Alto Pradela route - amazing.

[thejoker]

Just walked my first Alto Pradela variant route after Villafranca del Bierzo. Previously I'd always walked the road through the valley.
I HIGHLY (caps intentional) recommend considering the Pradela route. It is initially challenging and not the right choice for most non-athlete type pilgrims walking the full Villafranca to O Cebreiro book stage. It is a fabulous alternative with a wonderful cafe-albergue in Pradela selling delicious chestnut cake and strength-giving home-made strong chestnut liquor in the cutest tiny thimble glasses. The views throughout the way along with the hundreds of chestnut trees are stunning, as is the massive vegetable farm garden.
I thought it was a really beautiful route and a highlight of my Camino so far, though almost everybody appears to take the valley road route via Pereje. I stayed in Vega de Valcarce and recommend a valley end point (or even the Pradela albergue) if walking the variant, as it really is just too lovely to rush

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

We liked that variant as well. It is a climb so bring plenty of water.

Right after crossing the bridge leaving town head uphill on Calle Pradela, the ramp in the picture below.

 

[J Willhaus]

In 2016 there was a sign there indicating which way, but it has been removed in the photo above.

 

[thejoker]

In 2016 there was a sign there indicating which way, but it has been removed in the photo above.

There's now a big yellow arrow as well as a sign explaining the alternative. It's very clearly indicated where to go after the bridge.

 

[Anhalter]

Never walked the valley route. First time, i walked via Pradela. Loved it, but kinda hard.
Second time, i walked the Dragonte variant. Even more stunning, but a very exhausting walk so maybe not for everybody. But for those who enjoyed the walk from St.Jean to Roncesvalles, i recommend looking into it.

 

[thejoker]

Never walked the valley route. First time, i walked via Pradela. Loved it, but kinda hard.
Second time, i walked the Dragonte variant. Even more stunning, but a very exhausting walk so maybe not for everybody. But for those who enjoyed the walk from St.Jean to Roncesvalles, i recommend looking into it.

Oh the Dragonte scares me so much and it takes me 2 days to get to Roncesvalles, but who knows...

 

[howardd5]

Just walked my first Alto Pradela variant route after Villafranca del Bierzo. Previously I'd always walked the road through the valley.
I HIGHLY (caps intentional) recommend considering the Pradela route. It is initially challenging and not the right choice for most non-athlete type pilgrims walking the full Villafranca to O Cebreiro book stage. It is a fabulous alternative with a wonderful cafe-albergue in Pradela selling delicious chestnut cake and strength-giving home-made strong chestnut liquor in the cutest tiny thimble glasses. The views throughout the way along with the hundreds of chestnut trees are stunning, as is the massive vegetable farm garden.
I thought it was a really beautiful route and a highlight of my Camino so far, though almost everybody appears to take the valley road route via Pereje. I stayed in Vega de Valcarce and recommend a valley end point (or even the Pradela albergue) if walking the variant, as it really is just too lovely to rush

Have walked it twice and indeed a walk in the clouds. It was originally a Roman road and it shows . A good albergue in La Faba

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Peg got ahead of me coming down the mountain from Pradela and drank about a half liter of water from a fountain in Trabadelo before I pointed to its "water quality not guaranteed" sign. She was very upset because she had already been terribly sick on the meseta. Fortunately a local showed up to fill some bottles for herself and assured her that the water was safe to drink. This was in 2015 so find your own local in case things have changed.

 

[trecile]

I loved the walk from via Pradela and the hospitality at Albergue Lamas where I stopped for lunch and had the most amazing sandwich with vegetables from their garden.

 

[BobY333]

We chose this alternative in May of this year because we recalled how ugly the road route was when we last walked the CF in 2018. Be aware that this is alternative is mountain and is a tough go on the way up up up and down down down!

What was very funny was that the next morning at our amazing albergue (Pension Fernandez in Vega de Valcarse) we were talking with others about the prior day's walk. Two pilgrims talked about the "lovely river walk" they had - this was the ugly road route we remembered, but they had a completely different perspective on it and only paid attention to the river on the one side and not the road on the other - love it!

 

[trecile]

Two pilgrims talked about the "lovely river walk" they had - this was the ugly road route we remembered, but they had a completely different perspective on it and only paid attention to the river on the one side and not the road on the other

That's also how I remember it from my first Camino. I do like to focus on the pleasant views.

 

[GailGwyn]

Just walked my first Alto Pradela variant route after Villafranca del Bierzo. Previously I'd always walked the road through the valley.
I HIGHLY (caps intentional) recommend considering the Pradela route. It is initially challenging and not the right choice for most non-athlete type pilgrims walking the full Villafranca to O Cebreiro book stage. It is a fabulous alternative with a wonderful cafe-albergue in Pradela selling delicious chestnut cake and strength-giving home-made strong chestnut liquor in the cutest tiny thimble glasses. The views throughout the way along with the hundreds of chestnut trees are stunning, as is the massive vegetable farm garden.
I thought it was a really beautiful route and a highlight of my Camino so far, though almost everybody appears to take the valley road route via Pereje. I stayed in Vega de Valcarce and recommend a valley end point (or even the Pradela albergue) if walking the variant, as it really is just too lovely to rush

I agree. We walked this Variant twice and loved it. The views are spectacular!