The Celtic Camino

The Celtic Way is a Jacobean route that connects Ireland with Santiago de Compostela through a maritime and terrestrial journey rich in history and spirituality. This article explains its origin, main stages, and how to organize this lesser-known pilgrimage that is full of symbolism.

What is all this fuss about the Celtic Way? Has another Camino de Santiago been added to the ever-growing list? Well, sort of, but not exactly. This is historic, and very ancient. We are talking about the English Way, known in Ireland as the Celtic Way or Celtic Camino, but not starting from A Coruña or Ferrol, but from where the pilgrims used to begin their journey to reach Santiago de Compostela: their home.

Pilgrims on the Celtic Way, passing through Mellifont Abbey, in the Boyne Valley Celtic Camino

What is the Celtic Way?

The Celtic Way is a historic Jacobean route that combines routes in Ireland or the United Kingdom with the English Way from A Coruña. It recaptures the spirit of the ancient pilgrims who, centuries ago, crossed the sea to reach Galicia and walk to Santiago de Compostela. Today, it allows pilgrims to start their Camino in their own countries, cover at least 25 km with an official pilgrim passport, and complete it in Galicia to reach the 100 km required to obtain the Compostela.

Attention! Do not confuse the Celtic Way with the also recent (in terms of route promotion) Celtic Route, a route that brings pilgrims from points on the Costa da Morte to Santiago de Compostela.

A bit of history about the Celtic Way

Historically, the only option for pilgrims from Ireland and the United Kingdom to reach continental Europe was to sail, and the safest way to do so was directly to Galicia, mainly A Coruña. For other northern European countries (think Scandinavia and the Baltic states), it often was much safer and quicker to sail, avoiding the dangers and conflicts on land (such as those of the Hundred Years' War, etc.).

Routes of the Celtic Way in Ireland and England (maps provided by the Association of Concellos del Camino Inglés)

The Celtic Way today

Well, if a pilgrim from Ireland or the United Kingdom wants to do the English Way from A Coruña, following the original steps of their ancestors, walking only the 75 km from A Coruña would not be enough to obtain the Compostela, as at least 100 km of walking is required.

Fortunately, the Jacobean authorities have made an exception, and if you walk 25 km or more on an approved route in Ireland or the United Kingdom and have proof of this in an official pilgrim passport and then continue walking from A Coruña to Santiago using that same passport, you can receive your Compostela for having walked the minimum 100 km.

That's great, and any pilgrim from anywhere in the world can do it as long as they follow the rules! This has been made possible thanks to the agreement between the Camino Society Ireland CLG and the Pilgrim Reception Office of Santiago de Compostela, which together with the Association of Concellos del Camino Inglés, are helping to promote this historic route.

Pilgrim Passport on the Celtic Way

What can I expect from one of these Celtic Way routes?

Just like on the Camino in Spain, Portugal, and France, each route in Ireland and the United Kingdom has its own special characteristics. However, one thing you can expect from each route of the Celtic Way in Ireland is that it will be green. Because the climate in Ireland is quite similar to that of Galicia (read: it rains a lot!), and the stereotype of its rolling emerald hills is completely true. Thus, among the many routes in Ireland, we highlight the following.

Boyne Valley Camino

The Boyne Valley Camino is a circular route of 25 km that begins in Drogheda, County Louth, and takes pilgrims along the Boyne River, through beautiful forests, visiting the historic ruins of Mellifont Abbey, skirting the site of the Battle of the Boyne, which forever changed Irish history and politics, before returning to Drogheda to enjoy a well-deserved cold drink of your choice. Ireland may not produce wines like Spain, but it certainly has its own tasty refreshing beverages!

Signage on the Boyne Valley Camino

St. Declan's Way

On the St. Declan's Way, a linear route of five stages from Cashel, County Tipperary, you will find everything expected from a Camino: green landscape, hills (better said, mountains), ancient ruins, small villages, a monastery with shelter for pilgrims, locals with character… with an impressive ending, very much in the style of the end of the world, on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic in Ardmore, County Waterford. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!

Coastal landscape on the St. Declan's Way

Bray Coastal Route

The only exception to the concentration of intense green is the Bray Coastal Route, which, as its name indicates, is a 32 km walk mainly along the coast of the Irish Sea. It begins in Bray, County Wicklow, and ends at the Church of Santiago in the heart of Dublin, where in March 2025 a statue of Santiago made by the Galician artist Armando Martínez was donated, thanks to the Association of Municipalities of the English Way. We can sacrifice a little green for the flavor and air of the sea and a true Galician work of art, can’t we?

Pilgrims on the Bray Celtic Camino

Finchale Camino

The Finchale Camino, in the north of England, is another gem that grows day by day. It begins at the impressive Finchale Priory and reaches Gainsford. It is well marked with yellow arrows up to the church of Escomb, passing through the historic city of Durham and its cathedral, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is currently 34 km (21 miles) of route, but it continues to expand each year.

Sign of the Finchale Camino

St. James's Way

St. James's Way is currently the best-marked Camino in England. It begins in Reading and runs 110 km (68.5 miles) south to Southampton, where pilgrims likely embarked for A Coruña. It is a lovely route with varied landscapes, including churches, cathedrals, and forests, as well as multiple services (bed and breakfasts, pubs, etc.). There are no longer boats that leave directly from Southampton to A Coruña… but never say never!

Pilgrims on the Celtic Camino

Will I see the yellow arrows and the shells that I love so much?

As the permission from the Cathedral authorities was granted relatively recently, the official signaling process of the Camino is progressing slowly in both countries, as this type of intervention on public properties naturally requires the authorization of local authorities.

In Ireland, you will find the 25 kilometers of the Boyne Valley Camino completely marked with the beloved yellow arrows, as well as scallop shells, symbols of the Camino de Santiago, some placed on locally sourced and carved stone benches. The other routes, although marked locally, do not yet have the arrows.

In the United Kingdom, for now, the only fully marked route is the St. James's Way from Reading to Southampton, but each route is progressing little by little.

Milestone on the Bray Celtic Camino route of the Celtic Camino

And what about the stone milestones?

Ireland proudly inaugurated its first marking at the starting point of the Bray Coastal Route in September 2023. As a testament to the importance of this event, Spanish, Galician, Irish political authorities, and representatives from the Association of Towns of the English Camino and Camino Society Ireland CLG attended. Since then, the route has added two more iconic milestones, and there are at least two more on the way for other routes of the Celtic Camino in Ireland.

The United Kingdom currently has one standing at the start of the Finchale Camino at Finchale Abbey, and there are at least three more on the way for the St. James's Way from Reading. Stay tuned!

Compostelas of the Celtic Camino

Obtaining the Celtic Compostela

Alright, you have convinced yourself to escape the heat of the Spanish summer and visit one (or both!) of these beautiful islands. But, how will you start your next Camino?

First, choose your route in Ireland or the United Kingdom. Then, make sure to obtain your pilgrim passport: you can use the official Spanish one, the official Irish one from Camino Society Ireland, the official British one from the Confraternity of Saint James in the United Kingdom, or any other official pilgrim passport. Remember: when you walk, make sure to collect as many stamps as you can along the way. Don’t forget to add the date of each one!

Once you successfully complete one of the routes, present your stamped pilgrim passport to Camino Society Ireland CLG to receive your official Celtic Compostela; take a photo of it and keep it safe (a similar document will soon be available for routes in the United Kingdom). And finally, once you arrive in Spain, walk from the starting point in A Coruña to Santiago de Compostela, properly stamping the same pilgrim passport along the historic Celtic Way.

By presenting your stamped pilgrim passport (and your Celtic Compostela if you walked in Ireland) at the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago de Compostela, you will receive your Compostela, just like thousands of pilgrims from Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Northern Europe before you. Great job, and Buen Camino!