The Camino Inglés: Walking the Short English Way from Ferrol to Santiago

Why Walk the Camino Inglés?

The Camino Inglés — the "English Way" — is the shortest official Camino de Santiago route that still qualifies you for the coveted Compostela certificate. Historically, medieval pilgrims from England, Ireland, Scandinavia, and Flanders sailed into the Galician ports of Ferrol and A Coruña, then walked inland to Santiago. Today, you're following in their exact footsteps along a 118-kilometre trail through misty eucalyptus forests, granite hamlets, tidal estuaries, and quiet farmland that most Camino walkers never see.

Unlike the crowded Camino Francés, the english way camino from ferrol to santiago feels intimate. On many stretches you'll walk for an hour without seeing another pilgrim, sharing the path only with dairy cows, roadside chapels, and the occasional Galician grandmother offering a "Buen Camino!" from her garden.

The Route at a Glance

The classic short camino route from Ferrol covers roughly 118 km and is typically walked in 5 to 6 stages:

• Stage 1: Ferrol → Neda (15 km) — coastal boardwalks along the Ría de Ferrol
• Stage 2: Neda → Pontedeume (16 km) — climbs through pine forest to a medieval bridge town
• Stage 3: Pontedeume → Betanzos (21 km) — rolling hills into a stunning old town
• Stage 4: Betanzos → Hospital de Bruma (28 km) — the longest, remotest day
• Stage 5: Hospital de Bruma → Sigüeiro (25 km) — eucalyptus groves and farmland
• Stage 6: Sigüeiro → Santiago de Compostela (16 km) — the emotional final approach

Starting in A Coruña instead only gives you 74 km — less than the 100 km minimum needed for the Compostela. Always start in Ferrol if the certificate matters to you.

Step-by-Step: What to Expect

Before You Leave Home

Order your pilgrim credential (credencial) in advance from the Cathedral of Santiago's online shop (about €3) or pick one up on arrival at the Oficina de Turismo in Ferrol for €2. You'll need at least two stamps per day on the final 100 km to earn your Compostela.

Book only your first and last nights — Ferrol and Santiago fill up. In between, the Camino Inglés now has enough albergues and pensiones that walking day-to-day works well outside July and August.

Day One: Ferrol

Arrive in Ferrol the evening before via ALSA bus or Renfe train from A Coruña (about 1 hour, €6–9). Grab your first stamp at the Concello de Ferrol or the parish of San Xiao. Eat pulpo á feira and padrón peppers at any of the tapas bars along Rúa Real, then sleep early — the official start marker is at the naval port pier, and most pilgrims set off between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m.

Days Two Through Five: Finding Your Rhythm

You'll quickly settle into the pilgrim routine: wake at dawn, walk 4–7 hours, arrive by mid-afternoon, wash socks, eat a menú del peregrino (€12–15 for three courses plus wine), sleep. The trail is well waymarked with the iconic yellow arrows and scallop shells — you almost never need a map, but the free Buen Camino app or Wise Pilgrim Camino Inglés guidebook is invaluable for elevation profiles and albergue listings.

Highlights along the way include the medieval bridge and Andrade castle in Pontedeume, the Gothic church of Santa María do Azougue in Betanzos, and the atmospheric stone crossroads at Hospital de Bruma, where the route from A Coruña joins yours.

The Final Day into Santiago

You'll set off from Sigüeiro before sunrise to make the noon Pilgrim's Mass. The last kilometres wind through the university district before opening dramatically onto the Praza do Obradoiro, with the Cathedral of Santiago rising in front of you. Collect your Compostela at the Pilgrim's Reception Office on Rúa das Carretas — arrive before 11:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. to skip the worst queues.

Difficulty and Fitness Requirements

Rated moderate, the Camino Inglés is more demanding than most first-timers expect. Total elevation gain across the route is roughly 2,400 metres — nothing alpine, but the repeated 200–300 metre climbs out of coastal towns can wear on unprepared knees. Daily distances of 15–28 km on tarmac, forest track, and cobblestone add up.

You should be able to comfortably walk 20 km with a light pack before you go. Train for at least 8 weeks with progressive hikes, and always break in your footwear. Blisters end more Caminos than injuries do.

The Stage 4 day into Hospital de Bruma is the crux: 28 km with limited services. Carry extra water and a packed lunch, or split it into two shorter days by stopping in Presedo or Vilacoba.

Costs: A Realistic Breakdown

Budget roughly €60–130 per day, or $400–900 total for the walk depending on your style:

• Municipal albergues: €10–12 per night (dormitory, bring earplugs)
• Private albergues/pensiones: €18–40 per night
• Small hotels: €55–90 per night
• Breakfast: €3–6 (café con leche and tostada)
• Pilgrim menu dinner: €12–15
• Luggage transfer service (Correos Paq Mochila): about €6 per stage — a lifesaver for older knees

Add €30–60 for the flight or train into A Coruña/Ferrol from Madrid, and €6 for your Compostela certificate holder (optional but nice).

Safety and Practical Tips

• Weather: Galicia is called "green Spain" for good reason. Expect rain even in summer. A quality waterproof jacket and pack cover are non-negotiable.
• Dogs: Rural farm dogs occasionally bark aggressively but rarely bite. Keep walking calmly; a trekking pole discourages the persistent ones.
• Emergency number: 112 works nationwide. Rural mobile coverage is patchy between Betanzos and Bruma.
• Blister prevention: Change socks at your lunch stop, use Compeed at the first hot spot, and never ignore rubbing.
• Sun and ticks: The eucalyptus forest sections harbour ticks in summer — do a body check each evening.
• Solo travellers: The Camino Inglés is one of the safest solo walking routes in Europe. Female solo pilgrims consistently report feeling secure.

Best Food and Drink Stops

Galician cuisine alone justifies the trip. Don't miss:

• Pulpo á feira — octopus with paprika and olive oil, best at Mesón O Pote in Betanzos
• Tarta de Santiago — almond cake stamped with the cross of St. James
• Albariño and Ribeiro wines — light, mineral whites perfect after a long day
• Caldo gallego — a warming cabbage, potato, and white bean soup
• Empanada gallega — savoury pie sold by the slice at every panadería

In Pontedeume, splurge on fresh seafood at A Marisqueira; in Sigüeiro, the humble Bar O Pio serves the most generous pilgrim menu on the route.

Insider Recommendations

• Walk in May, June, or September. July and August bring heat, crowds, and full albergues. October adds atmospheric mist but shorter daylight.
• Skip the guided group tours unless you truly need hand-holding. The camino ingles is self-guiding by design, and companies like Follow the Camino or Macs Adventure (€650–950 for luggage transfers and hotel bookings) simply automate what you can do yourself in an evening.
• Add a day in Santiago and continue to Finisterre by bus if you can — arriving at the "end of the world" cliffs at sunset is the perfect epilogue.
• Attend the Pilgrim's Mass at noon. The Botafumeiro — the giant swinging incense censer — isn't guaranteed daily but is more likely on Fridays and major feast days.
• Get your final stamp at the Cathedral, not just your hotel. Only cathedral-office stamps count for the Compostela.

The english way camino rewards walkers who value quiet reflection over social buzz. In six days you'll have crossed a corner of Spain most tourists never touch, earned a certificate written in Latin with your name on it, and — if the Camino works its usual magic — arrived in Santiago slightly changed. Buen Camino.