Which route after Soto de Luiña

[barryfr]

i would appreciate advice on the mountain vs. “coastal” routes after Soto de Luiña. Can anybody who has done the mountain route lately comment on the conditions of the trail and the markings? Will the recent rains make it more difficult? We generally appreciate good views, i.e, we chose the higher route out of Irun and were glad we did. Thanks.

 

[Texas Walker]

We walked the high route in 2018. If the weather had cooperated it would have been gorgeous. Lesson for us was: don't assume that the morning rain is just for a little bit. That day it was rainy all day, and in the pastures on top, it felt like the rain was falling upwards into our faces.
NB the path through the pastures is worn down the couple of inches to the base rock, which looks like marble. If you don't have shoes that can walk on wet pavement, it's another reason to check the weather. (That was our first time to walk with Megagrip type soles, and we were very grateful for them.)
We were tired when we descended to the usually traveled level, we missed our turn off to Cacabelos (?) so it's a good thing we didn't have a reservation there to honor. Ended up sleeping at Hotel Canero, down the road in Canero. Friendly folks. A beautiful little place, very comfortable room, lovely pilgrim menu. The regional dessert, a type of cheese (?) (white and tender textured) with honey drizzled over it, was delicious.
HTH
BC

 

[peregrina2000]

I walked the high route in 2018 too, so, my info is also out of date. But I was much luckier than Texas Walker because I had a beautiful sunny day. A friend walked it last year and said it was well marked and good terrain.

As far as the recent rains go, I think the path would drain very quickly, not like some of those Galician green tunnels. I would be careful who you get local advice from, because there are several people in the town really trying to discourage pilgrims from taking the route. My friend last year felt like she was being beat up by them with all their constant warnings.

 

[LTfit]

i would appreciate advice on the mountain vs. “coastal” routes after Soto de Luiña. Can anybody who has done the mountain route lately comment on the conditions of the trail and the markings? Will the recent rains make it more difficult? We generally appreciate good views, i.e, we chose the higher route out of Irun and were glad we did. Thanks.

Definitely the mountain route! The hospitalero at the albergue will discourage you for no good reason. I've done both and why walk on asphalt when you can get great views from up top and walk on grass and dirt paths?

I was alone doing the mountain route by the way.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I stayed overnight in Soto de Luina nearly two weeks ago and left in the morning thinking the "coastal route" was actually on the coast, but it was not. It was one of my two worst days on the Del Norte. A hand made sign pointed with an arrow saying "costa" so we followed it, but it was a big mistake with continual ups and downs on narrow paths with loose rocks; making me extra careful to not roll my foot, and messy eucalyptus forests all around with absolutely no views. I'm not sure how we got caught up in that nightmare for a couple of hours.

Finally, back to civilization at Novellana, we took a short detour that brought us to the beautiful beach area of Playa del Silencio; the only "light at the end of this tunnel".