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Review
"Even if you don't think you will ever make this pilgrimage, you will enjoy the books because they help you feel like you are right there, making the journey along with the many travelers on the paths." - --New Spirit Journal
Review
"Even if you don't think you will ever make this pilgrimage, you will enjoy the books because they help you feel like you are right there, making the journey along with the many travelers on the paths." -New Spirit Journal
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this guide as I was going to walk from St. Jean Pied de Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain in April 2010. I had no previous knowledge on guide books so obtained this knowledge purely from Amazon. Having bought the guide book and realising that it was excellently informative, I then purchased a further 3 identical books for each of my children who, after sending brief texts to them each day they were able to follow exactly where I was on El Camino. I would thoroughly recommend this guide book by John Brierley. It has everything from clear maps, albergues, historical points of interest, optional routes, words of wisdom and personal reflections. The book is slim enough to slip into a leg pocket of walking trousers for quick and easy reference and is also robust enough to withstand much thumbing through. Glossy cover ensures that it is also tough enough to endure considerable damp! I intend to buy his other guide books when I walk other parts of the Camino. Can't recommend it highly enough.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I did the St Jean Pied de Port to Finisterre in Oct2010. Used this guide for everything I needed, including a few side trips (EG: Dragonte Route-I recommend this trip but be careful which tracks you follow around the mine). Light and sturdy enough and the maps alone would be sufficient for the trip. Good size to fit into trouser side or back pocket. The written route descriptions give all the background info required. I saw the books that others had, and this one is the pick for me.
Other books did not provide additional (senda alternatives) paths the way this book did. No book will give a 100% correct description as things change every year, but I simply followed the maps every day and only went wrong when I intentionally decided to go off-track. Get additional maps for off-track areas from local tourist office along the way. Detailed maps are not really needed. Pay attention and look for the markers and you will find the path just fine.
Note that no info is included for Santiago to Finisterre, so a separate book by John will be needed, although possible with basic info from Santiago tourist office. Another shortcoming is no indication of price of albergues along the way. Possible to get summary document from tourist office in the first main town for the Leon Province (also try the Web). Unfortunately no such document available for Galicia. And remember: don't worry about the details too much, just enjoy the trip.
Other books did not provide additional (senda alternatives) paths the way this book did. No book will give a 100% correct description as things change every year, but I simply followed the maps every day and only went wrong when I intentionally decided to go off-track. Get additional maps for off-track areas from local tourist office along the way. Detailed maps are not really needed. Pay attention and look for the markers and you will find the path just fine.
Note that no info is included for Santiago to Finisterre, so a separate book by John will be needed, although possible with basic info from Santiago tourist office. Another shortcoming is no indication of price of albergues along the way. Possible to get summary document from tourist office in the first main town for the Leon Province (also try the Web). Unfortunately no such document available for Galicia. And remember: don't worry about the details too much, just enjoy the trip.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm just back from walking all 800km of the Camino Francés from St Jean to Santiago. This book was indispensable - by far the most helpful for my daily journey, and in giving me a good list of things which were necessary before I started. It also had a very useful list of some of the more common things I would have to say/ask for in Spanish. Two aspects of the book were exceptionally helpful: the maps and the historical notes.
Brierley's maps are clear and concise and give you an excellent idea of the walk ahead of you each morning. His historical notes were extremely helpful, especially when you bear in mind that there are some 1800 historical sites along the Camino Francés. His notes on churches, battles, historical developments and so much else gave me at any rate a greater comfort and sense of continuous education along the walk. Other observations, such as the types of crop grown on the Meseta Central in contrast to the lowlands, increased my knowledge of farming life in these parts of Spain. His overview map of all 33 stages in the first three pages was particularly useful, while his guide to the hostels on each day's journey was most helpful.
Now for the weak points. They were very minor in comparison. First, you may not take to Brierley's spiritual notes and personal reflections. I didn't but you just overlook them so it isn't an issue. Second, which was the relatively more serious issue, Brierley's book could be improved for the last 100-odd km from Sarria. Specifically, there are a number of new cafés/restaurants along the camino which do not get a mention and this posed me some difficulty in determining whether I had gone the correct way (the waymarking was weak around the area I'm thinking of). In absolute fairness to Brierley, however, he notes in the book that there is a quite rapid expansion of such cafés along the camino every year and these places looked new. There were also other anomalies such as on Map 28 (Triacastella to Sarria via Samos)the map clearly shows you go downhill when you come out of Triacastella but in reality I had a fairly steep climb up the asphalt road to Samos immediately when I left Triacastella.
However, on other occasions, particularly at the start, I was sure he was wrong and it ended up that he was correct and ultimately put me on the right track. One other thing, he has great information on the different routes to each place - e.g. the recommended route, alternative route etc - and this allows you to plan each day's trip according to your level of fitness and time constraints. Overall, this is well worth getting and, judging by the number of English speakers who were using it, it has now become the standard guide on the camino. It's small, yet bursting with relevant information.
Brierley's maps are clear and concise and give you an excellent idea of the walk ahead of you each morning. His historical notes were extremely helpful, especially when you bear in mind that there are some 1800 historical sites along the Camino Francés. His notes on churches, battles, historical developments and so much else gave me at any rate a greater comfort and sense of continuous education along the walk. Other observations, such as the types of crop grown on the Meseta Central in contrast to the lowlands, increased my knowledge of farming life in these parts of Spain. His overview map of all 33 stages in the first three pages was particularly useful, while his guide to the hostels on each day's journey was most helpful.
Now for the weak points. They were very minor in comparison. First, you may not take to Brierley's spiritual notes and personal reflections. I didn't but you just overlook them so it isn't an issue. Second, which was the relatively more serious issue, Brierley's book could be improved for the last 100-odd km from Sarria. Specifically, there are a number of new cafés/restaurants along the camino which do not get a mention and this posed me some difficulty in determining whether I had gone the correct way (the waymarking was weak around the area I'm thinking of). In absolute fairness to Brierley, however, he notes in the book that there is a quite rapid expansion of such cafés along the camino every year and these places looked new. There were also other anomalies such as on Map 28 (Triacastella to Sarria via Samos)the map clearly shows you go downhill when you come out of Triacastella but in reality I had a fairly steep climb up the asphalt road to Samos immediately when I left Triacastella.
However, on other occasions, particularly at the start, I was sure he was wrong and it ended up that he was correct and ultimately put me on the right track. One other thing, he has great information on the different routes to each place - e.g. the recommended route, alternative route etc - and this allows you to plan each day's trip according to your level of fitness and time constraints. Overall, this is well worth getting and, judging by the number of English speakers who were using it, it has now become the standard guide on the camino. It's small, yet bursting with relevant information.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent guide
Guide reads very well with comprehensive maps. Hope it will prove to be as good as it reads when I do the Camino later this year
Published 18 days ago by Bcleeve
The only book you should need
I got this book for a friend as she had loaned me hers to go to the Camino in April, so I returned the favour. Very prompt delivery service and my friend was delighted. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tjmac
Excellent support and prepation for this "adventure".
My wife and I are planning on taking this pilgrimage in about 2 years time (already taking measures for extended time off work). Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. Swain
Now awaken
Very well written and packed with information, maps, tips and potted guide. Really excellent. Will really enthuse if you are considering walking the Camino.
Published 2 months ago by Polperro Person
Camino Pilgrim's Guide, 8th edition
A Pilgrims Guide to the Camino Frances, by John Brierley arrived within days and has all the information that I need for my planned 38 day pilgrimage in June. Read more
Published 3 months ago by bptokai
Badly cut.
I bought this book, as I am determined to walk the Camino. The pages are all cut off at the edges, and thus the book is basically unreadable. It has been a complete waste of money. Read more
Published 4 months ago by CríostóirMacAodha
All you need
This book contains every thing you need to know to walk the Camino. From what to pack to where to stay and how to get there including a choice of routes. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Trish K
The perfect travel companion
We found in this book the perfect guide to our Camino. We were never stressed with any of the routes we took knowing that the book would lead us to our next stop. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Lady One
Camino Frances
I believe it is an excellent guide book for anyone planning to walk the Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Stephen Mangion
The majority of english speaking people on the walk have this book
I have recently walked the Camino and this book was really useful. Not only does it show you the walk on easy to follow maps but it recommends places to stay and lists where all... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Catherine
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