go and Pontevedro. This is the least developed of all the Caminos, with pilgrims also walking this track in the opposite direction en route to the shrine at Fatima... So signposting can be confusing! Albergues are less plentiful than along the Camino Franc?s, so a guide such as the Pilgrim's Guide to the CamThe Camino de Santiago - or the Camino Franc?s - is the principal 750km way-marked route through Spain. From St Jean Pied de Port in France, it crosses the Pyren?es at either Somport or Roncesvalles. These two routes meet at Puente la Reina, in the lands of Navarre, to form a single route which continues via La Rioja, entering Galicia via O Cebreiro and so to Santiago de Compostella. Pilgrim hostels are plentiful along this route. As described in the Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino Franc?s the pilgrim hostels (albergues) vary enormously, some no more than abandoned houses where pilgrims frequently spend a night in a sleeping bag laid on the concrete floor. Others are fully equipped with dormitories, kitchen, showers and attendant host.

The northern route, Camino del Norte - also referred to as the Chemin C?tier / Camino primitivo / Camino de la Costa - follows the atlantic coast, from Donostia Sao Sebastian via Bilbao, Santander, Ribadeo and Lugo passing through the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias. This route has been popular with pilgrims arriving by sea at the Basque and Cantabrian ports since the 14th century, when churches were built and and staging points were created along the Way. At Oviedo pilgrims venerated the relics of la Camara Santa. Nowadays the Camino del Norte is favoured by those who seek a quieter, wilder route than the somewhat overcrowded Camino Franc?s, as it traverses mountainous regions, rivers and creeks with little development and few hostels. The climate is mild and humid all year round.

The Camino Portugu?s leads from Oporto in Portugal via Ponte de Lima, Vigo and Pontevedro. This is the least developed of all the Caminos, with pilgrims also walking this track in the opposite direction en route to the shrine at Fatima... So signposting can be confusing! Albergues are less plentiful than along the Camino Franc?s, so a guide such as the Pilgrim's Guide to the Cam

plentiful along this route. As described in the Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino Franc?s the pilgrim hostels (albergues) vary enormously, some no more than abandoned houses where pilgrims frequently spend a night in a sleeping bag laid on the concrete floor. Others are fully equipped with dormitories, kitchen, showers and attendant host.

The northern route, Camino del Norte - also referred to as the Chemin C?tier / Camino primitivo / Camino de la Costa - follows the atlantic coast, from Donostia Sao Sebastian via Bilbao, Santander, Ribadeo and Lugo passing through the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias. This route has been popular with pilgrims arriving by sea at the Basque and Cantabrian ports since the 14th century, when churches were built and and staging points were created along the Way. At Oviedo pilgrims venerated the relics of la Camara Santa. Nowadays the Camino del Norte is favoured by those who seek a quieter, wilder route than the somewhat overcrowded Camino Franc?s, as it traverses mountainous regions, rivers and creeks with little development and few hostels. The climate is mild and humid all year round.

The Camino Portugu?s leads from Oporto in Portugal via Ponte de Lima, Vigo and Pontevedro. This is the least developed of all the Caminos, with pilgrims also walking this track in the opposite direction en route to the shrine at Fatima... So signposting can be confusing! Albergues are less plentiful than along the Camino Franc?s, so a guide such as the Pilgrim's Guide to the Cam

hemin C?tier / Camino primitivo / Camino de la Costa - follows the atlantic coast, from Donostia Sao Sebastian via Bilbao, Santander, Ribadeo and Lugo passing through the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias. This route has been popular with pilgrims arriving by sea at the Basque and Cantabrian ports since the 14th century, when churches were built and and staging points were created along the Way. At Oviedo pilgrims venerated the relics of la Camara Santa. Nowadays the Camino del Norte is favoured by those who seek a quieter, wilder route than the somewhat overcrowded Camino Franc?s, as it traverses mountainous regions, rivers and creeks with little development and few hostels. The climate is mild and humid all year round.

The Camino Portugu?s leads from Oporto in Portugal via Ponte de Lima, Vigo and Pontevedro. This is the least developed of all the Caminos, with pilgrims also walking this track in the opposite direction en route to the shrine at Fatima... So signposting can be confusing! Albergues are less plentiful than along the Camino Franc?s, so a guide such as the Pilgrim's Guide to the Cam

Oviedo pilgrims venerated the relics of la Camara Santa. Nowadays the Camino del Norte is favoured by those who seek a quieter, wilder route than the somewhat overcrowded Camino Franc?s, as it traverses mountainous regions, rivers and creeks with little development and few hostels. The climate is mild and humid all year round.

The Camino Portugu?s leads from Oporto in Portugal via Ponte de Lima, Vigo and Pontevedro. This is the least developed of all the Caminos, with pilgrims also walking this track in the opposite direction en route to the shrine at Fatima... So signposting can be confusing! Albergues are less plentiful than along the Camino Franc?s, so a guide such as the Pilgrim's Guide to the Cam

go and Pontevedro. This is the least developed of all the Caminos, with pilgrims also walking this track in the opposite direction en route to the shrine at Fatima... So signposting can be confusing! Albergues are less plentiful than along the Camino Franc?s, so a guide such as the Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino Portugu?s is indispensible for pilgrims following this route.

The Camino Mozarabe departs from Seville in southern Spain, passing through M?rida, Caceres, and Salamanca before either joining the Camino Franc?s at Astorga, or continuing via Tabara, Verin and Ourense to Santiago.

The Camino Ingl?s brings british pilgrims from the port of A Coru?a in Galicia, north of Santiago.

El Camino de Fisterra /chemin du Cap Finisterre, is an extension of the Camino, linking Santiago de Compostella with cap Finisterre - Land's End / the End of the World. This mythical promontory is the most westerly point of western Europe, and for many pilgrims it symbolises the end of the terestrial way and the beginning of a spiritual renewal. It is the tradition of pilgrims who continue to cap Finisterre to burn their clothes and sandals as a sign of this renewal. Many return via Muxia, as described in the Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino Fisterra.

RESOURCES: The Pilgrim's Guides to the Camino