Hospitales & La Pola routes: distance clarification please

[Jo H]

Hi. Previous forum posts inform me that the Hospitales route starts close to the Albergue Los Hospitales in Colinas de Arriba even though this is not evident to me on guide maps such as Gronze. So I am wondering if I did stay there and chose to walk the Hospitales route, how many kms is it to Berducedo from the albergue? (I am hoping it is less the 24.1kms Borres- Berducedo shown in Gronze for the Hospitales route.) Also is this the official waymarked camino route or a shortcut variant that is also waymarked?

 

[David with new Kit!]

We stayed there 2 weeks ago and it’s 21km to Berducedo. The start of the climb is immediately outside of the Albergue. Don’t get hung up on “official” routes, it’s just another way to get to the Hospitales route. It’s also very well marked.

 

[Anhalter]

I have not stayed in Colinas de Arriba, so no first hand knowledge. But from looking at maps, there is a way up to Hospitales of about 1,5km and then you just follow the normal route. It looks like it is in total a bit shorter than if you'd walk from Borres, maybe 1-2km. However, i would say it doesnt actually matter, with the Hospitales route the effort is in the elevation, not the distance, and that will be about the same either from Borres or Colinas (or Campiello, where i started)

 

[Jo H]

We stayed there 2 weeks ago and it’s 21km to Berducedo. The start of the climb is immediately outside of the Albergue. Don’t get hung up on “official” routes, it’s just another way to get to the Hospitales route. It’s also very well marked.

Thank you for this very helpful information and advice. Sounds like a good place to decide which route to take weather permitting.

 

[Jo H]

I have not stayed in Colinas de Arriba, so no first hand knowledge. But from looking at maps, there is a way up to Hospitales of about 1,5km and then you just follow the normal route. It looks like it is in total a bit shorter than if you'd walk from Borres, maybe 1-2km. However, i would say it doesnt actually matter, with the Hospitales route the effort is in the elevation, not the distance, and that will be about the same either from Borres or Colinas (or Campiello, where i started)

Thank you kindly for your advice. I agree that the effort is mainly in the ascent but distance is also a factor for me in my planning, considering my energy reserves from past caminos. I think the Primitivo will be very challenging for me but keen to walk it next September. Could you please tell me which maps show this route?

 

[PiesIrlandeses]

A common misconception is that the Pola route is the easier of the two - it isn't.

There is a long, tough descent into Pola, followed out of Pola by the longest ascent on the Primitivo.

The Hospitales route is the shorter and less strenuous of the two. Weather (and food & water) permitting, it's the route to take.

 

[Anhalter]

Thank you kindly for your advice. I agree that the effort is mainly in the ascent but distance is also a factor for me in my planning, considering my energy reserves from past caminos. I think the Primitivo will be very challenging for me but keen to walk it next September. Could you please tell me which maps show this route?

i checked it in the komoot app i use for hiking off-camino a lot. But it should show the way at pretty much every decent map app. It is even visible on google maps...

 

[Jo H]

i checked it in the komoot app i use for hiking off-camino a lot. But it should show the way at pretty much every decent map app. It is even visible on google maps...
View attachment 177949

Thank you so much. Good to know. Buen Camino.

 

[Jo H]

A common misconception is that the Pola route is the easier of the two - it isn't.

There is a long, tough descent into Pola, followed out of Pola by the longest ascent on the Primitivo.

The Hospitales route is the shorter and less strenuous of the two. Weather (and food & water) permitting, it's the route to take.

Yes, am hoping to be able to walk the Hospitales route. Thank you for this helpful info.

 

[David with new Kit!]

Thank you for this very helpful information and advice. Sounds like a good place to decide which route to take weather permitting.

It’s a superb albergue where they serve all the meals, do laundry for you, and can prepare something for lunch for the following day. A great place to stop and relax before the climb