- Time of past OR future Camino
- Some in the past; more in the future!
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One thing to pay attention to is which trail you take up to Peñalba. All options require going up, of course. When Reb and I walked, we went from Peñalba through Montes de Valdueza and on to Ponferrada (you would do this in reverse).Her two-day itinerary fits our timeframe but that would likely mean three straight 27km days out of the gate, which is manageable but we would prefer a bit less walking.
I think Monforte is a very nice town, good ambiente, pilgrim office!, good restaurants, nice parks, several albergues (although both are a bit out of the center, one back by the train station and the other about 700 m on the way out according to Gronze). The main tourist attraction, other than the tower and the monastery/parador, is the Colegio de los Escolapios, which has an El Greco and gives tours. I have never visited the colegio/monastery, but that’s because nothing about it has ever really called to me. Of course, everyone has different tastes.7 - Monforte de Lemos - 12.5km (or Piñeiro, 24km, or Vilariño, another 4-ish km)
8 - Chantada - 30.4km (or if from Piñeiro, 18.9km)
No it's definitely not, but you'll live. You've stayed in worse. The even stages it allows make up for the not-niceness.one place to stay there and it's apparently not too flash
I would say no. It was OK, but I thought nothing that extraordinary. Unless you have your hearts set on seeing the El Greco at the monastery.Would we be 'missing out' by not staying in Monforte de Lemos? Continuing to Piñeiro or Vilariño
Second what Laurie says.Between Monforte and Chantada, there are some pretty awesome sites. The castro and museum right next to Torre Vilariño, the two miradouros over the Minho that are well signposted (and if you only go to one, I think Miradouro II has marginally better views than Miradouro I), and the Diomondi church. The hospitalera at the new-ish Diomondi albergue has the keys to the church, and will let you in even if you don’t stay there, but she doesn’t arrive on the premises till 1:00. If you leave from Piñeiro or Torre Vilariño, you will get there way too early).
never too old@jungleboy, I knew you had this combo up your sleeve after reading a post you made a few days ago. I have occasionally been interested and wistful of @peregrina2000's thread several years ago when she walked to Penalba on the Valley of Silence with Rebekah Scott. I'd seen it from afar nestled in the distance as a tiny white blob on my first Camino somewhere before reaching El Acebo and it looked intriguing. I think it is too much for me to consider to bite off now, but will definitely look forward to reading what I am sure will be a wonderful write-up and pictures from you...yippee!
I have read there is a bus tour from Ponferrada to visit the Penalba, so if I choose to walk the Inveirno before I get "too old", I will at least do that.
That would also give time to head to the miradouros on the way, though maybe not time to walk your 6km loop (which should change now anyway to include Miradouro II).You could drag your feet or have a lazy morning at Torre Vilariño, and get to Diamondi by, say, 12.30.
This is also very feasible. I got to Diomondi after walking from Monforte and taking the detour out to the miradouros. My plan had been to stay in the albergue there. But when I got there, the sky was darkening, no one else was there, and it just seemed lonely and grey. But the visit to the church was something I had been waiting for for years and it did not disappoint!then go down to Belesar and up to Chantada long before dark.
Yes. No need now that they've tidied up the miradouros! It was nice, but the view was the point. Especially since the next day takes you down to the river.your 6km loop (which should change now anyway to include Miradouro II).
Don’t forget those two little romanesque churches! Or was there only one?but the view was the point.
Yes, the facility is not at all flashy. The reason I stay here is because Manuel and his team are so good hearted and so invested in taking care of Peregrin@s. Hot water, comfortable beds, hearty food and tons of goodwill.to Sobradelo, although there's only one place to stay there and it's apparently not too flash
Would we be 'missing out' by not staying in Monforte de Lemos?
think Monforte is a very nice town, good ambiente, pilgrim office!, good restaurants, nice parks,
All the more reason not to make that a 30km day, if there's sightseeing and detours involved too.Between Monforte and Chantada, there are some pretty awesome sites.
Nick, here’s a description of Diomondi. It is wonderful outside & more spectacular inside. The albergue is a modern renovated space. Has a microwave & fridge. Need to bring your own food.the timing won't be right the next day to see inside this Diomondi church.
I have changed the file because the first one was of the day afterThere's one very interesting stage that seems to be sacrificed in the enthusiasm to embrace @peregrina2000 's start to the Invierno. You would miss the dramatic approach to Las Medulas - from Villavieja to Orellan and the Galerías, approaching the town of Las Medulas from that direction. (The town of Las Medulas is not very interesting itself, unless you walk back up to the Mirador.)
The Orellan route that @Filippo05ff describes in post #16 is probably this one from Borrenes. It is now shown on various maps/apps, including (I think) Wise Pilgrim. We had quite a bit of discussion on it on other threads.
Maybe you can work out some combo, but you might need to sacrifice a day from later. I just didn't want this truly unique part of the Invierno to land on the cutting floor without due consideration! Romanesque churches are a dime a dozen on the Caminos, compared to Roman gold strip mines.
I can't open them.I have changed the file because the first one was of the day after
That’s not quite right. The trail I took does not go through the town of Orellán, but it does go straight to the mirador and the galerías. The descent to the town of Las Médulas comes after that.There's one very interesting stage that seems to be sacrificed in the enthusiasm to embrace @peregrina2000 's start to the Invierno. You would miss the dramatic approach to Las Medulas - from Villavieja to Orellan and the Galerías,
It's a .gpx file. You can open it with an app like Osmand or Trekarta, but there are many others. If others has the same issue I will try to change the format in some days (when I go back home)I can't open them.
A few more nitpicky points. The CR in Piñeiro, which I am not familiar with, is 750 m off camino according to gronze. I don’t see any advantage to foregoing a chance to stay in Torre Vilariño, the very first Casa Rural in Galicia (or maybe Spain), inaugurated by none other than the one and only Fraga Iribarne (a Franco henchmen, but we’ll let that slide). Anyway, Torre Vilariño is very nice, even has a pool, and the food is good. Go for the step-up from the pilgrim meal. They do serve some tour groups, but it won’t interfere with the very nice ambience. People areIf we stay at either Piñeiro or Torre Vilariño, it sounds like we could see the castro and the miradouro in the morning of the next day and then continue to Chantada.
And don’t forget our planning thread and for a 25 km or less Invierno.I will definitely be checking out this thread if I do the Inveirno next; lots of good info already.
Wow, that's an old one from 2021!And don’t forget our planning thread and release for a 25 km or less Invierno.
That map's the Torre Vilariño loop that Laurie was talking about.VN, you mean the Inveirno is not a flat path in a straight line?!Weren't you just "walking in circles"?
Three years ago, done in COVID confinement. It was one of the many planning threads we did when we were under lockdown. They were a lot of fun.Wow, that's an old one from 2021!
OK, then that is great! It is worth seeing.That’s not quite right. The trail I took does not go through the town of Orellán, but it does go straight to the mirador and the galerías. The descent to the town of Las Médulas comes after that.
Agreed, but you can't do everything all at once, so I'd accept this tradeoff.But they would miss the lovely little hamlet of Villavieja and the castle of Cornatel.
Would we be 'missing out' by not staying in Monforte de Lemos?
Calling all @alansykes aficionados. Here is our first clue about Alan’s Camino 2024!so they are a central ambition of my 2024 camino.
Here is the link to my blog on the Invierno when a friend and I walked it in 2022. I was 74 years of age then and my friend a bit younger so we did not walk as long of distances as you're planning. There is not a lot of elevation on the route like on some other routes, but there is a lot of up and down in places so the accumulated ascent is notable. My blog has a list of places where we stayed. We actually started in Astorga and then shifted to the start of the Invierno in Ponferrada. We took a break/rest day in Montforte de Lemos. Nice town with interesting history, but you would not miss a lot by missing it. I'd recommend stopping in the Camino office there - just a few years old and in the centre. https://erniefraser.blogspot.com/Hello Invierno veterans!
@Wendy Werneth and I are a few weeks away from our Invierno, starting 19 June. I have long wanted to combine the Invierno with the Olvidado (dating back to a 2018 conversation over a glass of wine or two in Lisbon with @peregrina2000) but we never managed to fit this into our camino schedule. We only have time for a short camino this year and with all the 'do it now before it gets discovered!' talk around the Invierno, we thought it wise to follow that order, and quick-smart!
We have 13 walking days, though it's possible, but not preferable, that we could extend it to 14. Wendy starts an advanced Galego course in SdC on the 15th day, so it would be nice for that not to be the day after we arrive.
We'd like to include some of Laurie's Valle del Silencio prelude at the beginning because it sounds great. Her two-day itinerary fits our timeframe but that would likely mean three straight 27km days out of the gate, which is manageable but we would prefer a bit less walking. Two options to reduce this load while staying on a 13-day schedule are (a) do the two-day prelude and then a shorter third day to Sobradelo, although there's only one place to stay there and it's apparently not too flash, or (b) do a three-day prelude, but that would mean making up a day elsewhere, possibly a long final day into SdC. What say you?
Other questions:
- Would we be 'missing out' by not staying in Monforte de Lemos? Continuing to Piñeiro or Vilariño would be a much better division of those days than the Gronze 12.5 + 30.4 split.
- Are there any accommodation/restaurants that you would recommend in particular?
Possible stages (including two-day prelude):
1 - Ponferrada - Montes de Valdueza 27km
2 - Médulas - 27km
3 - O Barco de Valdeorras - 27.2km (Or Sobradelo, 19km)
4 - A Rúa de Valdeorras - 12.0km (Or 20.2km if coming from Sobradelo)
5 - Quiroga - 26.5km
6 - A Pobra do Brollón - 22.9km
7 - Monforte de Lemos - 12.5km (or Piñeiro, 24km, or Vilariño, another 4-ish km)
8 - Chantada - 30.4km (or if from Piñeiro, 18.9km)
9 - Rodeiro - 25.4km
10 - Lalín - 21.9km
11 - Dornelas (Casa Leiras) - 27.8km (we stopped here for a drink on our Sanabrés and would love to stay the night this time)
12 - Deseiro (Reina Lupa) - 17.5km
13 - SdC - 12km
And finally: is there anywhere in Ponferrada to buy a wooden pilgrim staff?
Thanks for the link to the blog. There’s a lot of practical info there as well as nice pictures.Here is the link to my blog on the Invierno when a friend and I walked it in 2022
I had stayed there in 2019 and one of my Camino friends booked it then. It was clean and comfortable and has good food. It is off route a short distance but it was easy to find. In 2019 we walked along a highway with a very wide shoulder so no concern about cars. It wasn’t a matter of choosing this over other places; it was about going back to a known place. It is up long hillI so starting the next morning was easier. I hope this helps.Thanks for the link to the blog. There’s a lot of practical info there as well as nice pictures.
I have one question about your lodging. You stayed in Pensión Victoria on your last night before Santiago. I had never heard of anyone staying there (but it is on Gronze, so I just haven’t been paying attention). Looks like a nice place, about 2 km beyond the Pensión Cruceiro and Carrefour on the national highway.
Two questions —
Did you choose the Victoria over the Cruceiro (or other places in Ponte Ulla) for some reason or was it just what you found available?
And how did you get back to the camino from the pensión? Did you have to backtrack or can you just cut over somehow? Looks like a straight shot on Gronze, but you never know.
Muchas gracias, buen camino, Laurie
In the end this is what we have decided to do. We never really know how bad Wendy's PF is going to be, and given that there seems to be a fair bit of road walking on this camino and road walking exacerbates it more, it's best to play it safe and not try to fit in too much, especially right at the start.I was just thinking after @C clearly ’s post that maybe doing the regular route might be best because we’d gain a day to play with somewhere along the way, and we could save the Valle de Silencio for another time.
1- I Loved to stay in Villavieja- We thought an easy first day would be a good idea and that sets us up for morning views from the Orellán viewpoint, which is hopefully a good time of day for it. Is there a reason to go a bit further to Borrenes instead of staying at Villavieja?
- What about the alternative from Borrenas? If we're not staying in Las Médulas, it seems like the alternative makes sense as it goes straight to the lookout, right?
- As discussed upthread, I like the idea of going past Monforte to have a shorter walking day into Chantada, to do the mirador detour and also possibly wait for the church at Diomondi.
- We wanted to stay at Casa Leiras in Dornelas but maybe I am giving this too much weight, and staying 5km earlier at Bandeira makes more sense distance-wise. I don't remember Bandeira from our Sanabrés; does anyone have any memories of it?
- Is the Pico de Sacro side trip worthwhile?
Yes, Nick, definitely worth a hike up to the Pico Sacro. I wanted to do it, but I had a knee issue my final day into Santiago that had me concerned, so no go for me.Is the Pico de Sacro side trip worthwhile?
Nick, it’s a small town with 2 hotels: Conde Rey (I’ve always stayed hereI don't remember Bandeira from our Sanabrés; does anyone have any memories of it?
So this is our rough outline at the moment:
1 - Ponferrada - Villavieja - 16.1km
2 - Puente de Domingo Flórez - 19.9km
3 - O Barco de Valdeorras - 19km
4 - A Rúa de Valdeorras - 12.0km
5 - Quiroga - 26.5km
6 - A Pobra do Brollón - 22.9km
7 - Piñeiro - 24km (or a bit further to Vilariño)
8 - Chantada - 18.9km
9 - Rodeiro - 25.4km
10 - Lalín - 21.9km
11 - Dornelas (Casa Leiras) - 27.8km (or Bandeira 22.8km)
12 - Outeiro - 21.8km or 16.8km from Bandeira
13 - SdC - 16.7km with possible Pico de Sacro side trip
@trecile,I'm also trying to work out a max 13 day plan for the Invierno.
I've been walking since May 14th (Arles - Aragonés - Francés) and I'm a few days behind my original (loose) schedule because of taking a day off and doing some shorter than planned days when I had a cold. I thought that I had caught up a bit, but yesterday I started having shin pain and I decided that 32.5 km from León to Hospital de Órbigo wasn't a good idea, so I only walked about 10 km today, and fortunately had zero pain.
The plan all along was to decide on Invierno vs Francés when I reach Ponferrada, and both options are still open unless I need to take any more time off. But, if I walk the Invierno it has to be 13 days or less and without any really long days.
Laurie this map is very cool, but it is turned in wrong direction. Mirador de Orellan is east of Las Médulas.Here is the map of the trails at Médulas.
View attachment 172230
If you walk in on the official Camino, you come in where the big P is. If you take any of the alternatives (from Borrenes, from the Cornatel castle, or from the Monastery of Valdueza) you arrive at the mirador de Orellán. The camino leaves on the upper right hand corner off the red trail.
From the mirador, you can go down on the squiggly light green camino del mirador, go down past the Agoga and then head out on the red trail. Or you can stay up without descending to the village, which is longer but probably faster since the descent on the squiggly trail can be slow depending on if it’s rained, the rocks, etc.
If you are going to stay in Médulas you will probably want to walk the Senda Valiñas (green), which weaves through the weird formations from the bottom.
Yes, I see the compass on the right. But I’m not sure how that makes any difference — are you one of those people who has google maps on “true north” all the time?Laurie this map is very cool, but it is turned in wrong direction. Mirador de Orellan is east of Las Médulas.
I see @Robo did as well, so this sounds like a great option.1- I Loved to stay in Villavieja
Good options, thanks. We will play it by ear and decide how to do these stages when we get near the end.4- We find perfect to stay in Dornelas for the Pico Sacro side trip. We did like you, Lalìn - Dornelas, but after we stay at Reina Lupa Albergue (20km from Dornelas with the Pico Sacro detour). Another option could be Rodeiro - A Laxe - Dornelas..?
We'll see how Wendy feels about an asphalt climb on the day!Yes, Nick, definitely worth a hike up to the Pico Sacro. I wanted to do it, but I had a knee issue my final day into Santiago that had me concerned, so no go for me.
I hope your shin feels better soon. FYI we'll be in Ponferrada on Tuesday afternoon and start walking on Wednesday in case we happen to be in sync.I'm also trying to work out a max 13 day plan for the Invierno.
Exactly.I know you would love Peñalba but I get your rationale - and for a first Invierno, it’s nice to be on the “official” route the whole way.
It looks like the castle is a short walk from Villavieja? So I/we could go as a side walk in the afternoon. And carrying food on camino is our speciality so no problem there!I haven’t stayed either in Villavieja or Borrenes, but I think it just depends on whether you want to carry food and stay in a cute little village, or be in a hotel where they feed you. If you want to visit the castle at Cornatel (a few kms above Borrenes), it won’t likely be open when you pass by from Villavieja, but more likely open if you have started from Ponferrada. Google says it’s open 11-2 and 4-8, closed Monday and Tuesday. Not tremendously interesting on the inside, but I love to climb around castles.
We did the same, and that's why we wanted to go back. But I guess the appeal of Italian speakers is not as high as it once was because we are surrounded by them now!I haven’t stayed at Casa Leiras, but have had a cold drink there and had a very nice chat with the wife. I’m sure you know the owners are Italian, and they do cook dinner!
Good to know, thanks. For the last portion we would like to stay in more rural places and fewer towns as that's always better (IMO) in the last 100km. We stayed in Silleda and wished we'd stayed somewhere rural instead, which is one of the attractions of Casa Leiras. We'll weigh it up on the day I guess.I have stayed in Bandeira serveral times, it’s smaller than Silleda but has all services.
That's scarily soon!!Looks like you will be starting one week from today! Buen camino, Laurie
Don’t we usually orient ourselves right to left? IE: Gronze maps, Buen Camino…Yes, I see the compass on the right. But I’m not sure how that makes any difference — are you one of those people who has google maps on “true north” all the time?I just like to see it as I am walking or driving, and I think the orientation of this map does that. BTW, it wasn’t me who set the orientation, that’s the way the map is displayed on every site I’ve seen.
The bulk of the ascent is before Villavieja. You will retrace your steps on the next day, but an afternoon stroll up to the castle without a pack would be nice. Nice views, too, from the bench nearby that is advertised, I think, as having the prettiest views in the Bierzo. I think that’s hyperbole, but it’s nice. And you won’t have much to do in Villavieja, unless the Casas Rurales are filled with interesting people.It looks like the castle is a short walk from Villavieja? So I/we could go as a side walk in the afternoon. And carrying food on camino is our speciality so no problem there!
@peregrina2000, I know you are a wealth of knowledge on most of the Camino paths less traveled, yet nearly every time I happen upon your new posts which are always so helpful, I am still amazed at the breadth of your knowledge. Your posts on this thread are exactly what I speak of.
Thanks. I actually had zero pain today on my short walk. I'm just aware that it can flare up again - or something else can happen.I hope your shin feels better soon.
It's not useless, it's pricelessThe bulk of the ascent is before Villavieja. You will retrace your steps on the next day, but an afternoon stroll up to the castle without a pack would be nice. Nice views, too, from the bench nearby that is advertised, I think, as having the prettiest views in the Bierzo. I think that’s hyperbole, but it’s nice. And you won’t have much to do in Villavieja, unless the Casas Rurales are filled with interesting people.
My fuzzy memory of the history is that Villavieja is where the castle serfs lived. Though it’s below the castle, it is not a strenuous walk up.
Thanks, Chrissy, it’s nice to have something to do with all this useless knowledge I’ve accumulated!
Never, Nooooooo, Not!!!!!!!!!it’s nice to have something to do with all this useless knowledge
Maybe you already saw this, but just in case - there is also a route from the castle that doesn’t go down to Borrenes but goes straight to the mirador.Great answers, thank you all! Firstly I just discovered the thread about the Borrenes alternative so there's good info there. I'd say there's no reason not to do it!
Bandeira from our Sanabrés; does anyone have any memories of it?
Other than the place for a cafe on the left as you come into town no. I'd stay at Casa Lieres over Bandeira hands down. It really is a nicer place. And it ticks your rural box nicely.For the last portion we would like to stay in more rural places and fewer towns
I'd say no, because you go gownhill on asphalt to Borrenes from the castle. Somewhere on another thread there was an alternative posted that went straight over to Orellan without dropping down to the road. (Laurie just posted a track...just don't go down to Las Médulas at the end after the mirador if you don'twant to but follow one of the two high alternatives on the other map se posted.)Is there a reason to go a bit further to Borrenes instead of staying at Villavieja?
- What about the alternative from Borrenas? If we're not staying in Las Médulas, it seems like the alternative makes sense as it goes straight to the lookout, right?
It's a longish descent, and then you'd have to go back up again on the other side. There's not much to see there except the very decent museum and wandering around in the bottom of the mines, which was very pretty.From the mirador, you can go down on the squiggly light green camino del mirador, go down past the Agoga and then head out on the red trail. Or you can stay up without descending to the village, which is longer but probably faster since the descent on the squiggly trail can be slow depending on if it’s rained, the rocks, etc.
Yes! Good idea. It's a gentle uphill and gorgeous.It looks like the castle is a short walk from Villavieja? So I/we could go as a side walk in the afternoon. And carrying food on camino is our speciality so no problem there!
Stay up means continuing on the red path from the mirador all the way to the Mirador de Pedrices and then continuing off the map?Here is the map of the trails at Médulas.
View attachment 172230
If you walk in on the official Camino, you come in where the big P is. If you take any of the alternatives (from Borrenes, from the Cornatel castle, or from the Monastery of Valdueza) you arrive at the mirador de Orellán. The camino leaves on the upper right hand corner off the red trail.
From the mirador, you can go down on the squiggly light green camino del mirador, go down past the Agoga and then head out on the red trail. Or you can stay up without descending to the village, which is longer but probably faster since the descent on the squiggly trail can be slow depending on if it’s rained, the rocks, etc.
Again where red is the standard camino and blue is the Borrenes alternative, and the castle is near the brown and white viewpoint (binoculars) symbol on the right, my drawn yellow path here would approximate the Chana alternative?I have walked the alternative from Borrenes, which some found tricky (it was fine when I went, not too overgrown). Others have taken a different alternative from right at the turnoff to the castle. It also winds up at the mirador, but does not go to Borrenes. I would do that one, rather than the one from Borrenes. Some recent forum discussion on it, use “La Chana” to search.
I’m trying to keep track, and I think this is now the fourth option.You can walk from the village Villavieja to Paradela on a signposted path which starts in the village Villavieja. It is part of a walking route and there is a information display of this route in the village. So there is no need to walk to the castle and start through the fields to Paradela.
Thank you, great tips!Hi Jungleboy,
Excellent idea to walk to the Mirador Orellán, it is a really stunning view.
Stay up means continuing on the red path from the mirador all the way to the Mirador de Pedrices and then continuing off the map?
Yes. and there are two options up there. One that goes more or less,along the top of thr ridge above Las MédulasSo the yellow would be the 'stay up' path?
But there are also several well-marked paths from the Mirador down to the village. They are somewhat steep and might be slippery when wet, but they are quite nice. One of them passes by the Cuevona, which you can no longer enter. Then you can just pass through Las Medulas and continue on to Puente.So the yellow would be the 'stay up' path?
Good to know but it seems longer to go to the village and I’m not sure what it adds?But there are also several well-marked paths from the Mirador down to the village. They are somewhat steep and might be slippery when wet, but they are quite nice. One of them passes by the Cuevona, which you can no longer enter. Then you can just pass through Las Medulas and continue on to Puente.
That was my experience as well. She was happy to pick up the key and walk the 10 m to open the door of the church, which has an entrance directly from the albergue.Re Diomondi, someone up the thread posted that they didn’t think you could get a tour of the church unless you were staying. I certainly did when I stopped by in March
I don’t think it’s actually that much longer, but it does have a descent that can be tricky in wet weather. And if you are on the blue trail (I’m referring to the Médulas map I posted, incorrectly oriented as it may be), you will go right by the Mirador de las Pedrices, which is not as spectacular a view as from Orellán, but it is on the way to the camino.Good to know but it seems longer to go to the village and I’m not sure what it adds?
You can see from regular maps that there are at least 2 circular walking circular routes for day visitors. One route down would not be much longer than the one that avoids the town. You can just decide at the moment.I don’t think it’s actually that much longer
I think you are talking about the visitors center and not the museum. The visitors center is very close to Hotel Rural Agoga. I agree that it doesn’t have much (but they do have a sello!).By the way, I am one who found the museum less than impressive
This is so disappointing. I was so hoping to go here in October & on to La Encantada. Do you know why entrance is not allowed? I just emailed their cultural center for more information when I read your comment. AymarahOne of them passes by the Cuevona, which you can no longer enter.
I think it was for safety reasons - rock fall, etc.Do you know why entrance is not allowed?
I really liked the museum near the bottom entrance to the village. And got a lot of advice from the docent there about day walks. But closed!? Bummer.I think you are talking about the visitors center and not the museum. The visitors center is very close to Hotel Rural Agoga. I agree that it doesn’t have much (but they do have a sello!).
I emailed the Médulas center who referred me to Fundación Las Médulas. Both responded quickly.I think it was for safety reasons - rock fall, etc.
Not recommended is not the same as prohibited.“El acceso a Cuevona y Encantada no está aconsejado por riesgo de desprendimientos.”
Splitting hairs, Counselor?Not recommended is not the same as prohibited.
I completely agree. However, as I recall, the sign and fencing on site at the cave clearly indicated that entry was prohibited.Not recommended is not the same as prohibited
Language is so interesting. I quoted what I was sent in response to my question, are the caves open?I completely agree. However, as I recall, the sign and fencing on site at the cave clearly indicated that entry was prohibited.
Apology for my delayed response - I’ve been traveling. We choose the Victoria because we had stayed there in 2019 as we were finishing the Sanabres. Both times we chose it on Booking.com. One thing that influenced the decision was that it’s near the top of the hill/ascent and not have that to start the ascent the next morning. It is a bit off route but easy to find. I honestly cannot remember if there was much backtracking. If there was, it wasn’t much. It’s modern and comfortable with good food in their bar/restaurant. Hope this is of some help.Thanks for the link to the blog. There’s a lot of practical info there as well as nice pictures.
I have one question about your lodging. You stayed in Pensión Victoria on your last night before Santiago. I had never heard of anyone staying there (but it is on Gronze, so I just haven’t been paying attention). Looks like a nice place, about 2 km beyond the Pensión Cruceiro and Carrefour on the national highway.
Two questions —
Did you choose the Victoria over the Cruceiro (or other places in Ponte Ulla) for some reason or was it just what you found available?
And how did you get back to the camino from the pensión? Did you have to backtrack or can you just cut over somehow? Looks like a straight shot on Gronze, but you never know.
Muchas gracias, buen camino, Laurie
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