Alternatives to Sarriá - SdeC

[Felipe]

Friends,
I am planning to return to Camino Frances (hopefully) next year, but I am not happy with the idea of doing the way from Sarriá to SdeC...
So, I have been looking for options, browsing Google Maps. Sarriá to Portomarín cant'be avoided, because a river should be crossed. But after Portomarín it seems there is a possible alternative,
https://goo.gl/maps/Mkumb
which is not much longer than the usual way. As far as I can see, it is less interesting (only some modest romanic churches and remains of ruined fortresses), but I am trading landscapes for quietness. It is a more or less flat terrain, basically farmlands, with suburbs near SdeC. The possible route goes by local roads, and I hope, some rural paths. As usual, I would ask local people for advice, walkable trails, etc. For the moment, the stages I plan are as follows,
Portomarín- Antas de Ulla 27,6 km
Antas de Ulla – Vila de Cruces, 26,6 km
Vila de Cruces- Lestedo, 30,8 km
Lestedo – Compostela, 11 km (I like the idea of a short final stage)

It looks doable. No albergues, evidently, but there are hostals and "casas de campo". I suppose I can stamp my credential at parishes or ayuntamientos (city halls).
Now, I guess I am not the first to try this, or maybe there is somebody knowledgeable about those villages. I'd l also like to know if there are places to visit with a minor detour (as the monastery of San Salvador de Camanzo) or some established trekking path (by Ulla river?)
On the less positivie side, I am going to miss Melide´s pulpo a la gallega, badly ...
Any comments and info will be well appreciated.
Cordially
Felipe

 

[KinkyOne]

Friends,
I am planning to return to Camino Frances (hopefully) next year, but I am not happy with the idea of doing the way from Sarriá to SdeC...
So, I have been looking for options, browsing Google Maps. Sarriá to Portomarín cant'be avoided, because a river should be crossed. But after Portomarín it seems there is a possible alternative,
https://goo.gl/maps/Mkumb
which is not much longer than the usual way. As far as I can see, it is less interesting (only some modest romanic churches and remains of ruined fortresses), but I am trading landscapes for quietness. It is a more or less flat terrain, basically farmlands, with suburbs near SdeC. The possible route goes by local roads, and I hope, some rural paths. As usual, I would ask local people for advice, walkable trails, etc. For the moment, the stages I plan are as follows,
Portomarín- Antas de Ulla 27,6 km
Antas de Ulla – Vila de Cruces, 26,6 km
Vila de Cruces- Lestedo, 30,8 km
Lestedo – Compostela, 11 km (I like the idea of a short final stage)

It looks doable. No albergues, evidently, but there are hostals and "casas de campo". I suppose I can stamp my credential at parishes or ayuntamientos (city halls).
Now, I guess I am not the first to try this, or maybe there is somebody knowledgeable about those villages. I'd l also like to know if there are places to visit with a minor detour (as the monastery of San Salvador de Camanzo) or some established trekking path (by Ulla river?)
On the less positivie side, I am going to miss Melide´s pulpo a la gallega, badly ...
Any comments and info will be well appreciated.
Cordially
Felipe

Oh, that's a nice idea. Please report if you'll do it.
Same feelings here about pulpo in Melide though

Ultreia!

 

[Felipe]

Oh, that's a nice idea. Please report if you'll do it.
Same feelings here about pulpo in Melide though
Ultreia!

Thanks! For the moment, I am quite intrigued with the concept. I am browsing maps for routes and google for hostals and places to visit. You know, it is quite funny to plan, even if things could go in other ways. If I finally go by this alternative route, I will post a short note (and some pics) here.
On the gastronomic side, in Antas apparently they are quite proud of its artisanal bread and cheeses. They seem to be good for a mid-morning break...

 

[Al the optimist]

Why not go the whole hog and after deviating from the Frances along the Salvador and Primitivo enjoy the Pulpo in Melide and then plan an alternative to SDC from there?

 

[Felipe]

Why not go the whole hog and after deviating from the Frances along the Salvador and Primitivo enjoy the Pulpo in Melide and then plan an alternative to SDC from there?

I´ve considered Primitivo, but it happens that I can climb up the Himalayas (well, sort of...) but going down is always a problem to my bad right knee . And the topography of Primitivo is as beautiful as difficult, I've been said. Nevertheless, I don’ t rule it out.
I have been looking also at the less trodden Camino Sanabrés. Still not sure, I am weighing possibilities. That' s one of the wonders of Camino: there are options for almost every interest, preference and physical condition.

 

[alansykes]

I have been looking also at the less trodden Camino Sanabrés. .

I'd strongly recommend the Sanabrés from Ourense. It's a bit over 100km from SdC, so qualifies for a compostela, if that's important to you. Ourense cathedral has a fine portico by Maestro Mateo and some hot springs, and Oseira cistercian monastery (where Graham Greene used to go on retreat to write) is an astonishing place kept alive by 14 monks. The albergues are conveniently spaced to do the stretch in 3 nights (well, four counting Ourense itself).

 

[OTH86]

Will be interested in what you eventually come up with -- would love to bypass the masses and commercialism of the Camino after Ribadiso!
Buen Camino!