The essential pocket guide for the pilgrim following the Camino

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Product Description

304 pages paperback in full colour, many maps and photographs and other unique features to the Camino Guides series. Today this route represents the most popular Christian pilgrimage anywhere in the world. Walked by millions over the millennia it represents a major force for spiritual transformation. This guidebook features: - Daily stage maps with contour Guides - Full information on all pilgrim hostels and details of alternative accommodation - Numerous colour photographs - Overview Route Planner - Detailed Town Plans - Practical notes to help you prepare for the journey - and much more...This new edition differs from the previous one in the following fashion: - During the Holy Year of 2004 a number of alterations were made to the route including the addition of several new pilgrim hostals. All these are incorporated into this new guide. - slimmed down and printed on lightweight paper. - 'starting out' section has been coloured coded and can be removed before departure, further lightening load. - The front and rear flaps will be indented to facilitate their use as page markers. - There are over 200 new colour photographs and the text, town plans and route maps have all been updated and revised making the journey ahead, and the options it presents, even clearer than before. The original guide, in paying equal respect to both the outer and inner pathways, struck a deep chord with pilgrims. This format has been retained and we trust will continue to serve the modern pilgrim along this ancient pathway.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #292535 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-31
• Format: Abridged
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

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Customer Reviews

Excellent guide - colored maps, photos, elevation profiles
The revised edition remains a fine guide and the weight has dropped from 15 oz to 10 oz, making it easier to carry. Mileage and refugio information have been brought up to date.

This guide is very pleasing to look at: glossy paper, colored photos almost every page, multicolor maps and trail profiles, parts of text set off by shading. It has the information the walker needs, where the refugios are, how many beds, alternate choices. There is an introductory section with introduction, overview, followed by planning and preparation information. The main body of the guide follows, organized in 33 stages where each stage corresponds to a typical day's travel. Each stage has a map and a trail profile.
The planning section is very useful - detailed equipment list, travel info, essential phrases in Spanish and a short history of the Camino
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This guide also makes a serious effort to address the spiritual or inner path side of the journey. In addition to the map and profile, each stage begins with three paragraphs - the Physical Path - a narrative overview of the day's walk, the Mystic Path - to awaken you to the spiritual potential of the day's walk, and Personal Reflections - a quotation from the author's reflections. In each stage there is a page with blank lines for the walker to write in their own reflections. The mystic path, and blank reflections page didn't work for me, but that is personal preference.

For me, the colored maps, elevation profiles and photos are the strong points of the book.

The only real competition to this guide is Davies and Cole Walking the Camino de Santiago. Brierley's guide clearly beats the original Davies and Cole on appearance, and maps and profiles are much better. There is a new Davies and Cole that I have not seen yet. Either one will get you there. I'd buy each ahead of time and make your choice. In total trip expenses it's a minor cost, and both have information you will appreciate. Accomodations change from year to year, so also be sure to get the annual confraternity guide in the next paragraph.

When walking the Camino, the mandatory guide for English speakers is the Confraternity of St. James Pilgrim Guides to Spain I. The Camino Frances. This is a barebones 76 page guide focused on pilgrim food and shelter - how far is it, how many beds available, what does it cost. Supplementing this is the Camino chapter out of the Lonely Planet's Walking guide to Spain - about 35 pages. The Camino facilities change from year to year, and inevitably publications will have typos and errors of fact. Do not rely on just one guide, and do future pilgrims a favor by emailing the publication's website if you find errors in the text.

The best guide for the camino
I walked the camino June 2006 and this book was may bible, companion and guide. I saw most of the other books available in all the languages of the camino and this one seemed by far the best for directions, advice and general tone, which was in total keeping with the camino. Will be especially useful when used in combination with the Confrateriny of St James annual update.

Top marks ! Possibly the best guide you'll find
I searched and browsed thru bookshops for a decent guide and eventually chose this one. Without a doubt this author has been careful and thorough in making sure the information is concise, precise and accurate. The maps, diagrams, elevations are useful and well presented. The written articles explaining briefly the path, the spiritual significance,etc were encouraging and pleasant to read. Proclaimed a light weight version (2007 version) the quality and usefullness of the contents far outweigh the inconvenience of carrying the extra 500 grammes of weight. Excellent tips and attention to detail makes this guide a must for all Camino de Santiago travellers.