English: Camino English from Ferrol
Walk the English Way, the historical route of British and Irish pilgrims. It starts in Ferrol or A Coruña and enjoy the coastal and rural Galicia on a shorter and more affordable route.
Organize your English: Camino English from FerrolGeneral Description of English: Camino English from Ferrol
Connections of English: Camino English from Ferrol
English: Camino English from A Coruña
Distance:
73 km
Days:
3
Difficulty:
Lowlands
The English Way from A Coruña offers an alternative shorter route for pilgrims arriving by sea. Although its distance is less than the 100 km needed to obtain a Compostela starting alone from this point, it's a charming route that joins up with the path coming from Ferrol at Hospital de Bruma.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: From A Coruña to Sergude
Stage 2: Go to Bruma Hospital
Stage 3: Hospital of Brumath to Segurao
Stage 4: Follow the way to Santiago de Compostela.
Sea Road
Distance:
273 km
Days:
12
Difficulty:
Media
The Way of the Sea is a Jacobean itinerary that follows the Cantabrian coastline of northern Galicia, serving as an impressive link between the Camino del Norte (from Ribadeo) and the Camino Inglés (towards Santiago from Ferrol). This demanding route is characterized by its broken profile and wild beauty, leading the pilgrim through the cliffs of the Sierra de A Capelada, near the magical sanctuary of San Andrés de Teixido.
The walker will discover the essence of the High Coast, starting with the famous Cathedral Beach in its early stages, passing through charming coastal villages such as San Cibrao, Viveiro or Cedeira. It is an alternative to the Camino del Norte interior, ideal for those seeking a deep connection with the sea, wild nature and unforgettable landscapes.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Ribadeo - Saint Cosme of Barreiros
Stage 2: St. Cosmas of Barreiros - Fazouro
Stage 3: Fazouro is not a location I am familiar with in my training data. However, I can try to find an alternative translation for you: Fazouro - San Cibrão
Stage 4: San Cibrao de Viveiro
Stage 5: Vivero - O Vicedo
English: Cycling Camino English
Distance:
155.2 km
Days:
3
Difficulty:
Media
The English Way by bike condenses the historic route of pilgrims arriving by sea into 2 or 3 stages. Starting from Ferrol port, the "bicigrino" passes through coastal landscapes, marina villages like Pontedeume and Betanzos, and rural interior Galicia, until joining the Coruña branch in Hospital de Bruma. With an undulating terrain and demanding hills, it's a short but intense route, perfect for a multi-day getaway to obtain the Compostela.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Ferry from Ferrol to Betanzos (by bicycle)
Stage 2: Betanzos to Santiago de Compostela (By bike)
Stage 3: Go to Bruma Hospital
Elevation Profile of English: Camino English from Ferrol
Visualize the ups and downs of the route.
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Stages of English: Camino English from Ferrol
Etapa 1: Ferrol to Pontedeume
Description:
The first stage of the English Way from Ferrol offers a route that combines urban, industrial and rural sections with beautiful views of the estuary. The departure from Ferrol leads the pilgrim on an ...
Origen: Ferrol
Destino: Pontedeume
Etapa 2: Pontedeume to Betanzos
Description:
This stage is short but demanding, especially in its first part. The journey begins with a tough and prolonged climb as soon as you leave Pontedeume, testing the pilgrim's legs. Once the ascent is ove...
Origen: Pontedeume
Destino: Betanzos
Etapa 3: Betanzos to Bruma
Description:
This stage is one of the hardest and most solitary on the English Way. The route enters Galicia's interior definitively, in a continuous rise and fall through a rural and depopulated landscape. It's a...
Etapa 4: Bruma to Sigüeiro
Description:
This stage is much more comfortable than the previous one, with a predominantly descending profile. From the Bruma plateau, the path begins a gentle descent through a rural landscape of meadows, fores...
Etapa 5: Sigüeiro to Santiago de Compostela
Description:
The last and exciting stage of the Camino Inglés. It is a short journey designed to arrive in Santiago with time to enjoy the city. The first part traverses rural surroundings but soon enters the outs...
Origen: Sigüeiro
Destino: Santiago de Compostela
Featured Towns of English: Camino English from Ferrol
Explore the key towns and cities of this route.
Ferrol
Port city and starting point of the English Way. Ferrol offers the pilgrim a maritime route start, with a rich naval heritage and the charm of the Magdalena district.
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Pontedeume
Charming medieval village in the Ares estuary, a key stop on the Camino Ingles. Its long stone bridge and the Torreón of the Andrade are its Jacobean signature marks.
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Betanzos
Historic capital of the ancient Kingdom of Galicia and Gothic gem of the Camino Ingles. Betanzos charms with its old town, churches, and famous tortilla, an indispensable stop.
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Bruma
Small and solitary parish on the West Highland Way. The Brumadiz Hotel, with its historic pilgrim's hospital, is a key landmark offering an authentic refuge in the heart of rural Galicia.
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Santiago de Compostela
The Final and Spiritual Heart of the Way of St. James. Its majestic Cathedral and Plaza del Obradoiro welcome pilgrims from all over the world in a full of emotion finale.
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Sigüeiro
Capital of the municipality of Oroso and last major stop on the Camino Ingles before Santiago. Sigüeiro, with its medieval bridge over the River Tambre, is the prelude to the Compostela destination.
More InformationMillenary History of the Camino de Santiago: Origins and Evolution English: Camino English from Ferrol
Discover the origins and evolution of English: Camino English from Ferrol
For these northern pilgrims, the sea journey often represented a faster and paradoxically safer option than the long land trek through France. The Galician ports of Ferrol and A Coruña solidified as main landing points, giving rise to two historical variants of this route. From there, pilgrims known as "sailors" or "ocean travelers," embarked on foot the final leg of their journey. The variant starting from Ferrol, with its 119 kilometers, exceeded the minimum distance of 100 km required for obtaining the Compostela certificate, while the A Coruña variant, at around 73 kilometers, was shorter but equally traversed.
The English Way's peak occurred during the 14th and 15th centuries. The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) between England and France made crossing Galician territory an extremely perilous undertaking for English subjects, leading to a surge in maritime routes towards Galicia that had never been seen before. Chronicles of the time describe the arrival of genuine fleets of ships ("cogs" and "hulks") at Ferrol and A Coruña ports, carrying pilgrims from all social classes. English port cities such as Bristol, Plymouth, Dartmouth, or Southampton became bustling centers for organizing these faith journeys. Pilgrims typically carried a passport and wore a scallop shell to be identified and respected.
The infrastructure of accommodation in Galicia developed to cater to this influx. Hospitals for pilgrims managed by religious orders and military organizations were founded. The most well-known was the Hospital of St. Spiritus in Bruma, established in 1140 by the Order of Santiago, a strategic point where the two variants converged. Other hospitals existed in Neda, Pontedeume, and Betanzos, cities with rich historical cascos that still testify to their Jacobean past.
However, the English Way's fate was tied to England's political and religious situation. In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation, driven by King Henry VIII and his break with Catholicism, nearly killed this route. The suppression of monasteries and the prohibition on pilgrimages in reforming countries led to a drastic and sudden decline in the number of walkers. The flow of ships ceased, and the route fell into deep forgetfulness for centuries, sustained only by an occasional trickle of devotees.
Its modern revival has been later than other routes but has experienced significant growth in the 21st century. Pilgrims seeking shorter, less crowded, and uniquely charming routes have rediscovered this path. Its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, within the expansion of the Northern Routes, was a definitive impulse. Today, the English Way offers an unparalleled Jacobean experience, combining epic history of maritime pilgrimages with the beauty of Galicia's rias, forests, and rural landscapes.