Alternate approaches to the lighthouse in Fisterra

[trecile]

Most people walk the road up to the lighthouse, but there are a couple of alternate approaches.

Firstly, there is a trail that you can take that brings you up over the top. You can find it on the Windy Maps app. It's the green line.
You can download Windy Maps for Android here, or for iPhone here.



This is the view that you get







The 2nd approach doesn't take you directly to the lighthouse, but gives you a great view of it from the sea.

There are a couple of companies that do a sunset boat cruise, including this one. The boat takes you out by the lighthouse, and you have wonderful views. The 12 Euro price of the cruise includes a glass of wine or beer and a light snack.

 

[peregrino_tom]

Hi Trecile, seeing your blissful summery shots reminded me of a very cold mid-December in 2008! I took the standard route up to the lighthouse, but stayed on a day (to absorb as much of my first camino as possible) and walked around the neighbourhood hills then. Attached, a similar view of the lighthouse and also a couple looking the other way, where you can see the wild beach on the Atlantic side of Fisterra. Also just about follow the route in, round the headland from Cee, and to the left that flat bit you cross when you are coming/going from/to Muxia.. Happy days!

 

[MesaWalker]

Photo taken yesterday from the top of the Finisterre peninsula heading for the lighthouse, looking back toward the bay at Fisterra (to the right) and the opposite bay on the northern side. The views are magnificent.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

We took the same route back to town as @trecile after visiting the lighhouse and having a drink on the patio. I highly recommend it, too, and loved walking that scenic route with no people! I wish I'd known about that inexpensive boat ride...maybe another time!
My last picture shows Finesterre on the right and the wonderful semi-private beach over the hill on the left.

 

[The Ghost]

Most people walk the road up to the lighthouse, but there are a couple of alternate approaches.

Firstly, there is a trail that you can take that brings you up over the top. You can find it on the Windy Maps app. It's the green line.
You can download Windy Maps for Android here, or for iPhone here.

View attachment 112022

This is the view that you get

View attachment 112023





The 2nd approach doesn't take you directly to the lighthouse, but gives you a great view of it from the sea.

There are a couple of companies that do a sunset boat cruise, including this one. The boat takes you out by the lighthouse, and you have wonderful views. The 12 Euro price of the cruise includes a glass of wine or beer and a light snack.

View attachment 112024

View attachment 112025

I went to the light house to watch the sunset, but since I was early I ended up back tracking your green trail shown. My idea was to watch the sunset from on top of the hill and be closer to the town. The view was great from up on top but the trail didn't look like a good trail once you were on the opposite side of the hill from the lighthouse so I headed back towards the light house. I ended up not going all the way back to the light house but following my alltrails map showing some other routes that were shorter to get back to town. What a mistake! The trail started as roads that after a short time changed to roads that were not as defined then to over grown and finally I was picking my was down a slope that was a tree clearcut area probably a couple of years ago. I probably would of broken my legs had I tried to make it to the main road because of a 10 ft drop off right at the edge of the road. I had to walk along the edge a short time to get to where I could safely walk down to a parking area. Be careful out there!

 

[peregrina2000]

After a couple of failed attempts, despite my best efforts, I finally did figure out how to get up on the route that takes you to the top of the lighthouse. I also wanted to see the Pedras Santas and the ruins of the very ancient ermita of San Guillerme. Picture an isocoles triangle, with the lighthouse as the top point, and the pedras on one side and San Guillerme on the other.

My wikiloc tracks will take you first to the pedras santas, then to the lighthouse, then to San Guillerme, and then back to town. If I were to do it again, I would not take the tracks I took from San Guillerme back to town. That side is much less picturesque and a little overgrown in parts. I would either head back on the side where the pedras are, or save the lighthouse till last and then walkd down on the road from the lighthouse.

Trail to Pedras Santa’s, the lighthouse, and the ruins of the Ermita of San Guillerme.

Trail to Pedras Santa’s, the lighthouse, and the ruins of the Ermita of San Guillerme. Hiking trail in Fisterra, Galicia (España). Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. The north side of this loop (the side that goes past the Pedras Santas) is MUCH nicer.

www.wikiloc.com

Since there was no chance of any visible sunset that evening, and since I have a 1 out of 5 record of seeing the sunset anyway, I just decided to head back to town and get a good sleep before my walk to Muxia the next day.

The legend says that when the small rock on top of the pile was tipped, it revealed who was a virgen and who was not. Whatever the legend, it was a very beautiful walk from town along the side of the peninsula, with many great views of the rocky coast and the Praia de Mar de Fora.

The ruins of San Guillerme are very much ruins, but there are a lot of stories surrounding them. One is that lying on the rocks cured infertility. Another talks about the site being the place where the saint lived as a hermit in the XI C. There is also a cave where he is reported to have stayed praying as hermits do. Good view towards Cee and the other side of the coast from the Finisterre port, but as I said, the way down is a bit rough.

There are lots and lots of very wide tracks up on Monte Facho, and if you are using Wikiloc (and other programs, I assume), you will be able to see ways to change the route to suit your preferences.

But for starters, I would highly recommend starting on the road toward the Pedras Santas.