WHAT’S it like to take on a long-distance pilgrim walk? How do you cope on cold wet days? What’s it like meeting other pilgrims? There are so many questions people ask before they do their first Camino and it would be easy to disappear down an online rabbit hole trying to get some answers. But fear not, Great Walks has spoken to a number of people who have walked a Camino (or in some cases five or six Caminos!) so you may well find many of those questions answered here.
Ash Barker (53), Birmingham, UK
Ash has walked the Camino Portuguese, completed four St Cuthbert’s Way pilgrimages (Scottish borderlands to Holy Island) and completed the Jesus Trail (Nazareth to Capurniam, Holy Land).
How much preparation and training did you did do prior to your walks?
I was very unfit before I started preparing for the Camino. I had a three month sabbatical and so built up to walk 20km a day so that my final two weeks of the Camino itself were not too painful! I did get fitter as I walked the Camino itself, however!
A lot of people find the long hours of daily walking gives them time to reflect on their lives. Did you find that?
Yes, I found a kind of re-booting. It took a little time to let go of the ‘monkey mind’ but found a peaceful place and became more aware. Came back with convictions to focus on five priorities in my life.
A lot of people talk about the camaraderie of other walkers. How did you find it?
Yes, I did it in the winter, so it wasn’t as full of
