Camino Frances

There is nothing quite like the excitement of walking out from St Jean de Pied Port, the traditional start of the Camino Frances. There is always a feverish anticipation, perhaps mixed with a slight apprehension at what lies ahead. From there the path climbs steeply over the spectacular Pyrenees before stopping at first Roncesvalles and then Zubiri.

The fourth day sees pilgrims pass beneath the historic gates of Pamplona, one city that never fails to excite, before continuing to Puente La Reina via its iconic Romanesque bridge and ending in the elegant small town of Estella.

You can find more detailed information on Stage One here

Camino French Way – Stage One – U Walk

This stage includes nights in two of the four major cities along the Camino – Logrono and Burgos – so if you’re looking for more of a lively experience, this stage might be for you. From Estrella, the Camino stops first in the town of Los Arcos before continuing to Logrono, the capital of the La Rioja region.

Over the next few days, the route meanders through vineyards and the kind of scenery that will no doubt leave you daydreaming about a little rustic house and a new life in Spain. The Camino makes stops in Najera, Santo Domingo, Belorado and San Juan de Ortego, before entering Burgos, home to what is widely considered one of the most beautiful cathedrals in all of Spain, and which has just celebrated its 800th birthday. A fine place to end your walk and reward yourself handsomely with the local delights on offer.

You can find more detailed information on Stage Two here

Camino French Way – Stage Two – U Walk

Stage 3 begins with a stretch of the Camino that some pilgrims choose to bypass. Depending on your point of view, La Meseta can either be a place of wonderful isolation and one of the quietest stretches of the entire route, or a desolate, barren stretch that tests even the strongest of wills. The area that carries more than a hint of a lunar landscape at times, comes with delightful old villages, beautiful Romanesque churches and a sense of adventure that feels very different from any other stage.

The route stops first in Hornillos del Camino before continuing to Castrojeriz and its famed hilltop castle. From here, the Camino passes over the Puente de Itero bridge, which dates back to the 11th Century, before passing through Frómista, Carrión de los Condes and Calzadilla de la Cueza then ending in the tiny town of Calzadilla de la Cueza after passing along the old Roman road known as the Vía Aquitana.

You can find more detailed information on Stage Three here

Camino French Way – Stage Three – U Walk

Continuing along the Vía Aquitana, a Roman road dating back to 118 BC, the Camino first arrives in historic Sahagún with its fine architecture and bustling market in the main square. From here we pass through Burgo Ranero and on to Mansilla, passing through the small village of Reliegos along the way.

The route between Mansilla and the city of Leon may not be among the prettiest days on the Camino, but as you take a seat at a restaurant in one of Leon’s fine plazas it will certainly have all been worth it. Darkly gothic Leon is a spectacular city with insatiable energy running through it and home to the 13th-century Catedral de Léon. From the city, the route snakes west stopping in Villadangos del Páramo before ending in Astorga, home to the Cathedral of Santa María and the Episcopal Palace of Gaudí, one of only three buildings by Gaudí outside Catalonia.

You can find more detailed information on Stage Four here

Camino French Way – Stage Four – U Walk

Stage 5 begins in stunning Astorga, a relatively small medieval town that packs a hell of a punch and includes the Cathedral of Santa María and the Episcopal Palace of Gaudí. The Camino then passes through the small villages of Rabanal del Camino and Molinaseca, with a stop at one of the most iconic spots along the whole Camino in-between. The Cruz de Ferro is one part of this famous walk you’ll remember for the rest of your life. The iron cross sat atop a mound of stones is where pilgrims traditionally place a stone they’ve brought from home – a way of unburdening yourself of your troubles. It’s an emotional spot for many and as you gaze at the enormous mound of individual stones, each brought here by a different person, there is an overwhelming sense that you are part of something much bigger.

From Molinaseca, the route continues to Cacabelos and Ambasmestas before climbing steeply to the highest point along the Camino Frances, O Cebreiro, a tiny village frozen in time with plenty of beautiful old stone roundhouses. The penultimate stop of stage 5 is Triacastela before finishing the following day in Saria, an ancient town situated on the banks of the Sarria River and a perfect place to experience the typical Galician cuisine, including stew, octopus and plenty of grilled meat.

You can find more detailed information on Stage Five here

Camino French Way – Stage Five – U Walk

The final stage of the Camino Frances begins in the Galician town of Sarria before continuing through a landscape that often looks more Ireland than Spain. Galicia, with its green hills, thick forests and frequent wet weather, may not be what many expect on the Iberian Peninsula, but it is an area of astonishing beauty that receives far fewer visitors than almost any other part of Spain.

We make stops in Portomarín, Palas de Rei and Arzúa as the Camino winds through eucalyptus forests that have become symbolic of Galicia but are not in fact native, before arriving in Arca, your penultimate stop. The following day the Camino reaches its dramatic conclusion as the route approaches Santiago de Compostela. Winding through the old city, it’s impossible not to get caught up in the emotion as you enter the Praza do Obradoiro, the grand square in the city where pilgrims congregate in front of the Cathedral gates.

You can find more detailed information on Stage Six here

Camino French Way – Final Stage – U Walk