I walked my first Camino in April/May 2025, following the ancient 800-kilometre Camino Francés pilgrimage route from St Jean in southwest France across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela in the country’s northwest province of Galicia. Entranced by the experience I followed this up with a 260-kilometre trek northwards from Porto in northern Portugal back to Santiago in May/June of this year, 2026. I must have got the Camino bug – as by August I was back on another Camino trail, alongside my wife Rachel and our friends Karen and George, walking the 68 miles (110 kilometres) of the Camino Inglés between Reading Abbey and Southampton Docks. Aside from the connection with the past, what sets these treks apart is the sense of common purpose and the camaraderie to be found amongst fellow pilgrims from all corners of the globe. Herewith a short summary of my Camino walks.
THE CAMINO FRANCÉS
In April and May of last year I completed my walking challenge for 2025 – the 800-kilometre (500-mile) Camino Francés pilgrimage route from St Jean Pied de Port in south-western France, on foot across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. I undertook this trek solo, carrying my own pack, and staying in the albergues and hostels that line the route, booking these a day or two in advance as I journeyed westwards.
When I say solo, I did indeed set off on my own, but it is impossible to remain in one’s own company for long on a Camino walk, especially on the Camino Francés route; I had company for well over half of the walk, whether just for a few minutes, for an hour or two, or for a full day on the trail. In all I met fellow pilgrims from 31 countries of the world, all with the shared goal of reaching the shrine of St James in Santiago, whilst forming friendships that survive to this day.
THE CAMINO PORTUGUÉS
The full Portuguese Camino walk, or ‘Camino Portugués’, covers 640 kilometres (400 miles) from Lisbon, the Portuguese capital city, northwards to Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain – the same pilgrimage destination that I reached on the Camino Francés last spring. Due to constraints of time this year, I joined the path at the city of Porto in the north of Portugal, walking northwards for around 260 kilometres (150 miles) over two weeks. I travelled solo and unsupported once more, organising my own travel and accommodation and carrying my own pack.
THE CAMINO INGLÉS
Walking with my wife Rachel and our friends Karen and George, I have recently completed the Camino Inglés – a 68-mile (110-kilometre) journey on foot along the ancient St James’ Way pilgrimage trail from Reading Abbey southwards to Southampton Docks. The route follows the path that pilgrims from the Middle Ages (and possibly earlier) would have taken, before boarding a boat for western France or northern Spain en route to the Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. Our journey took us six days, and we created plenty of memories as we crossed some fabulous rural parts of southern England, whilst visiting many historic buildings on our way through the cities, towns and villages of Berkshire and Hampshire.
(Image copied from the CSJ website)
You can look back in more detail on my 2025 and 2026 Camino adventures by clicking on my daily posts from the time, via the above BLOG tab.
