Wetherby’s newest care home, Windsor Court, welcomed the Mayor and Mayoress of Wetherby for a sneak peek of the brand new facilities last week. The 66 bed home on Sandbeck Way is coming up to completion and the Mayor marked the occasion by laying the last external ground stone on
WORK has started to deliver state-of-the-art facilities as part of a new £60 million development for the King’s School – one of the largest independent day schools in the UK. Pick Everard – the independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy – is providing full design and engineering services for the
A SUITE overlooking cathedral gardens, original fireplaces and character windows are just some of the features included in a new £1.8m boutique hotel in a historic location in Leicester. Two empty office buildings in Peacock Lane and New Street – adjacent to the site of the car park where King
The achievements of Scotland’s five, geographically-located hub organisations, the public private partnerships set up six years ago to build new community facilities across Scotland, and which have delivered 104 education-related projects across the country with a value of £1.3 billion, will be in the spotlight at the second annual Education
The North East will celebrate everything built with wood as the first WoodFest comes to Newcastle in December, with an exciting line-up of events organised by the UK timber industry’s campaign, Wood for Good. WoodFest Newcastle will bring together architects, engineers, placemakers, planners, developers, contractors, politicians and local businesses specialising
Hull-based TLJ Security Systems’ electrical engineering apprentice, Lewis Wankiewicz, has won two awards at the Hull Training and Adult Education (HTAE) Awards 2018. The event, held at Hull’s Guildhall on 9th November, was a celebration of the achievements of apprentices, learners and businesses across the Hull and East Yorkshire region.
SOUTH Lanarkshire Council have announced 300 new homes will be built in Cambuslang as part of a £42m housing-led regeneration project. The development in East Whitlawburn will transform the area and will see 200 new social rented homes and 100 private homes for sale with work expected to get underway
Master developer homes in on UK buyers with Platinum Sponsorship of Dubai Property Show World-famous master developer Nakheel is heading back to Britain to showcase a plethora of real estate projects – collectively worth AED58 billion (GBP12 billion) – at the Dubai Property Show at London Olympia. Nakheel, Platinum Sponsor
FirstPort has made senior appointments in two customer-focused areas of its business to continue to drive forward the highest standards of service for customers and clients. Heidi Stephenson (LLB MSc) has joined FirstPort as Director of the Luxury portfolio. She brings with her 20 years’ experience in residential Property Management,
When you decide to take the pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago you are preparing for a great journey that you will never forget. You will have the opportunity to see many fantastic things and create some amazing memories that will last a lifetime. It is a chance to grow
Wetherby’s newest care home, Windsor Court, welcomed the Mayor and Mayoress of Wetherby for a sneak peek of the brand new facilities last week. The 66 bed home on Sandbeck Way is coming up to completion and the Mayor marked the occasion by laying the last external ground stone on the site. Councillor Galan Moss and his wife Sandra Moss donned their hard hats and high visibility jackets to take a tour of the building with Home Manager Paula Mountjoy and Site Manager Graham Frost. Councillor Moss was impressed with the spacious social spaces which once the home is finished will become bright and airy garden rooms, luxurious lounges and dining areas and an opulent cinema room. As they walked around the two storey home which is due to open in January, Paula revealed her plans for residents including clubs, trips, activities and community events. As the tour progressed to the large en suite bedrooms, Graham explained the environmental design features and sustainable aspects of the home such as ground source heat pumps, underfloor heating and LED lighting. The Mayor said, “This was a visit that I was particularly looking forward to and it didn’t disappoint. I was very impressed with the facilities and the build, but especially the jobs and community benefits that Windsor Court will bring to Wetherby. I was honoured to be asked to be a part of the build and lay the last stone and I look forward to returning to see the home once it is complete.” Paula who is dedicated to developing Windsor Court as a key part of the local community, said, “We were so pleased to welcome the Mayor and Mayoress of Wetherby to our new home. This takes us one step closer to completion and we can’t wait to open the doors to the people of Wetherby and beyond. With a luxurious, safe and innovative environment and exciting social calendar for our future residents, Windsor Court is so much more than just a care home and I know local people will be impressed.” Windsor Court will be operated by Ideal Carehomes and has been designed to embrace social activities and aspirational lifestyle choices for their future residents. The home will offer high quality residential and dementia care to older people who will live at the luxury home on an inclusive fee basis, enjoying the modern facilities without the worry of additional costs. Local people will be able to view Windsor Court from the end of December to meet the staff team, have a look round the home and reserve rooms.
WORK has started to deliver state-of-the-art facilities as part of a new £60 million development for the King’s School – one of the largest independent day schools in the UK. Pick Everard – the independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy – is providing full design and engineering services for the 80-acre, Derby Fields development in Macclesfield, which is expected to be completed in May 2020. The school’s current three sites will be united into one area, creating a new 16,000m2 academic building with 350 rooms, in addition to a new sports centre – which will include: a six lane, 25m swimming pool; a six-court sports hall and a dedicated indoor cricket centre. Externally, five new rugby pitches, one rounders field, two AstroTurf hockey pitches and six netball courts will be created. Duncan Green, managing partner at Pick Everard said: “We are delighted to be working on such a major project for both the King’s School and Macclesfield as a town. We’ve been working with the school consolidating its estate onto a single site with brand new buildings so we’re pleased that work has now begun to realise this vision.” Natalie Clemson, associate director said: “As well as including fantastic educational and sporting facilities, the new building will be highly energy efficient and sustainable with a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’. It will also score highly on environmental management, responsible construction, resource efficiency, low energy and water use with a reduced carbon footprint, as well as efficient heating and lighting systems and controls, among other sustainable features.” The new development – the most ambitious project in the school’s 516-year history –will supplement, and sit adjacent to, the school’s existing Derby Fields campus. The project has been funded by the school selling its existing two sites in Fence Avenue and Cumberland Street to housing developers, which will provide sustainable and affordable homes in the area along with retirement and assisted living options. Natalie added: “The school selling its existing sites to fund the project has freed up valuable land in the town centre for housing, which in turn will address the town’s need for additional housing and provide significant economic growth. “We also worked with the school to deliver a series of value engineering workshops, which contributed savings of up £6 million, as well as providing design solutions to maximise teaching space while meeting the client’s budget.” The King’s School, which has 300 employees, provides education for more than 1,200 students from pre-school through to sixth form. John Kennerley, chair of governors at King’s School said: “We are delighted to be able to launch our 2020 vision for King’s. It will deliver not just a fantastic campus for our pupils, but enable us to develop further community use of the school beyond the 27 organisations that already share our facilities.” Headmaster Simon Hyde added: “We are extremely keen to ensure that our legacy is a positive one both for the school and Macclesfield in general. The development of a mix of sustainable housing close to the town centre will hopefully continue to bolster the attractiveness of Macclesfield as a place to live and support the many excellent new shops and businesses currently taking root.” John Roberts, regional director at Vinci Construction UK Ltd, the project’s lead contractor, added: “We are proud to be delivering the new campus, which will provide the very best educational facilities available for the school, its pupils and for the wider community.” Pick Everard employs more than 500 staff across its 11 UK offices, providing a range of project, cost and design consultancy services.
A SUITE overlooking cathedral gardens, original fireplaces and character windows are just some of the features included in a new £1.8m boutique hotel in a historic location in Leicester. Two empty office buildings in Peacock Lane and New Street – adjacent to the site of the car park where King Richard III’s remains were discovered – have been converted into the 28-bedroomed St Martins Lodge, which opened in October. Building Services Design (BSD) provided mechanical and electrical engineering services for the Grade II* listed Georgian buildings, with many of the original features being retained – including the hallway, with its chandelier and staircase. Joel Sawyer, director at BSD, the lead designer on the project, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in a project that has created modern, elegant accommodation while at the same time, honouring the heritage of the important site and its surroundings.” As 40% of the hotel – located directly opposite Leicester Cathedral – is of listed status, all original internal cornices, ceilings and floors are having to be retained, meaning BSD had to design the building services around the structure of the existing building. Joel said: “We provided a design that is a mix of traditional and modern installation, meaning some of the building services run through the floors and into the ceiling. To meet listed status building regulations, air conditioning equipment has also been moved to the roof where it is out of sight. “In order to make the spatial challenges work, we held regular on-site visits in order to overcome and catch any potential problems before they happened.” The plantroom has been designed to fit within the existing basement, which has height restrictions due to a vaulted ceiling. Joel added: “To ensure the heating system would fit within the confinements of the basement, it has been designed as a modular system for better efficiency and ease of installation. “The domestic water and hot water systems have also been centralised in the basement and we have made provisions within the design to allow for a possible connection to the Leicester District Energy Scheme, which supplies low-cost, low-carbon energy to major buildings across the city. The future advantages of this will mean energy efficiency and lower running costs.” Richard III was buried more than 500 years ago following his death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. His remains were discovered by archaeologists in 2012 underneath a Leicester City Council car park. The king was reinterred in Leicester Cathedral in 2015. Nick Quinn, director of St Martins House, said: “With our neighbouring conference and events centre, St Martins House, located only a few steps away, we are now able to offer a 24-hour conference rate – including overnight accommodation with breakfast – alongside our function run hire and catering facilities. “This is frequently requested by conference and wedding hosts so St Martins Lodge is now meeting a known demand and adding to the room capacity available for business and for tourism in the city.” BSD is also working with the Diocese of Leicester to bring a new monastic community – called the Community of the Tree of Life – in the heart of Leicester, next door to the hotel. For more information about BSD, please visit bsd.co.uk.
The achievements of Scotland’s five, geographically-located hub organisations, the public private partnerships set up six years ago to build new community facilities across Scotland, and which have delivered 104 education-related projects across the country with a value of £1.3 billion, will be in the spotlight at the second annual Education Buildings Scotland 2018 Exhibition, Conference and Awards Dinner at Edinburgh’s EICC on 21-22 November. The event, which brings Scottish educational built environment and policy professionals together, many of whom will be looking at adding new buildings, considering refurbishing existing buildings or wishing to know more about ongoing maintenance, will be able to meet all five hub CEOs and their colleagues who will be in attendance over the course of the two days. In addition to their historical achievement, Scotland’s hubs are engaged currently on-site in education-related projects totalling £370m.There are, in addition, £539m worth of education-related projects in development. John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, who will be speaking at the conference said: “Good quality, well maintained and state of the art infrastructure is vital to ensuring we provide the very best opportunities in life for our children, young people and wider communities.” The CEOs, hub South West’s Michael McBrearty, hub South East’s Paul McGirk, hub West’s Iain Marley, hub North’s Michael Padzinski and hub East Central’s Gary Bushnell, together with their colleagues, will be networking and welcoming delegates both to the conference and the exhibition. Ten hub projects have been nominated for awards which will be announced at the Dinner. The Scottish Government is the Event’s Partner and its official supporters are Morrison Construction, Portakabin, hub South West, Velux, Scott Brownrigg, Architecture and Design Scotland, the Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE) and the Scottish Future Trust. Entry to the exhibition is free to all visitors and delegates. The conference is complimentary for those directly employed in early years, schools, colleges, universities, national and local government and other public services in Scotland. Delegate rates will apply for everyone else wishing to attend the conference.
The North East will celebrate everything built with wood as the first WoodFest comes to Newcastle in December, with an exciting line-up of events organised by the UK timber industry’s campaign, Wood for Good. WoodFest Newcastle will bring together architects, engineers, placemakers, planners, developers, contractors, politicians and local businesses specialising in timber to promote the innovative and striking ways that wood can be used in the built environment in the North East. Christiane Lellig, Wood for Good campaign director, said: “The first in a series of regional WoodFests, this as a fantastic opportunity to bring all those involved with the built environment to explore what industry and politics can achieve together. “Each event is a chance to learn and share about the use of timber in architecture, particularly around health and wellbeing and offsite construction. It provides a platform to discover what’s happening in the region and to be inspired by timber design.” The week begins with a behind-the-scenes tour of wood-based materials manufacturer, Egger’s site in Hexham on 10 December. In the evening, Dr Oliver G.F. Jones, architecture professor and expert in human-environment interaction at Northumbria University, will give the keynote speech at a seminar on wellbeing, residential design and healthy homes. Taking place at Ryder Architecture’s home in Cooper’s Studios, Westgate Road, Newcastle, Dr Jones will be joined by a panel of experts including local housing providers and design professionals to explore biophilic design, light, space and air quality among other issues. Offsite construction steals the show on 12 December with an evening seminar debating whether modern methods of construction are the future for homes in the North East. Hosted by Ryder at Cooper’s Studios, an expert panel will explore Home England’s strategic plan incorporating offsite construction and will ask if it’s the silver bullet to deliver much-needed homes. A site visit to the unique self-build home, Shawm House, takes place on 11 December. Designed by Newcastle-based MawsonKerr Architects, the timber home won four regional RIBA awards, a national RIBA award and was shortlisted for Grand Designs ‘House of the Year’ in 2017. This is a rare opportunity to hear the homeowner’s story and experience the house for yourself. Taking place throughout the week is an exhibition at Cooper’s Studios, exploring healthy buildings and driving the design and construction quality agenda through the use of modern methods of construction. The finale for WoodFest Newcastle is the Superwood Conference on Friday 14 December at Northumbria University, hosted by Confor. Looking at how forestry and timber can drive a low carbon economy, the conversation will explore the opportunities for increasing forestry in the North East and the lessons that can be learned from Scotland. Speakers include Paul Brennan, MEP for the North East, Adam James from Ryder Architecture, Councillor Peter Jackson, leader of Northumberland County Council, Dr Dan Ridley-Ellis from Edinburgh Napier University, Beccy Speight from the Woodland Trust, Neil Sutherland from Makar, Stuart Goodall from Confor, Simon Hart from Egger Forestry and Christiane Lellig from Wood for Good. WoodFest Newcastle is organised in collaboration with regional partners Constructing Excellence, Egger, Mawson Kerr, RIBA North East, and Ryder Architecture. Book your place for the WoodFest Newcastle events here: https://woodforgood.com/index/woodfest-newcastle/ More information will be released soon about other regional WoodFests taking place throughout the country in 2019. If you would like to get involved in WoodFest please contact Wood for Good campaign director, Christiane Lellig, at christiane.lellig@woodforgood.com www.woodforgood.com
Hull-based TLJ Security Systems’ electrical engineering apprentice, Lewis Wankiewicz, has won two awards at the Hull Training and Adult Education (HTAE) Awards 2018. The event, held at Hull’s Guildhall on 9th November, was a celebration of the achievements of apprentices, learners and businesses across the Hull and East Yorkshire region. Born out of the successful partnership HTAE has with local employers and partners each winner had an inspiring story to tell, making them true ambassadors in their field. The awards themselves were sponsored by local companies who are all passionate about providing apprenticeship and work placements to local people. TLJ are delighted to announce that Lewis, 19, won two headline awards at the event: The Engineering Centre Apprentice of the Year and the HTAE Learner of the Year prize. A distinguished panel of judges, including local employers, past apprenticeship award winners and partners chose Lewis for his dedication and commitment to the business, as well as his exceptional professional, technical and personal development. Claire Martin, TLJ’s Head of Human Resources, said: “We are so proud of Lewis! He has visibly grown in confidence and stature during the time of his apprenticeship with us but was, frankly, a little overwhelmed by his double win. But it was fully deserved: despite being a naturally shy person, Lewis has grown into a strong team player and demonstrates an active focus on site safety. He has not only become technically skilled within the area of access control but also developed the ‘soft’ skills required when dealing with customers. Lewis’ success confirms our belief that even smaller companies can benefit from employing apprentices.” Sharon Gamble, Assistant City Manager with Hull City Council, said: “We truly believe that good education and work-based training plays a crucial role in building a bright future for our learners. It’s great that, through the HTAE awards scheme, we get the chance to celebrate the achievements of our apprentices, employers, trainers and partners. It’s great for the commercial future of our city, and the wider economy of the country.” TLJ were also category sponsors for The Engineering Centre Mike Brown Award for Outstanding Achievement. For more information contact Sean Wilson, TLJ Marketing Manager, 01482 830334, s.wilson@tljlimited.com
SOUTH Lanarkshire Council have announced 300 new homes will be built in Cambuslang as part of a £42m housing-led regeneration project. The development in East Whitlawburn will transform the area and will see 200 new social rented homes and 100 private homes for sale with work expected to get underway in late summer 2019. Chair of the Council’s Housing and Technical Resources Committee, Councillor Josh Wilson, said: “This is tremendous news for the Cambuslang area and reinforces the Council’s commitment to building new affordable homes which are suitable for modern, family living. “These new homes are a perfect example of our ambitious plans to provide new high quality accommodation and improve the lives of our tenants and the wider community.” CCG (Scotland) Ltd, the Cambuslang-based construction and manufacturing group, has been appointed preferred bidder by hub South West, the public-private partnership of local authorities in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, to build the new homes as part of Cambuslang’s East Whitlawburn Regeneration Project. As part of the transformation of Whitlawburn, CCG will also undertake a series of community benefit initiatives for the duration of the contract programme which will include the provision of jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities for the local community. CCG will provide curriculum support and work placements for local schools and higher education institutions respectively. They are also committed to providing £50,000 toward an ‘East Whitlawburn Community Endowment Fund’. The project will be delivered in partnership with West Whitlawburn Housing Cooperative and supported by the Scottish Government. The Council’s Executive Director of Housing and Technical Resources, Daniel Lowe, said: “This is another key milestone for the Council as we build towards our target of 1000 additional homes across the South Lanarkshire area.” Michael McBrearty, Chief Executive of hub South West, said: “This is an important regeneration project and hub South West is very pleased to be participating in the development of high-quality new homes alongside South Lanarkshire Council. “The additional social inclusivity measures to be delivered by CCG ensures that the regeneration project will represent a win-win scenario for the local community.” Calum Murray, Director of CCG, said: “The East Whitlawburn project is a hugely significant housing development that will bring a range of quality, contemporary homes to service growing demand for affordable and private housing in Cambuslang. “Our CCG Homes brand will lead the delivery of the 100 private homes whilst the collective of the CCG Group will ensure that all homes are delivered to the highest standards of quality and environmental efficiency. “We are also delighted to have opportunity to create a lasting legacy in our local community by providing £50,000 of investment plus a range of job and training opportunities. We look forward to working with hub South West and South Lanarkshire Council as we move to a site start in summer 2019.”
Master developer homes in on UK buyers with Platinum Sponsorship of Dubai Property Show World-famous master developer Nakheel is heading back to Britain to showcase a plethora of real estate projects – collectively worth AED58 billion (GBP12 billion) – at the Dubai Property Show at London Olympia. Nakheel, Platinum Sponsor and the biggest developer at the event, will highlight Dubai’s unrivalled real estate investment opportunities through a host of projects – offering everything from luxury living and leisure to stylish, functional accommodation – at prime locations across Dubai, including the world-famous, award winning Palm Jumeirah. More than 29,000 British citizens have invested AED88 billion (GBP18.6 billion) in Dubai property, according to the Dubai Land Department, with Nakheel’s own customer portfolio including 2,530 Britons who have spent AED5 billion (GBP1 billion) on its properties. Nakheel exhibited at the first DPS London in 2016, and is back two years later for the second event with a new and exciting range of projects and attractive payment schemes, including low deposits, post-handover payments plans of up to seven years and five years’ free service charges. Prices start at AED449,000 (GBP94,000). Aqil Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer at Nakheel, said: “The Dubai Property Show is a golden opportunity to showcase our projects to an audience that is already our third largest group of investors outside the Middle East. “We are proud to be back as Platinum Sponsor to represent Dubai and all it has to offer. The city’s world-famous projects and enviable lifestyle are already well-known among UK citizens, with many calling it their second home, but we are boosting British investment and strengthening Dubai’s relationship with this part of the world even more through this show and other initiatives. “Dubai is a magnet for expatriates to live and work in the emirate. These people need accommodation, creating a huge demand for rental properties, which offer impressive investment returns of six per cent and over.” Nakheel’s diverse range of offerings on show in London includes: Luxury apartments in The Palm Tower on Palm Jumeirah, home to one of the world’s highest rooftop infinity pools and a viewing deck offering sweeping vistas across The Palm, Arabian Gulf and Dubai skyline. Prices from AED1.65 million (GPB345,000). Under construction, due for completion end 2019. High-end units at Azure Residences, also on Palm Jumeirah, offering beachfront living, a seafront infinity pool and a range of onsite restaurants. Prices from AED2.5 million (GBP524,000). Ready for occupation. Stylish high-rise units at the newly-launched Dragon Towers, directly connected to the world-famous Dragon Mart mall at the rapidly-growing Dragon City mixed-use community. Onsite retail, pool and sports facilities. Prices from AED449,000 (GBP94,000). Under construction, due for completion 2021. Terraced homes, each with a private pool, at the upmarket Jumeirah Park community, offering four bedrooms, garage and maid’s room and within walking distance of a school, shops and recreational facilities. Prices from AED3 million (GBP628,000) Construction beginning early 2019, completion 2021. Nakheel’s arrival in London comes hot on the heels of the release of Dubai Government’s new tourism targets: 21 to 23 million annual visitors to the emirate by 2022 and 25 million by 2025. Dubai is already the fourth most visited city in the world and home to the world’s busiest airport with 88.2 million international passengers last year. The emirate’s population is expected to increase from 3.2 million today to more than five million by 2030. Aqil Kazim continued: “These figures speak for themselves. Innovative thinking and bold ambition have turned Dubai into one of the world’s most successful, fastest-growing cities, with Nakheel’s ground-breaking real estate projects playing a key role in the city’s past, present and future.” Visitors to the Nakheel stand at DPS London can admire scale models of the globally-recognised Palm Jumeirah and one of its key landmarks, The Palm Tower. The Palm model – always a star attraction among real estate show-goers – features miniature versions of the island’s buildings and facilities, including The Palm Tower, Nakheel Mall, PALM360, Atlantis The Palm, The Palm Monorail and 1,500 luxury beachfront villas. Meanwhile, the Palm Tower model shows its rooftop pool, viewing deck and ground level facilities in stunning detail. To find out more about Dubai, Nakheel and the investment opportunities available, visit stand D1, DPS, Olympia West, London, 16-18 November, 2018.
FirstPort has made senior appointments in two customer-focused areas of its business to continue to drive forward the highest standards of service for customers and clients. Heidi Stephenson (LLB MSc) has joined FirstPort as Director of the Luxury portfolio. She brings with her 20 years’ experience in residential Property Management, 15 years of which were spent at one of the UK’s most luxury brands, Harrods. As Associate Director, she was part of the Senior Management Team for Harrods Estates Asset Management/PL Management, looking after some of the most prime, central and luxurious developments. Heidi’s experience spans all aspects of property management, new scheme consultancy and scheme mobilisation covering both customer and client engagement. This experience will be invaluable in assisting FirstPort to enhance its luxury offer. Speaking about her appointment, Heidi said: “Customers living in a luxury development quite rightly demand a truly luxury service, and I am looking forward to using my experience of dealing with the most prestigious customers to define and deliver an exceptional level of service. FirstPort is an extremely customer-focused business and I am keen to work with the team to provide our customers with an exemplary and market leading offer.” Lucinda Walker has been appointed as Director of Build to Rent, with the aim of providing expert focus to FirstPort’s proposition for both clients and customers in this emerging market. Lucinda has over 20 years’ senior operations and project management experience encompassing complex staff management, financial negotiations and strategic oversight, with a strong focus on exceptional customer service. She has delivered facilities and management services at some of the UK’s major sporting events, including the London Olympics 2012, Commonwealth Games 2014, and Wimbledon Championships. She has also held senior positions operationally, financially and strategically for international hotels whilst working for the highly regarded travel company, Mark Warner. Speaking about her appointment, Lucinda said: “My aim is to create a service embedded with the highest and most innovative of standards that will appeal to a wide range of customers, whilst underpinning a financial mode that maximizes the return on investment for our clients. I look forward to using my experience of mobilising and delivering major events to ensure that our Build to Rent operation is slick, efficient and completely focused on the needs of customers as we strive for business excellence. “This exciting new market suits FirstPort’s size and capability and gives us the opportunity to work directly with clients from the early stage of planning to provide viable Build to Rent operational delivery.
When you decide to take the pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago you are preparing for a great journey that you will never forget. You will have the opportunity to see many fantastic things and create some amazing memories that will last a lifetime. It is a chance to grow spiritually and achieve something wonderful. The Camino de Santiago is a large network of routes for every type of traveller, it can be a challenge to choose which one is best for you, as all of them are spectacular in their own right. With the help of Santiagoways.com you can build the right itinerary for you. The French Way from Sarria – great for beginners One of the most popular and famous routes is the Camino Frances, or the French Way. Although the official start point is at St Jean Pied de Portal in the French Basque country, with many other start points also possible such as Pamplona, Burgos or León, for many setting out on their first pilgrimage the best start point is at Sarria in Galicia. At 111 km from Santiago it is just over the minimum length required to be eligible for pilgrims to receive the traditional ‘compostela’ certificate that verifies they have completed the Camino de Santiago. The route is a great way to get introduced with the essence of the Camino. The route takes you through beautiful towns and cities and charming medieval villages and inspiring landscapes. Choose between rural and coastal experiences by starting in Portugal The main Camino Portugues is a perfect route for those looking for a more rural experience. It starts in the city of Lisbon, and continues over land to the Spanish border and across into Spain. There is the chance to stop at the city of Pontevendra once in Spain. You can visit the church of the Pilgrim Virgin, who protects all pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. This route is renowned for unbelievable scenic beauty, the amazing gastronomy from small rustic food places to amazing cuisines from talents chefs. Alternatively you can start in Oporto, and take the first part of the route along 150km of magnificent cliffs mountains and estuaries enjoying the beautiful Atlantic coast up to Redondela. At this point the route rejoins the main Camino Portugues for the final leg of the journey to Santiago de Compostela. Dramatic scenery and impressive coastlines on the North Camino The Camino del Norte, also known as the Northern Way, also runs along the coast but the north coast of Spain. The route is broken into 5 stages, and crosses through many intriguing and important towns and cities such as Bilbao, San Sebastián, Oviedo and Santander. If you are a food lover this is definitely the route for you, particularly as San Sebastian is in the top 10 cities of Europe for restaurants which hold Michelin stars. You will also get the opportunity to pass through delightful small fishing villages and try amazing seafood. The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is absolutely worth a visit, along with the beautiful Palacio de la Magdalena and Santander Bay. The climate here is quite moderate, and can be colder and with rain, which leads to very lush green surroundings. And there are still more, the Camino Ingles, the Camino de Finisterre, the Camino Lebaniego, the Via de la Plata and many more. Then you also need to choose where you wish to join the route, and Santiago Ways can assist with all of this. Walk in the footsteps of previous English pilgrims on the Camino Ingles The Camino Ingles (The English Way) is called this as it is the route most favoured in years gone by by those travellers coming from the British Isles and Ireland. It started in in Ferrol and continues through to Santiago passing through towns like Pontedeume and Betanzos just like those original pilgrims. The journey crosses through the interior region of Galicia, with gorgeous green countryside and lush forests. Whichever route you choose, you can be sure that you will make memories you will remember forever.