Overview
The Brierley Route is based on the route recommended by Camino veteran John Brierley in his popular English-language hardcopy guidebook, A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago.
The Brierley Route is a suitable option for just about all pilgrims – 33 walking days is a good balance between ‘getting it done’ and not over-doing it. For the most part, the communities the guide recommends for over-nighting (ie, the end points for each stage) are fairly good, with the selected communities usually being interesting and having decent accommodation options (though we’d take Zubiri over Larrasoaña). The Brierley Route seems to be the most popular path taken by English-speaking pilgrims – if you are looking for other English-speaking pilgrims to meet up with, this is a good choice.
The downside to the Brierley route is that it is the most popular path taken by English-speaking pilgrims – if you are looking to somewhat avoid the all-out daily rush to the next albergue, you may want to slightly modify this route so that you are a bit ‘off-schedule’ relative to everyone else. That said, keep in mind that English-speaking pilgrims still represent a very small percentage of overall pilgrims (albeit a growing percentage).
The Brierley Route used here follows the ‘recommended’ route in the Brierley guidebook. There are some small differences, mainly in some of the paths through larger communities, but it is mostly the same including the same stage breaks.
Useful Stuff to Know…
Starting Location: | St Jean Pied de Port |
Finishing Location: | Santiago de Compostela |
Total Distance: | 772.9 km |
# Stages in Route: | 33 |
# Sections in Route: | 146 |
Avg Stage Distance: | 23.4 km |
Total Ascent: | 13,790 m |
Total Descent: | 13,725 m |
Longest Stage: | #25 – 30.6 km |
Shortest Stage: | #28 – 18.2 km |
Stage 01
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
24.4 km | 1,470 m | 715 m | ||
Saint Jean – Orisson | Excellent | 7.7 km | 665 m | 60 m |
Orisson – Roncesvalles | Excellent | 16.7 km | 805 m | 660 m |
Stage 02
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
26.6 km | 500 m | 945 m | ||
Roncesvalles – Burguete | 2.8 km | 5 m | 60 m | |
Burguete – Espinal | 3.8 km | 55 m | 80 m | |
Espinal – Viscarret/Gerendiain | 4.9 km | 120 m | 210 m | |
Viscarret / Gerendiain – Linzoáin | 1.8 km | 15 m | 65 m | |
Linzoain – Zubiri | 8.0 km | 180 m | 380 m | |
Zubiri – Larrasoaña | 5.3 km | 125 m | 155 m |
Stage 03
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
19.4 km | 350 m | 390 m | ||
Larrasoaña – Trinidad de Arre | 10.3 km | 225 m | 295 m | |
Trinidad de Arre – Pamplona | 4.1 km | 40 m | 30 m | |
Pamplona – Cizur Menor | 5.0 km | 85 m | 65 m |
Stage 04
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
18.8 km | 395 m | 505 m | ||
Cizur Menor – Zariquiegui | 6.2 km | 205 m | 45 m | |
Zariquiegui – Uterga | 5.8 km | 145 m | 270 m | |
Uterga – Obanos | 4.5 km | 35 m | 120 m | |
Obanos – Puenta la Reina | 2.3 km | 10 m | 70 m |
Stage 05
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
21.9 km | 510 m | 440 m | ||
Puente la Reina – Mañeru | 5.2 km | 175 m | 80 m | |
Mañeru – Cirauqui | 2.6 km | 65 m | 25 m | |
Cirauqui – Lorca | 5.6 km | 155 m | 180 m | |
Lorca – Villatuerta | 4.6 km | 40 m | 80 m | |
Villatuerta – Estella | 3.9 km | 75 m | 75 m |
Stage 06
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
21.4 km | 450 m | 425 m | ||
Estella – Ayegui | 1.5 km | 65 m | 5 m | |
Ayegui – Irache | 1.8 km | 85 m | 20 m | |
Irache – Villamayor de Monjardín | 5.8 km | 205 m | 80 m | |
Villamayor de Monjardín – Los Arcos | 12.3 km | 95 m | 320 m |
Stage 07
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
27.4 km | 475 m | 545 m | ||
Los Arcos – Sansol | 6.9 km | 85 m | 55 m | |
Sansol – Torres del Rio | 560 m | 20 m | 35 m | |
Torres del Río – Viana | 10.6 km | 275 m | 265 m | |
Viana – Logroño | 9.3 km | 95 m | 195 m |
Stage 08
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
29.2 km | 455 m | 340 m | ||
Logroño – Navarette | 12.7 km | 230 m | 95 m | |
Navarette – Ventosa | 6.8 km | 155 m | 30 m | |
Ventosa – Nájera | 9.7 km | 70 m | 215 m |
Stage 09
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
21.0 km | 410 m | 255 m | ||
Nájera – Azofra | 5.9 km | 135 m | 75 m | |
Azofra – Cirueña | 9.2 km | 235 m | 40 m | |
Cirueña – Santo Domingo | 5.9 km | 40 m | 135 m |
Stage 10
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
22.7 km | 370 m | 235 m | ||
Santo Domingo – Grañon | 7.0 km | 120 m | 40 m | |
Grañon – Redecilla del Camino | 3.9 km | 80 m | 60 m | |
Redecilla del Camino – Castildelgado | 1.6 km | 30 m | 0 m | |
Castildelgado – Viloria de Rioja | 2.0 km | 45 m | 20 m | |
Viloria de Rioja – Villamayor del Rio | 3.5 km | 55 m | 60 m | |
Villamayor del Rio – Belorado | 4.7 km | 40 m | 55 m |
Stage 11
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
23.8 km | 470 m | 240 m | ||
Belorado – Tosantos | 4.8 km | 65 m | 20 m | |
Tosantos – Villambistia | 2.0 km | 45 m | 5 m | |
Villambistia – Espinosa del Camino | 1.5 km | 40 m | 5 m | |
Espinosa del Camino – Villafranca de Montes de Oca | 3.5 km | 75 m | 25 m | |
Villafranca de Montes de Oca – San Juan de Ortega | 12.0 km | 250 m | 185 m |
Stage 12
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
26.0 km | 200 m | 335 m | ||
San Juan de Ortega – Agés | 3.6 km | 20 m | 60 m | |
Agés – Atapuerca | 2.5 km | 10 m | 20 m | |
Atapuerca – Villalval | 4.4 km | 120 m | 130 m | |
Villalval – Burgos | 15.4 km | 55 m | 125 m |
Stage 13
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
20.7 km | 185 m | 235 m | ||
Burgos – Tardajos | 10.9 km | 55 m | 105 m | |
Tardajos – Rabé de las Calzadas | 2.2 km | 20 m | 15 m | |
Rabé de las Calzadas – Hornillos del Camino | 7.7 km | 105 m | 110 m |
Stage 14
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
19.9 km | 235 m | 245 m | ||
Hornillos del Camino – Hontanas | 10.5 km | 170 m | 120 m | |
Hontanas – Convento de San Anton | 5.6 km | 25 m | 95 m | |
Convento de San Anton – Castrojeriz | 3.7 km | 40 m | 30 m |
Stage 15
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
24.7 km | 255 m | 285 m | ||
Castrojeriz – Albergue / Ermita de San Nicolas | 9.0 km | 155 m | 200 m | |
Albergue / Ermita de San Nicolas – Itero de la Vega | 1.9 km | 10 m | 5 m | |
Itero de la Vega – Boadilla del Camino | 8.0 km | 65 m | 55 m | |
Boadilla del Camino – Frómista | 5.8 km | 25 m | 25 m |
Stage 16
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
19.8 km | 145 m | 90 m | ||
Frómista – Población de Campos | 3.4 km | 10 m | 10 m | |
Población de Campos – Villovieco | 4.5 km | 30 m | 30 m | |
Villovieco – Villalcázar de Sirga | 6.5 km | 50 m | 30 m | |
Villalcázar de Sirga – Carrión de los Condes | 5.4 km | 50 m | 20 m |
Stage 17
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
26.8 km | 160 m | 110 m | ||
Carrión de los Condes – Calzadilla de la Cueza | 17.3 km | 75 m | 45 m | |
Calzadilla de la Cueza – Ledigos | 6.1 km | 55 m | 40 m | |
Ledigos – Terradillos de los Templarios | 3.4 km | 30 m | 25 m |
Stage 18
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
26.3 km | 220 m | 210 m | ||
Terradillos de los Templarios – Moratinos | 3.3 km | 25 m | 40 m | |
Moratinos – San Nicolás del Real Camino | 2.6 km | 20 m | 40 m | |
San Nicolás del Real Camino – Sahagún | 7.0 km | 60 m | 70 m | |
Sahagún – Calzada del Coto | 5.1 km | 30 m | 45 m | |
Calzada del Coto – Calzadilla de los Hermanillos | 8.4 km | 80 m | 15 m |
Stage 19
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
24.1 km | 70 m | 160 m | ||
Calzadilla de los Hermanillos – Mansilla de las Mulas | 24.1 km | 70 m | 160 m |
Stage 20
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
18.4 km | 175 m | 130 m | ||
Mansilla de las Mulas – Puente Villarente | 5.9 km | 15 m | 10 m | |
Puente Villarente – Arcahueja | 4.4 km | 55 m | 5 m | |
Arcahuenja – León | 8.2 km | 105 m | 115 m |
Stage 21
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
20.8 km | 205 m | 175 m | ||
León – Trobajo del Camino | 3.6 km | 25 m | 30 m | |
Trobajo del Camino – La Virgen del Camino | 3.5 km | 75 m | 5 m | |
La Virgen del Camino – Villar de Mazarife | 13.7 km | 105 m | 140 m |
Stage 22
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
30.1 km | 230 m | 245 m | ||
Villar de Mazarife – Villavante | 9.5 km | 0 m | 40 m | |
Villavante – Hospital de Órbigo | 4.4 km | 5 m | 20 m | |
Hospital de Órbigo – Villares de Órbigo | 2.5 km | 15 m | 5 m | |
Villares de Órbigo – Santibanez de Valdeiglesias | 2.5 km | 50 m | 30 m | |
Santibanez de Valdeiglesias – San Justo de la Vega | 7.9 km | 130 m | 130 m | |
San Justo de la Vega – Astorga | 3.3 km | 35 m | 20 m |
Stage 23
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
20.5 km | 345 m | 55 m | ||
Astorga – Murias de Rechivaldo | 5.2 km | 50 m | 25 m | |
Murias de Rechivaldo – Santa Catalina de Somoza | 4.3 km | 100 m | 0 m | |
Santa Catalina de Somoza – El Ganso | 4.3 km | 40 m | 10 m | |
El Ganso – Rabanal del Camino | 6.8 km | 155 m | 15 m |
Stage 24
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
25.2 km | 510 m | 1,085 m | ||
Rabanal del Camino – Foncebadón | 5.5 km | 290 m | 5 m | |
Foncebadón – Manjarin | 4.3 km | 80 m | 75 m | |
Manjarin – El Acebo de San Miguel | 7.0 km | 110 m | 405 m | |
El Acebo de San Miguel – Riego de Ambrós | 3.2 km | 0 m | 205 m | |
Riego de Ambrós – Molinaseca | 5.4 km | 30 m | 390 m |
Stage 25
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
30.6 km | 405 m | 450 m | ||
Molinaseca – Ponferrada | 6.8 km | 100 m | 145 m | |
Ponferrada – Cacabelos | 16.1 km | 125 m | 180 m | |
Cacabelos – Pieros | 1.6 km | 65 m | 0 m | |
Pieros – Valtuille de Arriba | 1.9 km | 50 m | 30 m | |
Valtuille de Arriba – Villafranca del Bierzo | 4.3 km | 70 m | 95 m |
Stage 26
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
30.0 km | 1,485 m | 730 m | ||
Villafranca del Bierzo – Trabadelo (via Pradela) | 11.6 km | 545 m | 510 m | |
Trabadelo – La Portela de Valcarce | 3.8 km | 100 m | 75 m | |
La Portela de Valcarce – Ambasmestas | 1.3 km | 30 m | 15 m | |
Ambasmestas – Vega de Valcarce | 1.6 km | 45 m | 20 m | |
Vega de Valcarce – Ruitelán | 2.2 km | 50 m | 25 m | |
Ruitelán – Las Herrerias | 1.4 km | 35 m | 25 m | |
Las Herrerias – La Faba | 3.3 km | 270 m | 35 m | |
La Faba – Laguna de Castilla | 2.5 km | 260 m | 5 m | |
Laguna de Castilla – O Cebreiro | 2.3 km | 155 m | 25 m |
Stage 27
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
20.6 km | 360 m | 980 m | ||
O Cebreiro – Liñares | 3.2 km | 75 m | 135 m | |
Liñares – Alto do Poio | 5.2 km | 235 m | 125 m | |
Alto do Poio – Fonfría | 3.4 km | 30 m | 70 m | |
Fonfría – Biduedo | 2.4 km | 5 m | 105 m | |
Biduedo – Triacastela | 6.5 km | 25 m | 545 m |
Stage 28
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
18.2 km | 365 m | 590 m | ||
Triacastela – Calvor | 13.2 km | 315 m | 470 m | |
Calvor – Aguiada | 530 m | 0 m | 20 m | |
Aguiada – San Mamed del Camino | 1.2 km | 10 m | 20 m | |
San Mamed del Camino – San Pedro do Camino | 1.8 km | 10 m | 75 m | |
San Pedro do Camino – Sarria | 1.5 km | 30 m | 10 m |
Stage 29
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
21.9 km | 460 m | 555 m | ||
Sarria – Vilei | 3.6 km | 140 m | 65 m | |
Vilei – Barbadelo | 700 m | 35 m | 0 m | |
Barbadelo – Morgade | 7.7 km | 190 m | 95 m | |
Morgade – Ferreiros | 1.4 km | 30 m | 15 m | |
Ferreiros – Moimentos | 2.9 km | 35 m | 115 m | |
Moimentos – Mercadoiro | 465 m | 0 m | 35 m | |
Mercadoiro – Portomarin | 5.1 km | 30 m | 230 m |
Stage 30
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
24.3 km | 570 m | 360 m | ||
Portomarin – Gonzar | 7.5 km | 235 m | 30 m | |
Gonzar – Hospital da Cruz | 3.6 km | 140 m | 15 m | |
Hospital da Cruz – Ventas de Narón | 1.4 km | 35 m | 5 m | |
Ventas de Narón – Ligonde | 3.5 km | 25 m | 105 m | |
Ligonde – Eirexe | 795 m | 30 m | 20 m | |
Eirexe – Lestedo | 2.6 km | 40 m | 70 m | |
Lestedo – Palas de Rei | 4.9 km | 70 m | 115 m |
Stage 31
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
25.6 km | 485 m | 735 m | ||
Palas de Rei – San Xulian | 3.5 km | 45 m | 135 m | |
San Xulian – Ponte Campaña | 1.0 km | 5 m | 45 m | |
Ponte Campaña – Casanova | 1.3 km | 70 m | 5 m | |
Casanova – Leboreiro | 3.3 km | 70 m | 105 m | |
Leboreiro – Melide | 5.7 km | 85 m | 80 m | |
Melide – Boente | 5.5 km | 85 m | 145 m | |
Boente – Castañeda | 2.2 km | 75 m | 60 m | |
Castañeda – Ribadiso da Baixo | 3.1 km | 55 m | 165 m |
Stage 32
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
22.2 km | 480 m | 505 m | ||
Ribadiso da Baixo – Arzúa | 2.2 km | 90 m | 0 m | |
Arzúa – Salceda | 12.0 km | 240 m | 270 m | |
Salceda – Santa Irene | 4.7 km | 110 m | 110 m | |
Santa Irene – Pedrouzo | 3.2 km | 40 m | 125 m |
Stage 33
Name | Rank | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
19.7 km | 390 m | 420 m | ||
Pedrouzo – Lavacolla | 9.4 km | 220 m | 205 m | |
Lavacolla – Monte do Gozo | 5.5 km | 120 m | 45 m | |
Monte do Gozo – Santiago de Compostela | 4.8 km | 50 m | 165 m |
Admin Notes
04 Jan 2015: Minor tweaks to the route.