Jakobsweg

How Much Money does the Camino de Santiago Cost?

May 22, 2020 / FAQs / 4 minutes of reading

The main costs for any of the Camino de Santiago routes are your daily budget on the Camino and getting to and from your start and finish points.  For most of in Europe it is fairly quick and easy to get to and from any of the routes – not so from North America, (see travel page here), however the exchange rate between the US Dollar, Sterling and Euro currently makes walking the Camino cheaper than it has ever been for pilgrims from American and Britain.

Jakobsweg

How to Prevent and Treat Blisters on Your Feet

May 22, 2020 / Camino Thoughts / 10 minutes of reading

Blisters are every hiker’s worst nightmare, and not just because they can be very painful. If you roll your ankle or your back gives out, it feels like a proper injury, and you’re more than justified in packing up and going home. Blisters on the other hand always feel like something that you can walk just one more mile with.

The problem with this way of thinking is that all it does is make the issue worse. by never addressing the root causes, and ploughing on regardless. If you want to be able to get the most out of your walking holiday, you’re going to need to give some serious thought to how you plan to protect your feet. A little time and effort now could save you miles of walking in pain. Certainly worth it when you think about it, isn’t it?

sleeping bag

Best Summer Sleeping Bags

May 22, 2020 / Outdoor Gear / 11 minutes of reading

This list of 14 of the best summer sleeping bags for the summer will help you chose which will work best.

Minimalist sandals

Best Minimalist Sandals – Guide to Barefoot & Running Sandals

May 16, 2020 / Backpacking Gear / 14 minutes of reading

The best minimalist sandals only use a few straps and they are made with zero drops. Drop refers to the height difference between the heel and the ball of the foot. I wasn’t sure about zero drops, given I often use walking shoes which have a drop of around 10mm.

Women shorts

Best Hiking Shorts for Backpacking

May 12, 2020 / Outdoor Gear / 9 minutes of reading

If you’re planning on hitting the trail any time soon, you’ll need some thin, light clothing if it looks as though the weather is going to be good. Wearing the right hiking shorts means you can have the freedom to move around as you please, but it also means you won’t overheat.

Hiking Rain Poncho

Best Rain Poncho for Hiking and Backpacking

May 8, 2020 / Outdoor Gear / 6 minutes of reading

When you’re out hiking or backpacking, you need to make sure you’re prepared for all types of weather. When it begins to rain, you need to know that you’re not going to get soaked through.  You need the best rain poncho that’s going to work well for you no matter how much it’s pouring down, ensuring you can carry on with your day.

If you are short of time or just don’t want to read all the reviews, I suggest that adventures world has the best rain poncho as it is light, won’t be so much like a tent and it has a peaked hood.

You are not going to have your umbrella with you out on a hike – stay warm and stay dry by having great waterproofs.

Le Puy Camino

Women Walking Alone on the Camino de Santiago

May 16, 2020 / Camino Thoughts / 4 minutes of reading

I have written before about walking the Camino de Santiago alone, but I didn’t specifically address the topic of being a woman and walking alone.  This topic has become news after an American woman, Denise Thiem, went missing in April of 2015.  She apparently left Astorga and was never seen again.  There are no actual sightings of her having left Astorga, and I truly hope that she turns up alive and well at some point.

Cholm Cille

Pilgrim Routes in Ireland

March 30, 2020 / Travel / 5 minutes of reading

Long before the discovery of St. James’ relics, there was Cruachan Aille in Ireland. The sacred grounds had been there since 3,000 BC and attracted pilgrims from all over Europe. Pagans frequented the area and so did early Christians when it was popularized by St. Patrick. When Camino de Santiago became famous, the ancient pilgrimage was sadly forgotten in favor of Spain’s. Memories of these medieval footpaths aren’t completely lost, however, and revivalists are attempting to reclaim the pilgrim routes of Ireland.

Camino route

Inspiration to Walk the Camino de Santiago

March 30, 2020 / Camino Thoughts / 7 minutes of reading

The Camino forum was an amazing resource for me when researching the Camino de Santiago. I did the full Camino Frances as well as the Camino del Norte in 2013 with my guitar. In May of 2014, I did 4 days of the Camino de Madrid to Segovia and I’ll be doing the Camino Primitivo route this July.

Sunset

Top Ten Things About Camino de Santiago

March 20, 2020 / Camino Thoughts / 5 minutes of reading

The other pilgrims I met is my number one on the Camino, all Camino routes. I feel I was blessed. I don’t like crowds, however, I do in general like talking, and listening to other people. I, being an English speaker, was amazed at the number of people that spoke English when it was their second and third language – I felt quite ignorant as the result of this – I can get a coffee in a few languages – but cannot communicate in any bar English.

Southern Upland Way

Hiking the Southern Upland Way

March 20, 2020 / Walking Holidays in Scotland / 5 minutes of reading

If you want to get away from it all on one of Scotland’s long-distance hiking routes then there’s perhaps nowhere better to head to on your next walking holiday than the Southern Upland Way.

The beauty of the highlands is something that you really do have to see to believe, and it’s an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Many people will tell you that a holiday is only a holiday when you’re sunning yourself on a beach and that Scotland just doesn’t afford you such opportunities. But what they’re missing is the beauty of unspoiled nature at its finest.

Santiago

Newbie Mistakes & Advice for the Camino de Santiago

March 7, 2020 / Articles / 5 minutes of reading

To be honest, I wanted to get your attention with the title of this blog post. I guess it worked if you are reading this now 🙂

Great. Now that we are here I would like to clear something up which is of high importance to me.

The word “mistake” in the blog title is not really right. I rather try to see things as experiences and experiments instead of mistakes. This gives more space and helps us to go out and try more things because we are not so afraid of failure.

Outdoor jacket

Best Lightweight Rain Jackets

May 22, 2020 / Outdoor Gear / 9 minutes of reading

Protecting yourself from whatever Mother Nature throws at you while out on the road is vital. If you want to stay safe and well when you’re out in the wilderness, you need a backpacking rain jacket that works well.

Just in case you don’t want to read the full review, my favourite is this jacket from Outdoor Research my current jacket from them is 12 years old and still the one I want to carry most often – even though I have bought quite a few others during the last few years.

The Best Long Distance Hiking Routes in England and Wales

March 12, 2020 / Hiking Routes, Hiking UK / 8 minutes of reading

In this article, we bring you some of the best, most beautiful and most diverse walks in England and Wales. They’re all long-distance challenges, ranging from 127km to just over 1000km. We feature coastal walks, hilly ups and downs and historical treks that bring you closer to Britain’s rich heritage. Whatever type of walk you like, a big dose of inspiration for your next ambitious hiking adventure is somewhere on this list.

Mens boots

How to Choose the Best Hiking Boots

May 12, 2020 / Outdoor Gear / 5 minutes of reading

It’s important to have the right footwear for your level of hiking, more so if you are going on a walking holiday or a long distance walk like the Camino de Santiago, (and the right backpack and waterproofs). Different styles are more suitable for different levels than others.

Backpack fitting

How to Choose a Backpack for the Camino de Santiago

May 16, 2020 / Outdoor Gear / 7 minutes of reading

After choosing the best hiking boots or hiking shoes for your feet, a backpack is the second most important piece of equipment you need for walking any of the Camino routes (see Camino packing list).  Bear in mind this humble backpack is going to hold all your belonging for a month, sometime more.

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