Samos to the Camino Invierno?

[gkaplan]

Given the relative distaste that a not insubstantial number of pilgrims have for the Camino Frances from Sarria westward, I wonder if anyone reading this might have walked from Triacastela to Samos, then down to the Camino Invierno at A Pobra Do Brollon. Map-wise, it's 44km from Tricastela, and I'm hoping that someone has done this and can provide information about the trail, places to spend one night, and any thing else that might be of interest. I'm thinking of doing this in October. Thanks in advance.

 

[MARSKA]

I hope so too. I wanted to do this on my last camino but I did not see a lot of info.

 

[andycohn]

Given the relative distaste that a not insubstantial number of pilgrims have for the Camino Frances from Sarria westward, I wonder if anyone reading this might have walked from Triacastela to Samos, then down to the Camino Invierno at A Pobra Do Brollon. Map-wise, it's 44km from Tricastela, and I'm hoping that someone has done this and can provide information about the trail, places to spend one night, and any thing else that might be of interest. I'm thinking of doing this in October. Thanks in advance.

There was actually a thread about this just a month ago, with a bunch of suggestions. In October we ourselves walked to Samos and then to Sarria, and from there took a bus onwards to Monforte de Lemos. If that's an option for you, Monbus is the carrier. Fairly frequent buses, and trains, too. It's only a 35 minute ride. Here's the thread for walk suggestions:

Thread 'Connection from O Cebreiro (or Samos) to Invierno?'

Nov 13, 2024

Hola,
Is there a walking route connecting the Frances route to the Invierno route AFTER O Cebreiro?

Walking the Frances I love the ascent to, and stay in O Cebreiro and would like to visit Samos (which I have not done) - but would like to deviate off the Frances before Sarria and join the Invierno for a quieter entry into Santiago DC.

I can manage long daily distances if required and can probably walk the road network but was wondering whether there were any walking trails for a safer and more pleasant transition. My preference will be to walk.

Any suggestions really appreciated.

• diesel
• Replies: 16
• Camino de Santiago Forum: 🇪🇸 Camino de INVIERNO (from Ponferrada)

 

[trecile]

Why not just divert onto the Invierno at Ponferrada? Then you won't miss the spectacular scenery at Las Medulas.

 

[gkaplan]

Why not just divert onto the Invierno at Ponferrada? Then you won't miss the spectacular scenery at Las Medulas.

TV

Why not just divert onto the Invierno at Ponferrada? Then you won't miss the spectacular scenery at Las Medulas.

Umm, because I would rather do this.

 

[gkaplan]

There was actually a thread about this just a month ago, with a bunch of suggestions. In October we ourselves walked to Samos and then to Sarria, and from there took a bus onwards to Monforte de Lemos. If that's an option for you, Monbus is the carrier. Fairly frequent buses, and trains, too. It's only a 35 minute ride. Here's the thread for walk suggestions:

Thread 'Connection from O Cebreiro (or Samos) to Invierno?'

Nov 13, 2024

Hola,
Is there a walking route connecting the Frances route to the Invierno route AFTER O Cebreiro?

Walking the Frances I love the ascent to, and stay in O Cebreiro and would like to visit Samos (which I have not done) - but would like to deviate off the Frances before Sarria and join the Invierno for a quieter entry into Santiago DC.

I can manage long daily distances if required and can probably walk the road network but was wondering whether there were any walking trails for a safer and more pleasant transition. My preference will be to walk.

Any suggestions really appreciated.

• diesel
• Replies: 16
• Camino de Santiago Forum: 🇪🇸 Camino de INVIERNO (from Ponferrada)

Thank you for linking me to this thread. It's greatly appreciated.

 

[wisepilgrim]

There is not a marked camino, nor a marked trail of any kind that connects Samos with A Pobra do Brollón. There are road though, and anywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.

Umm, because I would rather do this.

The quality of the replies on this forum are directly proportional to the amount of details given. As you yourself do not know if there is a trail, many of us make make the logical leap that you have chosen Samos as the deviation point for no other reason than it is the largest village east of Sarria.

To improve the quality of the replies, can you tell us what about the camino between Ponferrada and Samos you do not want to miss out on? It is from those places that the route should rather be planned, as from Samos there is little logic to it. It would make more sense to leave the Francés earlier in O Cebreiro, or later in Sarria itself.

Another thing to consider is what type of services do you hope to have along the way?

 

[gkaplan]

There is not a marked camino, nor a marked trail of any kind that connects Samos with A Pobra do Brollón. There are road though, and anywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.


The quality of the replies on this forum are directly proportional to the amount of details given. As you yourself do not know if there is a trail, many of us make make the logical leap that you have chosen Samos as the deviation point for no other reason than it is the largest village east of Sarria.

To improve the quality of the replies, can you tell us what about the camino between Ponferrada and Samos you do not want to miss out on? It is from those places that the route should rather be planned, as from Samos there is little logic to it. It would make more sense to leave the Francés earlier in O Cebreiro, or later in Sarria itself.

Another thing to consider is what type of services do you hope to have along the way?

Andycohn's reply provided me with more information than I could have hoped for. As an afterthought, I should have searched for an exisring thread which addressed my questions as I am/was certainly not the first person to have them.

 

[lt56ny]

Why not just divert onto the Invierno at Ponferrada? Then you won't miss the spectacular scenery at Las Medulas.

That is my plan for next year but no diversion. I will be taking a bus from somewhere on the VDLP as I will do a combo Mozarabe/VDLP/Invierno. Just got to see how much time I can take and how far I can get to on the VDLP after starting in Almeiria. Was going to start in Cordoba until Laurie convinced me to start at the start

 

[Keyser]

We did the Sarria to Monteforte de Lemos switch by Monbus last May. Plenty of buses and loved the Invierno. Plan to go back at some point to start in Ponferrada.

 

[trecile]

That is my plan for next year but no diversion. I will be taking a bus from somewhere on the VDLP as I will do a combo Mozarabe/VDLP/Invierno. Just got to see how much time I can take and how far I can get to on the VDLP after starting in Almeiria. Was going to start in Cordoba until Laurie convinced me to start at the start

Couldn't you just walk the VdlP to Astorga, spend a couple of days on the the Francés until Ponferrada, then start the Invierno?

 

[lt56ny]

Couldn't you just walk the VdlP to Astorga, spend a couple of days on the the Francés until Ponferrada, then start the Invierno?

I already walked the VDLP from Sevilla to Astorga right after Spain reopened from Covid. Had to walk to Astorga as hospitaeros and albergue owners were telling me that most albergues on the Sanabras were not open. So thus Astorga.
My first priority is to walk the Mozarabe. Second is to walk the Invierno. The total of the two is about 870.I want to do about 1000. So I figured I might as well do some more of the VDLP from Merida to Casar de Caceres. It is kinda a pain in the rear as I would have to take a bus back to Caceras and catch the Alsa to Ponferrada. I also could scratch the VDLP and just walk to Muxia after I finsh the Invierno. Ah the beauty of playing it all by ear. I probably, no I am sure I won't decide what to do until I arrive in Merida. Do you think I make things too complicated????

 

[Dani7]

From Samos, you can walk to Sarria and then take a bus to Ponferrada (approx 3hrs)

 

[gerardforde]

This October, I walked from Samos to Monforte de Lemons, to connect with the Invierno. It was about 35km, mostly on very quiet tracks with some stunning scenery, and it was one of my favourite days on the Camino. I will share the map here.

 

[AchimBerlin]

Given the relative distaste that a not insubstantial number of pilgrims have for the Camino Frances from Sarria westward, I wonder if anyone reading this might have walked from Triacastela to Samos, then down to the Camino Invierno at A Pobra Do Brollon. Map-wise, it's 44km from Tricastela, and I'm hoping that someone has done this and can provide information about the trail, places to spend one night, and any thing else that might be of interest. I'm thinking of doing this in October. Thanks in advance.

If you follow Google Maps, walking is around 30k. Seems it's mostly country-lanes, should be quiet enough in this part of Spain...
Around halfway there's a water-reservoir with some accomodation. Or just hit it and walk through. From A Pobra it's a nice walk to Monforte.

Samos to A Pobra do Brollón

www.google.de

 

[gerardforde]

Hi, here is the route I took from Samos to Montforte de Lemos, this October.

Samos to Monforte de Lemos - Connecting the Camino Francés with the Camino Invierno - Epic Camino

The last 100 kilometres of the Camino Francés are often much maligned. After nearly 700 kilometres of walking from Saint Jean Pied de Port, the sudden

epiccamino.com

I wanted to avoid the last 100 km from Sarria this time, so I decided to veer onto the Camino Invierno, but I didn’t want to miss O Cebreiro, so I branched off just after Samos instead.

The walk from Samos to Monforte de Lemos was literally mammoth—and not just because it was about 35 km! You even pass a statue of a mammoth along the way.

I barely met a single soul on the route—never mind a fellow pilgrim—but it was absolutely worth it. The path winds along small trails and around a beautiful lake and is blissfully peaceful.

Bring some food though as there are no shops along the way.

 

[gkaplan]

Hi, here is the route I took from Samos to Montforte de Lemos, this October.

Samos to Monforte de Lemos - Connecting the Camino Francés with the Camino Invierno - Epic Camino

The last 100 kilometres of the Camino Francés are often much maligned. After nearly 700 kilometres of walking from Saint Jean Pied de Port, the sudden

epiccamino.com

I wanted to avoid the last 100 km from Sarria this time, so I decided to veer onto the Camino Invierno, but I didn’t want to miss O Cebreiro, so I branched off just after Samos instead.

The walk from Samos to Monforte de Lemos was literally mammoth—and not just because it was about 35 km! You even pass a statue of a mammoth along the way.

I barely met a single soul on the route—never mind a fellow pilgrim—but it was absolutely worth it. The path winds along small trails and around a beautiful lake and is blissfully peaceful.

Bring some food though as there are no shops along the way.

View attachment 182369

Thank you!!!!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

There are so many interesting trail variations discussed here and @gerardforde's experience sounds great.
That said, one of my big reasons to walk the Invierno from Ponferrada was definitely to see the remnants of the ancient gold mining operations at Las Medulas! They are overwhelming and beautiful; a total "wow" experience.