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 in the June-July issue Great Walks spoken to a number of people who have walked a Camino (or two, or three!) so you may well find many of those questions answered here.
Here we speak to Camino fans Monica Barrett (65) and Alison Mott (67) both Manly, Qld.
GRW: What Caminos have you walked and how long were they?
We have walked the Camino Portuguese from Barcelos to Santiago de Compostela, the via Francigena from Lucca to Rome, and in 2023 the Cammino Materano from Cassano del Murge to Matera (on the via Peuceta) and Carovigno to Matera (on the via Ellenica). The Cammino Materano took 18 days combined.
GRW: What kept you going on the tough days?
The thought of good food and a comfortable bed helps! Also, reflecting on the beauty and talking with people we meet along the way - so many have greater challenges to overcome than us. The Cammino Materano has a network of enthusiastic volunteers located in each town, who are available to assist with advice and support if a pilgrim needs it, and they often welcome pilgrims on arrival to town and stamp their pilgrim credentials. They are able to offer encouragement for the ongoing Camino journey. The Cammino Materano was fairly arid in the time we were walking, so finding some shade gave us an opportunity to regroup and refocus.
Please share one memorable day on the trail.
Walking into Matera was just amazing! This ancient city is unlike any we have ever visited before. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is made up of cave dwellings carved into the mountainside. It overlooks a massive ravine. Nothing prepared us for the sight when we walked into town, our final destination. Another feature of the walk is the Rupestrian churches scattered along the walk with frescoes and incredible history. We were fortunate to accidentally meet an aged local man who was the caretaker of the oldest church in Ginosa (building commenced 1496) and he went and got the keys and spoke in Italian to us as he guided us through the church. He then showed us caves dating back to the Bronze Age in the ravine we had walked through on our entry to the town.
What's the one piece of advice you would tell someone considering walking a long-distance Camino?
Do it your way! If you cannot carry your pack, have it transported. If you can carry it, make sure it is as light as possible. Try using hiking poles if you are concerned about joint pain or balance. It is not a race – go at your own pace and enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and interactions. You can always plan to just do sections of pilgrimages if you are unable to do the whole Camino. Whatever way, our best advice is to just do it.
For lots more Camino advice great yourself a copy of the Great Walks June-July issue today!