Where to start

[Jenny South Africa]

I only have 6 days to walk part of the trail at the beginning of May, which I suppose is better than nothing. I was thinking of starting at Leon or has anyone a better suggestion?

Also, I am fitting it in between a a business trip in Amsterdam and London, so I will have other luggage with me. Is there any where I can leave it while I am walking?

I would appreciate some advice, please.

[Covey]

I would suggest walking the Sarria to Santiago stage, which means you can arrive and depart from Santiago airport.

Santiago has a daily flight to London (Stansted) and Amsterdam. The Amsterdam to Santiago flight is a bit expensive one way, so you would be better off doing London to Santiago return with Ryanair.

From Santiago Airport you get the coach to Lugo and then another bus from Lugo to Sarria. Santiago to Sarria is about 4 hours travel time, and 5 days walking back!!!

This also has the advantage that having done your 100kms, you can get your Compostella from the Pilgrim Office in Santiago to hang on the wall at home.

[Covey]

Sorry, forgot the luggage bit. Leave your luggage at the Stansted Left Luggage and pick it up on the way back. You don't want to carry extra bags on Ryanair as they charge per bag, both ways! Cheaper in Left Luggage.

[Covey]

Thanks for the email. If you are going from SA to Spain, I would assume that you will end up in Madrid. There are direct flights from SA to Madrid! Leave the luggage at Madrid airport.

The Spanish coach company ALSA runs a service from Madrid Airport to Lugo every day, from where you catch the local bus to Sarria.

Alsa have a very good website: http://www.alsa.es/portal/site/Alsa/

You can book coach tickets on-line and print out the tickets at home.

[Covey]

Sorry, missed the question about sleeping bags!

At the beginning of May a very lightweight sleeping bag might be useful if you already have one, as it will probably not be that warm at night and you are coming from a warm climate and will notice the difference.

If it was me, I would carry a fleece and a pair of tracksuit trousers/longjohns and sleep in them at night and use a silk sleeping bag liner. Its only for 5 nights! Most albergues will have a blanket you can use, so that should keep you warm. There is not much point in buying expensive sleeping bags if you might have no further use for one.

The Sarria to Santiago stage is not up in the hills so it should not get cold at night.

The bus from Santiago to Lugo/Sarria goes from just outside the airport terminal doors, and Santiago Airport is 17kms outside Santiago on the road to Lugo. If you can, you want to avoid going back in to Santiago as it is in the wrong direction!!

[dad]

Reguarding the bus to Lugo/Sarria are you sure that this bus can be got from outside the airport terminal I have been advised that I will have to go to the main bus station in Santiago but if this is not necessary it will be very helpfull

[Covey]

The Santiago to Lugo bus service is run by Empresa Friere

http://www.empresafreire.com/html/ingles/seccion0.htm

The Santiago to Lugo service goes via Santiago Airport on the way to Lugo. The Empresa Freire bus stop at the airport is just outside the terminal doors. When you arrive, ask the Information Desk in the public area and they will tell you the time of the next bus.

The airport is 17kms outside Santiago on the road to Lugo

At peak times they run two coaches from Santiago bus depot to Lugo leaving at the same time. One coach goes via the airport, the other coach misses out the airport stop and goes direct to Lugo.

[Covey]

Santiago Airport services

http://www.empresafreire.com/html/ingles/seccion3a.htm

[dad]

Thanks for the very helpfull info

[Jenny South Africa]

Thank you also for the great deal of trouble to which you have gone to help