Invierno stage between Monforte de Lemos and Chantada

Mr_Ross_Duncan · May 3, 2023

Hi, I'm planning my stages along the Invierno later in the year.
We're peeling off the Frances at Ponferrada.
There seems to be an option to shorten the long stage between Monforte de Lemos and Chantada by staying in the little rural hotel/house in Vilarino.
It seems lovely and gets good reviews, however no matter how hard I try they will not respond to any communications. Their email from their website bounces back as incorrect, their online contact form remains unanswered, they don't have WhatsApp and their FB messenger has an automatic answer response suggesting an email instead, it's a different email from their online one and seems to be correct it however also remains unanswered. They are not listed on any booking service.
I'm starting to assume the worst and they have closed, this time of the year should be getting towards their busiest and should be across their bookings and requests.
There seems to be no other options to break the stage up anywhere else, however we could be missing something other walkers have found.
Normally we would just suck it up and walk the 30klm to Chantada however we've committed to walking through Chantada and on to the accommodation at Penasillas which would be getting up towards 40klm in a day and that's not appealing at all.

Theatregal · May 3, 2023

Vilarino is indeed lovely but if you don't hear from them, there is now a wonderful albergue at Diomondi, about 7 or 8km further from Vilarino. Please see info in this thread:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/diomondi.77624/#post-1095183

peregrina2000 · May 3, 2023

Mr_Ross_Duncan said:
they don't have WhatsApp

Yes they do! Contact Susana at 34 640 10 46 27. She will not answer this phone, she uses it only for WhatsApp.

Theatregal said:
Vilarino is indeed lovely but if you don't hear from them, there is now a wonderful albergue at Diomondi, about 7 or 8km further from Vilarino.

This is a real dilemma, IMHO! Two absolutely fabulous places to stay. The Torre Vilariño was the first Casa Rural licensed to do business in Galicia and they have preserved the family feel. It’s a wonderful place to lounge around, the people are very very nice, and the food is good (they have a pilgrim’s menu, but I say splurge a bit and go for the regular menú del día, it is very good).

For those with time, I would recommend the following. Walk from Monforte and spend the night at Torre Vilariño. You will arrive early and can have a great meal and then visit the museum and the hill fort right next door. It’s in an old Pazo (manor house). Then on the next day, add 6 or 7 km to that 7 or 8 km walk but walking the loop that takes you to some very beautiful spots above the Sil River. The tracks that VNWalking recorded are on wikiloc. There are two miradores (lookouts) and both have been dramatically improved since we walked — all the brush has been cut down and viewing platforms have been built. They are called the Miradouro or Mirador do Cabo do Mundo. Just gorgeous. If you walk that 6 km loop, take a long rest at the miradores, and then push on to Diomondi you will have a 17 or 18 km day and get to stay in the bishop’s palace turned albergue adjacent to the Romanesque Diomondi church. These two days are about as perfect as you can get if you like nature, contemplation, and ancient architecture.

Mr_Ross_Duncan · May 3, 2023

peregrina2000 said:
Yes they do! Contact Susana at 34 640 10 46 27. She will not answer this phone, she uses it only for WhatsApp.

This is a real dilemma, IMHO! Two absolutely fabulous places to stay. The Torre Vilariño was the first Casa Rural licensed to do business in Galicia and they have preserved the family feel. It’s a wonderful place to lounge around, the people are very very nice, and the food is good (they have a pilgrim’s menu, but I say splurge a bit and go for the regular menú del día, it is very good).

For those with time, I would recommend the following. Walk from Monforte and spend the night at Torre Vilariño. You will arrive early and can have a great meal and then visit the museum and the hill fort right next door. It’s in an old Pazo (manor house). Then on the next day, add 6 or 7 km to that 7 or 8 km walk but walking the loop that takes you to some very beautiful spots above the Sil River. The tracks that VNWalking recorded are on wikiloc. There are two miradores (lookouts) and both have been dramatically improved since we walked — all the brush has been cut down and viewing platforms have been built. They are called the Miradouro or Mirador do Cabo do Mundo. Just gorgeous. If you walk that 6 km loop, take a long rest at the miradores, and then push on to Diomondi you will have a 17 or 18 km day and get to stay in the bishop’s palace turned albergue adjacent to the Romanesque Diomondi church. These two days are about as perfect as you can get if you like nature, contemplation, and ancient architecture.

Wow, thanks very much, great advice.

Mr_Ross_Duncan · May 9, 2023

Mr_Ross_Duncan said:
Wow, thanks very much, great advice.

peregrina2000 said:
Yes they do! Contact Susana at 34 640 10 46 27. She will not answer this phone, she uses it only for WhatsApp.

This is a real dilemma, IMHO! Two absolutely fabulous places to stay. The Torre Vilariño was the first Casa Rural licensed to do business in Galicia and they have preserved the family feel. It’s a wonderful place to lounge around, the people are very very nice, and the food is good (they have a pilgrim’s menu, but I say splurge a bit and go for the regular menú del día, it is very good).

For those with time, I would recommend the following. Walk from Monforte and spend the night at Torre Vilariño. You will arrive early and can have a great meal and then visit the museum and the hill fort right next door. It’s in an old Pazo (manor house). Then on the next day, add 6 or 7 km to that 7 or 8 km walk but walking the loop that takes you to some very beautiful spots above the Sil River. The tracks that VNWalking recorded are on wikiloc. There are two miradores (lookouts) and both have been dramatically improved since we walked — all the brush has been cut down and viewing platforms have been built. They are called the Miradouro or Mirador do Cabo do Mundo. Just gorgeous. If you walk that 6 km loop, take a long rest at the miradores, and then push on to Diomondi you will have a 17 or 18 km day and get to stay in the bishop’s palace turned albergue adjacent to the Romanesque Diomondi church. These two days are about as perfect as you can get if you like nature, contemplation, and ancient architecture.

Hi Peregrina2000,
You kindly supplied me with a WhatsApp number for Susana at Torre Vilariño. It was in response to a mystery I'm trying to solve, and that is the continued radio silence from them.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been trying to contact them for around a month now without any success.
Nothing off their website, Facebook contacts, email and now WhatsApp will prompt a reply, I tried telephoning them one evening from here in Australia without any answer as well.
If I knew her personally, I'd be getting a bit worried by now.
Anyway, I'm going to ask again in the Ivar forum and see if anybody has had recent contact with them, so if you see a similar post, that's why.
All the best
Ross

paulmlucas · May 9, 2023

I contacted them a few weeks ago when I was planning my Invierno. They said they would be closed until June 1.

peregrina2000 · May 9, 2023

paulmlucas said:
I contacted them a few weeks ago when I was planning my Invierno. They said they would be closed until June 1.

Wow that’s unusual. For years, they have only closed for the month of November. I wonder what’s going on, but I hope everything is OK.

Mr_Ross_Duncan · May 9, 2023

paulmlucas said:
I contacted them a few weeks ago when I was planning my Invierno. They said they would be closed until June 1.

Thanks for the tip Paul. That's solved the mystery. I'll wait until June and have another attempt. Cheers.

OzAnnie · May 12, 2023

peregrina2000 said:
Wow that’s unusual. For years, they have only closed for the month of November. I wonder what’s going on, but I hope everything is OK.

We have heard from @mla1 yesterday that she dropped in there for an enjoyable long break during her day on the invierno. So keep trying. Someone is about.

Mr_Ross_Duncan · May 13, 2023

OzAnnie said:
We have heard from @mla1 yesterday that she dropped in there for an enjoyable long break during her day on the invierno. So keep trying. Someone is about.

Thanks Annie, I received a WhatsApp message from Susana yesterday, great news, I can continue planning my walk. Cheers.

Theatregal · May 13, 2023

Susana is wonderful!

Robo · Jun 14, 2023

Mr_Ross_Duncan said:
Hi, I'm planning my stages along the Invierno later in the year.
We're peeling off the Frances at Ponferrada.
There seems to be an option to shorten the long stage between Monforte de Lemos and Chantada by staying in the little rural hotel/house in Vilarino.

I stayed there last month. It was great. A lovely old coaching Inn.
Susana's mother and uncle looked after me very well.
Be aware they close the bar/kitchen on Wednesdays.

I did all the booking via whatsapp. +34 640 10 46 27

Mr_Ross_Duncan · Jun 14, 2023

Thanks for that Robo, much appreciated.

diesel · 2024-11-13T23:37:59+0100

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...

Invierno stage between Monforte de Lemos and Chantada

Mr_Ross_Duncan

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

Theatregal

Member

peregrina2000

Moderator

Mr_Ross_Duncan

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

Mr_Ross_Duncan

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

paulmlucas

Paul L.

peregrina2000

Moderator

Mr_Ross_Duncan

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

OzAnnie

Veteran Member

Mr_Ross_Duncan

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

Theatregal

Member

Robo

Veteran Member

Mr_Ross_Duncan

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

Latest Camino Photo

❓How to ask a question

Most read last week in this forum

Connection from O Cebreiro (or Samos) to Invierno?

Similar threads

Invierno stage between Monforte de Lemos and Chantada

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

Member

Moderator

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

Paul L.

Moderator

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

Veteran Member

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

Member

Veteran Member

Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,

❓How to ask a question

Most read last week in this forum

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency