The Camino itself has deep religious roots. It's a network of ancient pilgrimage routes leading to the shrine of St. James the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. In the Middle Ages, it was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages, alongside journeys to Jerusalem and Rome.

Today, people walk the Camino for many reasons, personal, physical, charitable or spiritual, or a combination. Regardless of religious belief, anyone walking the Camino with purpose is seen as a peregrino - a pilgrim.

The walk is 100km from Vigo to Santiago. This is the minimum distance you need to walk to earn the Compostela, the document that certifies that a pilgrim has completed the Camino de Santiago.

The Compostela is awarded by the Church authorities, and can be collected at the Pilgrim’s Reception Office in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This accreditation was created in the 9th and 10th centuries when the pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint James the Apostle was given official status.

The walk is 100km from Vigo to Santiago. This is the minimum distance you need to walk to earn the Compostela, the document that certifies that a pilgrim has completed the Camino de Santiago.

The Compostela is awarded by the Church authorities, and can be collected at the Pilgrim’s Reception Office in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This accreditation was created in the 9th and 10th centuries when the pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint James the Apostle was given official status.

You only need to carry your day bag. Your large bag will be transferred from hotel to hotel. Please note you are only allowed one large bag and it should be no more than 20kg. Please do not tie or attach anything to your one bag.

Not at all—the Camino Portugués is generally very safe, both in terms of personal safety and terrain. In fact, it's one of the most popular Camino routes precisely because it's accessible, well-marked, and welcoming.

Snacks are essential for walking to maintain energy levels. We suggest buying supplies in towns or stop at cafes/restaurants along the route.

There are toilets within the cafes and bars along the route but there are usually not other public toilets.

You will be walking between 12 and 25km each day for five days so we suggest building up your walking endurance before you go.

Start with regular 30 minute walks 2-3 times a week

Gradually build to longer walks over a few months. Practice back to back walks on the weekends to simulate Camino days

If you have new walking boots, definitely practice walking in these in advance of the Camino.

The yellow arrows show the pilgrims the way. For this reason, you don’t need a map or route guide.

The route varies from day to day. See the itinerary breakdown for more info on terrain each day.

You are welcome to do the Camino by bike, however cyclists need to cover at least 200km to receive the Compostela.

The Camino by bike route is slightly different to the walking route as the walking paths are not all suitable for bicycles.

We wont be able to support your trip so you would need to organise it yourself, including booking the hotels. We would be happy to tell you which hotels we are booked in if you would like to meet us in the evening, but we aren’t be able to arrange your accommodation if you aren't walking with the group.

You can always approach one of the companies who support people doing the Camino by bike. We have used Camino Ways but there are others available.

We walk each day, come rain or shine. We highly recommend taking a good quality waterproof for wetter days. Hopefully the sun will be out a fair amount.

Your walking pace is likely to vary from day to day. You will walk with others walking at your pace. We recommend stopping every so often to allow the slower walkers to catch up. This can often be in conjunction with a coffee stop. The WhatsApp group can also help keep walkers in touch with each other.

Nobody will be left to walk alone at the back of the group. We always make sure the last person in the group is within eyesight of others.

You should bring one bag or suitcase for most of your items and one small day bag.

Your bag should be appropriately sized for any travel restrictions to Vigo or away from Santiago - this will depend on your mode of transport and carrier. Please check your booking.

Your main bag should be no more than 20kg - this is the limit for the baggage transfers during the walk.

Your main bag should be one bag than can hold all of your belongings for transfer - not multiple smaller bags and no bags tied together.

Your day bag should be light enough to carry each day and big enough to carry daily essentials such as snacks, drinks, spare socks, first aid etc

• Walking boots

• Sunglasses

• Comfortable walking clothes, particularly layers and quick-dry

• Snacks (or you can purchase these in Spain)

• A water bottle

• Blister plasters

• A hat or other head covering

• A waterproof coat

• A rain cover for your day bag

• Comfortable shoes for the evenings

• Sun lotion

• Any medication you might need

• Tissues or toilet paper (just in case)

• Sleepwear

• Phone and charger

• Travel insurance information

You will not need a towel as these will be provided in all the hotels.

Walking poles are optional but can be handy if you like walking with them.

We highly recommend hiking boots as we will be walking in Spring when the paths maybe muddier. The extra ankle support is helpful over long distances.

You can wear trainers, but we recommend you have practiced walking in these for multiple days and know you are not going struggle.

Whatever you wear, it is essential you wear your shoes in before the trip.

We recommend you get European cover travel insurance and carry a GHIC card in case of accident or illness. Neither Camino Ways nor The Archer Project/The Choir with No Name provide travel insurance as part of this trip so we strongly recommend you arrange your own.

You are responsible for assessing whether you can go on the walk with a medical condition. If you are able to care for your own health needs whilst on the trip and to cover the terrain each day, you are welcome to come. We recommend speaking to a healthcare professional in advance of the trip.

Camino Ways, our trip organiser, have an assistance number whilst we are on route, however they can only help with practical aspects of the trip. If you have a medical incident on the trip, you will be reliant on the local healthcare services and covered by your travel insurance.

It is likely that you will get blisters early on in the trip. We recommend taking blister plasters with you to treat them. Walking in your shoes before the trip will significantly reduce the chances of getting blisters.

A vegetarian option is usually offered but you may need to ask specifically for one.

If you have special dietary requirements, it is essential to inform us so we can tell CaminoWays.com Customer Care team in advance. This ensures that your dietary needs are accommodated throughout your adventure. We will ensure that the accommodation has been informed beforehand to ensure that you are well-fed and ready to tackle the trail!

We also recommend mentioning dietary requirements to your accommodation at check-in to ensure they’ve passed the information to the kitchen.

Breakfast: Breakfast is always included in your room rate, though the variety depends on the hotel.

Typically, a Continental Breakfast is provided, as cooked breakfasts are not common in France, Spain, Portugal or Italy. Often, you can expect a buffet-style breakfast with selections such as fruit, bread or toast, pastries or cake, cheese and cold meats, along with coffee, tea, and juice.

If you have a preference for specific breakfast cereals or items, it’s advisable to bring them with you or buy them at a local supermarket.

Lunch: Typically organised independently. We suggest buying supplies in towns or stop at cafes/restaurants along the route.

Some sections/routes have plenty on offer, while other more remote walking sections will have limited services on the way. Check options on Google Maps or recommendations from your hotel or accommodation before you leave.

Dinner: Dinner is provided on walking days 1-4 but not on other days. Most hotels serve a ‘pilgrim menu’ of a limited choice of dishes.

Starters typically consist of soup or broth, salad, or fish. Main courses often feature fish or meat accompanied by chips/potatoes and bread. Common desserts include cheesecake, crème caramel, banoffee pie, and ice cream.

Vegetarian options may be available. Please inform us of any dietary preferences at the time of booking so we can notify our suppliers accordingly.

Drinks are usually not included with your meals, though some hotels may offer them at no extra cost at their discretion. Occasionally, some establishments might provide wine for free, but this is not standard practice.

Snacks: Snacks are essential for walking to maintain energy levels. We suggest buying supplies in towns or stop at cafes/restaurants along the route.

You will need to cover the costs of the following:

• Travel to either Vigo by 10pm on 14 March 2026 or Santiago Airport by 5pm on 14 March 2026

• Travel from Santiago on or after 20 March 2026

• Dinner on Saturday 14 March 2026

• Lunch on each day

• Any drinks, snacks and other sustenance along the way

You can pay the full cost, half cost or deposit by bank transfer to:

The Co-operative Bank
Choir with No Name
Sort Code 08-92-99
A/C No 65346440

(Please reference “Camino 26”)

You should arrange to arrive at either:

• Vigo (to the hotel) by 10pm on 14 March 2026, or

• Santiago Airport by 5pm on 14 March 2026

On arrival, please let the organisers know and they will meet you in the reception.

If you are travelling from Santiago, you can be part of the final transfer to the airport. If you plan to depart from any other place, you will need to organize your own transport.

You are most welcome to come to Spain early, or stay later, so long as you are in Vigo or Santiago by the times you have suggested above. You can leave whenever you like after the walk. We recommend staying for the evening celebration before you leave. Accommodation is provided on the last night of the walk.

It is possible to get the train to Vigo, however it will obviously take longer than air travel and you will need a layover, so involves additional time and costs.

We can add you to our Camino WhatsApp group where other participants who are looking at train travel will be able to provide advice.

Many people who do the Camino, stay in pilgrim hostels called Albergues. On this trip however, we will stay in standard hotels.

Check-in times generally range from 14.00 to 16.00. If we are likely to check in later than 5pm, we should let the hotel know in advance.

The time dinner is served at each hotel varies. You will be informed when you check in.

Remember to reconfirm dietary requirements when you check in.

This varies from hotel to hotel and they will tell you when you arrive. However, we recommend having breakfast between 7.30 and 8.30am and aiming to leave by 8.30am.

Some cities may have a city tax, which the hotel will collect, and you will need to pay directly.

Team Sheffield

All funds raised will be split equally between The Choir with No Name and The Archer Project

Team National

All Choir with No Name choirs

We recommend you start fundraising as soon as your place is booked and your fundraising page is set up. We will be fundraising on Give as you Live, which works similarly to JustGiving. There, you’ll have your own fundraising page, and be part of our Sheffield Camino 2026 campaign alongside your fellow fundraisers/walkers. Share the link with family and friends, and promote it regularly on social media. Using such platforms as Facebook and Instagram can be a great way of engaging interest. By providing regular updates on your training you can create a buzz around your Camino adventure, and encourage others to give their support. We will be there every step of the way to help you with ideas of how to maximise your fundraising.

You can keep track of the amounts raised by checking the fundraising page on Give as you Live. You can do this for your own individual fundraising, and also for the group total. We will announce the total amount raised in April 2026, when we return from walking the Camino.

You can set up your fundraising page by clicking this link

https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/create?parentId=26940 and follow the steps to create your own fundraising page, as part of the Sheffield Camino 2026 campaign.

Due to the added level of complexity required to include children on the trip, particularly with regards to keeping them safe, we have made the decision to keep the trip adults-only.

The pilgrim passport is a modern version of medieval ‘documents of safe conduct’. The Pilgrim passport will prove that you have walked the 100km into Santiago or Rome necessary to obtain your ‘Certificate’, the official documents testament to your journey. You are generally required to collect one stamp per day. However, if you are walking the last 100km, you will need to collect at least two stamps per day. If you are cycling, you must complete at least 200km into Santiago or Rome and collect two stamps per day. Stamps can be collected from churches, town halls, shops, cafes, and other official establishments on your way.

Along the way, you can find a pilgrim passport in all pilgrim offices, churches, monasteries, and pilgrim hostels (albergues).

Generally, you will need to charge your phone at your hotels each evening. There may be plugs in cafes along the way, but this is very much not guaranteed and not common. We suggest taking an extra power bank if you are worried.

There may be WiFi at some of the cafes, but this is not guaranteed. There is generally phone signal along the route, but this may vary from area to area and according to your own provider.

Some people will speak English but many won’t. It is useful but not essential to have a little Spanish before you go, particularly related to ordering food and drink.