Really? I would love to hear your suggestions. From my look at websites I am struggling to find ways to do shorter days and finding lower cost accomodations like albergues. This is what I have come up with so far:
1: Ponferrada to Borrenes, 20km, casa rural 50€ for a double
2: Borrenes to Puente Domingo ...: 15 km, hostal 27€ for a single
3 and 4: look at how to split the route in two, passing by Subrado, O Barco, Villa Martin & A Rua which are a total of 28.5km, Sobrado has a donativo and a hotel for 27€, Xagoaza an alberge for 6€, Villamartin an albergue for 5€, and A Rua also an albergue for 9€.
5: Quiroga: 25km, muni at 10€
6: A proba do brollon: 23km, a hostal
7: Villaria: 25km,
8: Chantada: 15km, hotel
9: Rodeiro: 25km, pension at 20€
10: Lalin: 22km, pension at 20€
11: Silleda: 18, lots of options from this point on.
12: Puente Villar: 22km
13: Santiago: 22.2km
I'm curious to read what those who have walked the Invierno think of this plan. Thank you in advance.
Hi, Anemone, the new guide has some "shorter stages" recommendations, and many of your stages are what I would recommend.
Here's just the language about those short stages, the rest will be ready to post in a few days! Buen camino, Laurie
Short Stages on the Invierno
Day 1 -- Ponferrada to Borrenes (20.3 km). This day will bring you past the Castillo de Cornatel, which you may be lucky enough to visit if opening hours coincide with your arrival (they have been reduced because of budget cuts).
Day 2 -- Borrenes to Puente de Domingo Flórez (15 km). Las Médulas is in the middle of this day, 6 km from Borrenes and 9 from Puente de Domingo Flórez. Well worth a long visit. If you're really not rushed for time, stay here and spend the whole afternoon at Las Médulas, there is plenty to see.
Day 3 -- Puente to O Barco de Valdeorras (18.3km)
Day 4 -- Barco to A Rúa (14 km)
Day 5 -- A Rúa to Montefurado (10). Take the train back to A Rúa, then the next day train back to Montefurado. If you’re up for a 24 km day, you could combine day 4 and 5. Arrive in late morning in A Rúa, rest up a bit, and then walk to Montefurado in the afternoon. There is a train back to A Rúa at 18.08, arriving at 18.17. The morning after, you can then get up slightly later, have a leisurely breakfast, and catch the 10.03 train from A Rúa, get off at Montefurado at 10.12, and continue from there onto Quiroga. No ‘cheating’ involved!
Day 6 -- Montefurado to Quiroga (16) (Having given this option to split A Rúa to Quiroga, though, I think that the A Rúa to Quiroga is a very do-able day for most pilgrims. There's an ascent at the end of the day up to the castle, and there is a bit of a slog into Quiroga through suburbs, but all in all an amazing day). Note though, that the only bar along the way, in Soldón, opens only in summer.
Day 7 -- Quiroga to A Pobra de Brollón (23.5 km)
Day 8 – A Pobra de Brollón to one of five options, all of which make for a mid-20 kms day. Castrotañe, Torre Vilariño, Rectoral, Casa Santo Estevo, or Escairón. This option means that you will not spend a night in Monforte de Lemos, which is a nice place and has a fair amount to see and do. Monforte is about 12.5 km from A Pobra.
Day 9 -- Casa Rural to Chantada (about 15 or 16). This day is one to really savor -- first stop, romanesque beauty of a church at Diomondi, then the lovely (though hard on the knees) descent to the Miño River, then back up the other side through vineyards to Chantada. Absolutely a five star walk.
Day 10 -- Chantada to Rodeiro 25.8 km
Day 11 -- Rodeiro to Lalín 21 km
Day 12 -- Lalín to Silleda 15.7 km
Day 14 -- Silleda to Ponte Ulla 20 km
Day 15 -- Ponte Ulla to Santiago 21 km
