Camino Frances Photo Journal on the Camino de Santiago

Walking the Camino Frances in 42 Stages from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela

A Camino Photo Journal taken by Photographer Mark Earthy walking the Camino Frances | All images ©Copyright: Earthy Photography®

Camino Francés Photo Journal along The French Way to Santiago

Welcome to my Camino Francés Photo Journal. I hope that this diary inspires you to walk one of the many routes that make up the Camino de Santiago. I will share some of the special places we stayed at and the memorable, quirky spots that we discovered.
To keep my backpack as light as possible I did not take any of my professional camera gear with me – just my old iPhone 13 with which I took all the photographs.

Camino Francés – The French Way

In July 2016, Marianne, our daughter Natalie, our good friend Pelle and I walked the final 117 km (73 miles) of the Camino Francés – The French Way, from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela, we absolutely loved it. When we finally arrived in Santiago five days later – tired and happy – Marianne and I promised ourselves that one day, we would return to walk the entire Camino from start to finish.

Walking the Camino de Santiago’s French Way – The Way of St. James

Fast forward 9 years later to 25 July 2025 and we found ourselves standing in Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, buzzing with excitement and anticipation, ready to take on the full 779 km (484 miles) to Santiago de Compostela.
What we didn’t know then was that ahead of us we would face a scorching 15-day heatwave – and some of the worst wildfires Spain had ever seen

A dog takes a nap in the middle of the street in the sleepy town of Saint Jean Pied de Port in France – starting point for the long journey ahead to Borda

Day 01 | Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Borda

At the top of Col de Lepoeder on the Camino Francés, we stopped for a short rest and ate our packed lunch before starting the steep downhill path to Roncesvalles

Day 02 | Borda to Roncesvalles

We set off from Roncesvalles under a grey sky, with drizzle greeting us for the first couple of hours. We came across a couple who had devised a clever way of drying their clothing whilst still walking

Day 03 | Roncesvalles to Zubiri

Pamplona proved to be every bit as marvellous as expected: vibrant, historic, and full of life.

Day 04 | Zubiri to Pamplona

Day 05 | Rest day in Pamplona

After about 5 km, we began the long ascent to the peak of Alto del Perdón (The Hill of Forgiveness 750m). We shared the trail with thousands of ants marching in neat little columns

Day 06 | Pamplona to Puente la Reina

The stage was gentle and enjoyable, and for the first time we walked past vineyards on our approach to Cirauqui – a medieval hilltop village

Day 07 | Puente la Reina to Villatuerta

On the Camino Francés between Villatuerta and Los Arcos we came across a pair of old used walking boots that a pilgrim had left on a Camino waymarker

Day 08 | Villatuerta to Los Arcos

It was a long hot walk to Viana, so reaching the town and our guesthouse Casa Palaciega Doña Leocadia was a relief

Day 09 | Los Arcos to Viana

Day 10 | Rest day in Viana

Today’s stage was a short walk into Logroño, planned both as an easier day and to help us adjust to the heat wave beginning to affect northern Spain

Day 11 | Viana to Logroño

On the Camino Francés at Navarette we were greeted by a friendly red squirrel who scampered up to us with unmistakable purpose.

Day 12 | Logroño to Navarrete

When we arrived in Nájera, we were greeted by a group of cheerful women sitting together, chatting and working on their embroidery.

Day 13 | Navarrete to Nájera

Leaving Nájera on our way to Cirueña we witnessed an amazing sunrise which turned out to be my favourite photograph that I took on the entire Camino Francés

Day 14 | Nájera to Cirueña

Between Cirueña to Redecilla del Camino we met a German adventurer on a Rotavator

Day 15 | Cirueña to Redecilla del Camino

We have now settled into a comfortable morning routine: walk in the cool early morning, take a rest to watch the inevitably stunning sunrise yes time on the way to Villambistia

Day 16 | Redecilla del Camino to Villambistia

We only walked a short distance today from Villambistia to Villafranca, our hotel had many stuffed animals on the walls

Day 17 | Villambistia to Villafranca Montes De Oca

Between Villafranca Montes De Oca and Agés we met a man who claimed to make the best coffee on the Camino

Day 18 | Villafranca Montes De Oca to Agés

After leaving Agés we passed the Cruz de Matagrande in the moonlight.

Day 19 | Agés to Burgos

Between Burgos and Hornillos del Camino we passed by a red metal Cruz de Santiago (Cross of Saint James) and entered the vast Meseta

Day 20 | Burgos to Hornillos del Camino

When we reached Castrojeriz, we stopped for a cooling drink at the La Taberna bar – just in time for the rain to start again

Day 21 | Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz del Camino

Between Castrojeriz del Camino and Boadilla del Camino we walked over the Puente de Itero (Itero bridge) spanning the River Pisuerga and we watched the sunrise

Day 22 | Castrojeriz del Camino to Boadilla del Camino

The route to Frómista was pleasantly flat and followed the canal Canal de Castilla. We crossed the canal by walking over a weir and entered Frómista, where morning coffee and tortilla awaited us

Day 23 | Boadilla del Camino to Villalcázar de Sirga

We are still on the Meseta and today’s walk would be flat and in a straight line along an old Roman road with endless wheat fields that had been harvested

Day 24 | Villalcázar de Sirga to Calzadilla de la Cueza

Before we reached Sahagún we passed a farm barn with a colourful green door

Day 25 | Calzadilla de la Cueza to Sahagún

We left Sahagún early and It was a perfect day for walking to El Burgo Ranero

Day 26 | Sahagún to El Burgo Ranero

When we arrived in Mansilla de las Mulas I met a local who helped me stretch an aching calf muscle

Day 27 | El Burgo Ranero to Mansilla de las Mulas

Today’s walk followed roads and senda tracks that ran parallel to the busy main road all the way into León

Day 28 | Mansilla de las Mulas to León

Despite the chilly morning it was so nice to be on the Camino de Santiago - we left León early

Day 29 | León to Villadangos del Páramo

We stopped at a welcoming cafe called El Jardín del Alma (The Garden of the Soul) in the middle of nowhere on our way to Justo de la Vega

Day 30 | Villadangos del Páramo to Justo de la Vega – Astorga

In Rabanal del Camino we had the best dinner during the entire Camino – simply sublime.

Day 31 | Justo de la Vega – Astorga to Rabanal del Camino

On our way to Molinaseca we stopped at a café where the walls were covered with photographs of glamorous actresses from a Hollywood bygone era

Day 32 | Rabanal del Camino to Molinaseca

In Ponferrada we saw the statue of the Nazarene Lambrión Chupacandiles, located near the Templar Castle

Day 33 | Molinaseca to Cacabelos

On a road from Cacabelos to Ambasmestas we passed a car that had an unusual sun protecter screen behind the windshield

Day 34 | Cacabelos to Ambasmestas

Today’s walk from Ambasmestas was to walk up our second mountain in four days and we were tired but happy to reach the top at O’Cebreiro

Day 35 | Ambasmestas to O Cebreiro

Setting off for Triacastela we arrived right on time at the Monumento do Peregrino (Monument to the Pilgrim) to watch the sunrise

Day 36 | O Cebreiro to Triacastela

Leaving Triacastela on the route to Sarria in the darkness we passed by a fountain called: Fonte dos Lameiros

Day 37 | Triacastela to Sarria

Shortly after leaving Sarria the rain began – and this time it was heavy. It poured relentlessly all the way to Portomarín

Day 38 | Sarria to Portomarin

Between Portomarin and Palas de Rei we saw a large mural that was part of the world’s largest urban art exhibition, Las Estrellas del Camino (“The Stars of the Way”)

Day 39 | Portomarin to Palas de Rei

We set off early from Palas de Rei and about 4 km in, just as the sun was rising, we passed two stone hórreos (granaries) on our way to Ribadiso de Baixo

Day 40 | Palas de Rei to Ribadiso de Baixo

On the way to O Pedrouzo we came upon a man making old, traditional pilgrim staffs for those passing by

Day 41 | Ribadiso de Baixo to O Pedrouzo

in the dark I managed to capture a photograph I was happy with as one pilgrim was briefly caught in the machinery lights of some forest workers – it was the last picture that I took on the Camino Santiago

Day 42 | O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela

Reflections | From having walked the Camino de Santiago

The Kit | We used on the Camino

Buen Camino

Buen Camino!