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Walking the Camino dos Faros

The Way of the Lighthouses on Spain's Galician coast

By John Hayes

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.

Seasons

With mild temperatures the Camiño dos Faros is potentially an all-season walk, although it can be very wet underfoot in the winter. The best time to walk it is April, May and June, when the light and the flowers are wonderful.

Centres

Malpica, Corme, Ponteceso, Laxe, Camelle, Arou, Camariñas, Muxía, Praia de Nemiña, Fisterra

Difficulty

The Camiño dos Faros is a safe walk requiring no technical expertise. The main challenge is daily distance, but this can moderated by taking shortcuts along this very bendy route.

Must See

Galician culture and traditions; lighthouses along the Costa da Morte; Faro Vilán, the oldest electric lighthouse in Spain; Michelin starred restaurant As Garzas; dramatic cliffs and spectacular unspoilt coastal scenery; varied and rare birdlife; old whaling towns and fishing villages.
ISBN
9781852849719
Availability
Published
Published
11 Oct 2019
Edition
First
Pages
120
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x .80cm
Weight
140g
Overview
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.
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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 5,000km trek across Europe, walking from Tarifa in Spain to Budapest. John has written for numerous walking and trekking magazines, and has written four walking guides and a cycling guide for Cicerone.

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