The Way of the Lighthouses on Spain's Galician coast
Guidebook to walking the Camino dos Faros, the way of the lighthouses, along the Galician coast in northwest Spain. The 200km route is described across 8 stages of between 17 and 29km and takes in some of the area's most wild and enchanting coastal scenery, with dramatic cliffs and deep river estuaries. Incorporates some challenging walking.
This is the first edition of this guide (late 2019).
This guidebook explores the Camiño dos Faros (the Way of the Lighthouses), a 200km hike around the remote northwest corner of Spain. Starting in the old whaling town of Malpica and ending in Fisterra (Spain's Land's End), the eight day hike along the Costa da Morte follows a path that sticks limpet-like to the Atlantic coast. It's a spectacular walk along dramatic cliffs and around deep, verdant river estuaries, exploring the rich Galician culture and history. With stages between 18 and 29km per day, this is a hike suitable for walkers willing to undertake reasonably long days and the occasional scramble up and down beach paths.
The guide provides in-depth descriptions of the route alongside clear mapping to aid navigation. It includes practical information for both before and during your trip, and details about wildlife and historic sites along the walk. In the back of the guide are a series of appendices listing accommodation, main Galician festivals, and useful contacts.
The Camiño dos Faros follows the wild coast of the Costa da Morte, which is battered by storms racing in from the Atlantic. For shipping it is one of the world's most dangerous coastlines and its ominous name meaning 'the coast of death' is well deserved. 'Dos Faros' refers to a series of beautifully located lighthouses that attempt to warn sailors of the perils that await them. The sea has shaped the landscape and the Galician culture, and the locally caught seafood including razor clams and percebes should not be missed.
Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction
Camiño dos Faros – a Galician coastal walk
Camiño dos Faros and the sea
The Costa da Morte
Flora and fauna
What’s the walking like?
The eight day schedule
Food and accommodation
Planning your walk
Getting there
What to take
Finding your way
Using this guide
Camiño dos Faros
Stage 1 Malpica to Praia de Niñóns
Stage 2 Praia de Niñóns to Ponteceso
Stage 3 Ponteceso to Laxe
Stage 4 Laxe to Arou
Stage 5 Arou to Camariñas
Stage 6 Camariñas to Muxía
Stage 7 Muxía to Praia de Nemiña
Stage 8 Praia de Nemiña to Cabo Fisterra
Appendix A Trek planning table
Appendix B Accommodation
Appendix C Main Galician festivals
Appendix D Useful contacts
About the author:
John Hayes
John Hayes is a retired management consultant with degrees from Liverpool University and University College London. Immediately after finishing work in 2011 he embarked on an epic 5000km trek across Europe, walking from Tarifa in Spain to Budapest. John has written for numerous walking and trekking magazines. John has walked the Camiño dos Faros twice, in April 2016 (with Christine his wife) and in June 2017.