Stone and Water: Walking the Spiritual Variant of the Camino Portugues. 2018 edition with additional chapter.

by Roy Uprichard

A walk through hidden Galicia on the trail of saints and scholars.
'A magical journey out of time and into silence, peace and beauty. Bursting with lyrical phrases and pictures.'
'A deeply meaningful book for any Camino journey.'
In August 2016 I walked north from Porto on the Camino Portuguese, to Santiago de Compostela. The route that made the deepest impression came just after Pontevedra: The Spiritual Variant, or Stone and Water Route, added to the Camino itinerary in 2013.


Its meditative paths led me through a region of lavish fertility; of vineyards and green pastures; of forested hillsides, remote glens and living waters. By following it, I discovered a place of history, myth and Celtic resonance with Ireland.


I offer these words from a desire to share something of its wonder and so that you, too, might be tempted to walk its paths.

Genres: Travel

148 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2017

Reviews

[Terry McHugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new Camino?


I first heard of the Camino in 2012 and then walked the first of three in 2013 but I had never heard of this one. Roy's account is so vivid I feel I must try this one. A very good book, well written although a little flowery at times but I can live with that. Highly recommended book although I still wonder how he got in through the front door of the cathedral, I arrived two weeks later and it was still locked up for renovations, poetic licence I suppose

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Martin Sheen is reponsible for so many blisters.'

I don't know enough about the Camino to fully appreciate this short but vividly detailed book. This is not about the full Camino (the author has written about this in a previous book) but about a new addition to the route called the 'Spiritual Variant.' It works as a travel guide as well as a personal spiritual journey. I love the author's writing style, and wonderful poetic descriptions. There were times I forgot what I was reading, and thought I was back in a novel!

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Uprichard has walked the various Caminos many times. This book is the result of his checking out the new variant, the Spiritual Variant. It is more of a description of what the trail is like than any reflections he had from making the trip. He hops from place to place without little regard to the idea of a pilgrimage or being a pilgrim. This book would be useful to someone trying to decide if they want to hike the Spiritual Variant of the Camino Portugues, but would have little appeal to people beyond that audience.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roy Uprichard schrijft een reisverslag en routebeschrijving van de Spirituele Variant van de Camino Portugues gecombineerd met zijn indrukken van het landschap en de pelgrimsroute naar Santiago. Dit is een van de eerste beschrijvingen van deze variant en dit nodigt uit om hem eens te verkennen. (Itt tot de publicaties die je leest dat dit allemaal commercie zou zijn). Hij verwijst naar de beschrijving van de 18e eeuwse Benedictijnse monnik Martin Sarmiento die een eigen route door deze streek maakte (je kunt daar anderhalve week over wandelen ipv drie dagen)

[Jane Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The nonfiction book Stone and Water: Walking the Spiritual Variant of the Camino Portuguese by Roy Uprichard stirred my wanderlust and had me itching for an adventure. If you are planning on hiking the Portuguese Camino, don't overlook this book. It might entice you to alter your plans to include the Spiritual Variant, a three-day alternate route from Pontevedra to Padrón.

[Dave Humphrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written but a little too flowery and poetic for my taste.

[Ben Twoonezero · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book but very short and kind of unstructured, ie one minute he is talking about past events then he comes back to the present and I did not quiet know were I was.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author explored a side route for the Portuguese Camino that we were going to do this year in May. Maybe next year. Very emotional read.