Camino Links
In my book 'Walking the Camino', I mention several books, products and other resources that might be of interest to readers. I have included relevant links below, and will update them over time.
Books
Walking the Camino: A Journey for the Heart and Soul by me - Julia Goodfellow-Smith
Pilgrim: Finding a New Way on the Camino de Santiago by Carolyn Gillespie
Jo Penn talks more widely about Pilgrimage and her experience of walking three routes - the Pilgrim’s Way from London to Canterbury, St Cuthbert’s Way from Melrose to Lindisfarne and the Camino de Santiago from Porto to Santiago de Compostela in Pilgrimage: Lessons learned from solo walking three ancient ways.
For my first Camino, I tried using a walking guidebook on my phone, but found it cumbersome to use. Despite my love of a light pack, I decided that a guidebook was worth the weight. These are the two we used:
A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago: Camino Frances by John Brierley
A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino Portugues: The Portuguese Way by John Brierley
Videos
Sarah Dhooma has hiked most, if not all, the recognised Camino routes, and uploads videos to her YouTube channel.
Dixie from Homemade Wanderlust makes films about all things hiking.
Hiking Kit
There are places on the Camino that are strewn with used toilet paper. I love my Kula cloth (an antimicrobial, reusable pee cloth) - I no longer need to worry about what to do with pee paper! There are, of course, others on the market - this is just the one I used.
Sarah Dhooma is an ultralight hiker, but was carrying an umbrella when we met. She swore by it being useful as a cooling sunshade as well as a rain shelter. I added the Six Moons ultralight umbrella she recommended to my birthday list, and have been pleased with its performance on both hot and wet days. Remember to buy the mini bungees to attach it to your rucksack straps.
Pilgrimage Questions
Walking a pilgrimage provides time to reflect, away from the pressures of everyday life. Tim is an American who has opened up a church on the Camino Frances to give pilgrims a space for contemplation. To support this, he has prepared a set of questions you might like to consider while walking.
Pilgrim organisations
The Confraternity of St James - for information about UK Caminos and to buy your Camino pilgrim passport.
The Camino Forum was used by several of my fellow pilgrims to talk to each other before, during and after the walk.
The British Pilgrimage Trust promotes pilgrimage (religious and otherwise) across the UK, including information about routes and accommodation.
Podcasts
Dan Mullins hosts the ‘My Camino’ podcast. He has the most lovely voice and interviews pilgrims - including me!
Music
In October 2024, Dan released a new album, Pilgrim, celebrating a miraculous recovery of his vocal chords after being told he would never sing again.
Alexander Chapman Campbell wrote his haunting album Journey to Nidaros while walking St Olav’s Way from Oslo to Trondheim. Every time I listen, it transports me to pilgrimage trails, and it was partly listening to this that drove my desire to walk a pilgrimage myself.
Art
Our Camino ‘family’ bumped into Arthur’s gallery on the Camino. I wish I had bought one of his paintings while we were there… they are beautiful. Let me know whether you agree - here’s the gallery on his website.
The mention of the umbrella reminded me of Nicholas Crane, whose mountain walk across Europe (Clear Waters Rising) began on the Camino. His umbrella was his main companion most of the time.