Detours on the Sanabrés

[Rob Jorritsma]

Hi, I'll be walking the Via de la Plata this year starting mid March. I'm planning to talk the Sanabrés route rather than the Astorga one.
In 2017 my wife and I walked a few days on the Sanabrés. There were several detours because of the AVE works. Signposting was confusing and contradictory at times. We ended up doing quite a few extra kilometers because of it. What's the situation at the moment?
Buen Camino to you all.
Rob

 

[domigee]

Hi Rob, I hope someone who has walked it recently can answer your question more helpfully.
I was there in 2015 and indeed found many detours. At one time, I knew that meant at least 1O km more and I wasn’t a happy bunny! (Turned out it was more like 17!).
Being French ( ) I let my displeasure be known (“WHAT??!!!”) and a little old lady came out to me from a nearby shop and told me ‘Ignore the signs, my dear, it is still open and it is perfectly safe’.... So we went the way she suggested, the ‘old’ way and saved ourselves a lot of kilometres.
The point of this is: ask the locals. They’ll know. (Doesn’t work for all Caminos, only this one!).
If you don’t speak Spanish, maybe you can find another peregrino/a who does. Sorry I cannot be of more help but I wish you luck

 

[stratophile]

One of the forum's users, @Jenyat53 , is either currently on the Sanabrés or has just finished. I've seen some of her posts. If you ask her nicely, she might be able to answer questions for you.

 

[Donna Sch]

Hi Rob, I hope someone who has walked it recently can answer your question more helpfully.
I was there in 2015 and indeed found many detours. At one time, I knew that meant at least 1O km more and I wasn’t a happy bunny! (Turned out it was more like 17!).
Being French ( ) I let my displeasure be known (“WHAT??!!!”) and a little old lady came out to me from a nearby shop and told me ‘Ignore the signs, my dear, it is still open and it is perfectly safe’.... So we went the way she suggested, the ‘old’ way and saved ourselves a lot of kilometres.
The point of this is: ask the locals. They’ll know. (Doesn’t work for all Caminos, only this one!).
If you don’t speak Spanish, maybe you can find another peregrino/a who does. Sorry I cannot be of more help but I wish you luck

That was the A Gudiña to Laza leg. I did take the southern variant to Verín and it was my longest day on the entire VDLP doing over 50 km in 12 hours including getting lost 3 times. The last error added 20 km to my day. So if the regular route is an option, use it unless someone has recently redone the waymarking after the first 18 km.

 

[wisepilgrim]

South of Galicia the AVE construction no longer adds kilometers to the stage, just meters.

However the stretch between Requejo de Sanabria and Lubián is still causing disruptions, but that is more of an inconvenience (yellow arrows are much more reassuring than haphazardly pegged detour signs). The diversion keeps you on the road more, and Aciberos has been severed from the route, but it is nothing like you experienced in years past.

 

[Colette Z]

South of Galicia the AVE construction no longer adds kilometers to the stage, just meters.

However the stretch between Requejo de Sanabria and Lubián is still causing disruptions, but that is more of an inconvenience (yellow arrows are much more reassuring than haphazardly pegged detour signs). The diversion keeps you on the road more, and Aciberos has been severed from the route, but it is nothing like you experienced in years past.

View attachment 52423

Is your most recent VDLP book publishd yet?

 

[wisepilgrim]

Is your most recent VDLP book publishd yet?

It prints this week. And ships as fast as it can!

 

[lt56ny]

It prints this week. And ships as fast as it can!

When will the app update be available?

 

[Colette Z]

It prints this week. And ships as fast as it can!

Are you taking pre-orders?

 

[wisepilgrim]

When will the app update be available?

The same time as the book.

Are you taking pre-orders?

I am.

 

[tangata hikoi]

The same time as the book.

I am.

Is there a wisepilgrim app for the VLDP?
I've not been able to find one.
Megg

 

[wisepilgrim]

Just dropping in to say that the guidebook to the Plata and Sanabrés is now at the press, and that the apps have been updated. The book is in Ivar's shop, and mine too, and the links to the updated apps are below:

iOS

Android