camino

 

[paulmlucas]

In August this year, I will be walking solo from Lisbon to Porto on the Central route, meeting my travel companion in Porto. I just hate getting lost (yes, I know it's part of the 'experience') and am wondering if I could have your recommendations for the best step-by step directions. On my phone I have:
Wise Pilgrim
Offline Google Maps
Peregrino Online
Camino Ninja
Buen Camino

And in my day pack, Brierley

Of all of these, which do you think will be my go to, to have at my fingertips when facing a walking decision?

Frankly, the Brierley Guide is heavy and am wondering if it's necessary given the other tools I have?

Just in case you find the Brierley CP Guide indispensable, it is now available as an E-Book. No need to carry the physical copy.

 

[Bogong]

I like Briarley’s guide for the spiritual commentary, description of optional routes (some poorly marked), and sites he suggests. But some might consider all this extraneous. I also fall into the “getting lost is part of the experience” category. Like everything else on the Camino it’s about your Camino.

Wonderful! I walked winter 2014. Most days I was alone. Went from St J P to S and on to F and M. Got lost 9 times, three of them quite long detours/ retracing ( like 5 or more k). All due to crook way marking. On one occasion I spent five minutes trying to work out which way the arrow pointed before taking the wrong option. Sorted when the sun briefly appeared through a break in the rain and my shadow showed me walking due south rather than west. But only lost about 5k then. Out of Ponferrada turned right at a T-junction, similar issue with the arrow and was rescued along the highway to A Corunna by a kind motorist. Another 5k loss. Similar problem toward Mucia but no problem this time as I kept walking knowing there would be a left turn straight to Muxia along the road somewhere. There was a very bad loss about a day out of Santiago again an arrow issue but after some miles I figured that as the track had been heading down a public road before I headed for the traffic noise to resolve it. There were others too. All good for the soul!

De Colores

Bogong

 

[jimmyc]

I walked the CP from Lisbon with the Brierley guide book in 2016. Each leg was clearly set out with accommodation and bars along the way. I found it excellent. I also found no problem with the yellow arrows that year.
I have used the Wise Pilgrim on other Caminos but found it nowhere as good a Brierleys

 

[jlamont808]

I've walked multiple Caminos multiple times and I always bring my Brierley guidebook. I think it's worth the little bit of extra weight and I refer to it all the time.
I like books.

I just returned from walking from Porto to Santiago, Coastal. I found the signage lacking and confusing in the larger towns. We (two mature women ) used Google maps. But, warning, my travel companion picked up Covid as well as bedbugs, we stayed in moderately priced hotels, separate rooms. You will have a wonderful experience!!

 

[RJM]

I just returned from walking from Porto to Santiago, Coastal. I found the signage lacking and confusing in the larger towns. We (two mature women ) used Google maps. But, warning, my travel companion picked up Covid as well as bedbugs, we stayed in moderately priced hotels, separate rooms. You will have a wonderful experience!!

I walked the central. No issues with signage, directions or bedbugs. I stayed in albergues.

 

[skevin]

In August this year, I will be walking solo from Lisbon to Porto on the Central route, meeting my travel companion in Porto. I just hate getting lost (yes, I know it's part of the 'experience') and am wondering if I could have your recommendations for the best step-by step directions. On my phone I have:
Wise Pilgrim
Offline Google Maps
Peregrino Online
Camino Ninja
Buen Camino

And in my day pack, Brierley

Of all of these, which do you think will be my go to, to have at my fingertips when facing a walking decision?

Frankly, the Brierley Guide is heavy and am wondering if it's necessary given the other tools I have?

Legit mate I took nothing and only followed the arrows from Lisbon. No apps , nada. It’s almost impossible to get lost. Very well marked.

 

[JZA]

In August this year, I will be walking solo from Lisbon to Porto on the Central route, meeting my travel companion in Porto. I just hate getting lost (yes, I know it's part of the 'experience') and am wondering if I could have your recommendations for the best step-by step directions. On my phone I have:
Wise Pilgrim
Offline Google Maps
Peregrino Online
Camino Ninja
Buen Camino

And in my day pack, Brierley

Of all of these, which do you think will be my go to, to have at my fingertips when facing a walking decision?

Frankly, the Brierley Guide is heavy and am wondering if it's necessary given the other tools I have?

If you are just looking to not get lost then Camino Ninja will do that very well. If you are on the wrong side of the street it will show you. Personally I like a physical map as it helps me plan and visualise the route. Old geezer talking. I don’t like the Brieley maps as they are too cluttered. Cicerone press maps are simple and clear. And the books are lighter. Personal choice but worth a look.

 

[WGroleau]

In August this year, I will be walking solo from Lisbon to Porto on the Central route, meeting my travel companion in Porto. I just hate getting lost (yes, I know it's part of the 'experience') and am wondering if I could have your recommendations for the best step-by step directions. On my phone I have:

I don't have "step by step" suggestions, but I had an app called "maps.me" on a phone and an iPad, and it also allowed me to load into it GPX files marking the route. I suppose other apps exist with similar features. Even without the route displayed, the phone's GPS would support getting me to the next village if I got off the route.

 

[YYC on the go]

Thank you everybody for your suggestions and support. It's all been very helpful

 

[jomags]

In August this year, I will be walking solo from Lisbon to Porto on the Central route, meeting my travel companion in Porto. I just hate getting lost (yes, I know it's part of the 'experience') and am wondering if I could have your recommendations for the best step-by step directions. On my phone I have:
Wise Pilgrim
Offline Google Maps
Peregrino Online
Camino Ninja
Buen Camino

And in my day pack, Brierley

Of all of these, which do you think will be my go to, to have at my fingertips when facing a walking decision?

Frankly, the Brierley Guide is heavy and am wondering if it's necessary given the other tools I have?

You won’t get lost -thousands of signs and yellow arrows and pilgrims out there!!

 

[jomags]

In August this year, I will be walking solo from Lisbon to Porto on the Central route, meeting my travel companion in Porto. I just hate getting lost (yes, I know it's part of the 'experience') and am wondering if I could have your recommendations for the best step-by step directions. On my phone I have:
Wise Pilgrim
Offline Google Maps
Peregrino Online
Camino Ninja
Buen Camino

And in my day pack, Brierley

Of all of these, which do you think will be my go to, to have at my fingertips when facing a walking decision?

Frankly, the Brierley Guide is heavy and am wondering if it's necessary given the other tools I have?

Also leave the book at home…