In and out of Ourense

[MarieLauFlorin]

How is the route in and out of Ourense? Heavy traffic? Are there alternative routes we should consider? We will start about 10 K before Ourense this time.

 

[AML]

Hi Marie,
This thread may be useful https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/going-in-and-out-of-ourense.10127/

I plan to use this option in October

 

[surya8]

Long way in and out of Ourence. As fas as I remember walking from Xunqueira it's mostly along the main roads to Ourence, passing through some industrial zone on the way, I didn't find it totally unpleasant or disturbingly long. The road goes uphill to the centre of town. The municipal albergue is close to the centre. The city is known for pulpo, so make sure you taste some there Very pleasant town, wish we had more time there. Next time I'll make sure to get a soak in the thermal waters there, the one on the centre is free. Next day we walked to Cea, plenty of woods with edible mushrooms there Casa Cesar is a good stop on the way to have a drink and talk to a Camino enthusiast

 

[peregrina2000]

I highly recommend the river route I described in that post linked to by @AML. It is peaceful and shady, but — full disclosure — it is a wee bit longer.

Leaving Ourense, I have tried several times to find the right hand route, but never was able to. So I have always taken the left hand route, and it is fine. There is a steep ascent, short and sweet, right as you leave the city, but then it is quite beautiful, lots of dirt paths (unless the Xunta has put in crushed gravel) through green woods.

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Sweenardo]

I walked Ourense to Santiago last year and took the right hand route out of Ourense. Lots of uphill but I was so excited to be on the Camino I hardly noticed! Met up with folks who took the left route and after comparing notes it seemed the right was the better option.

Loved Ourense so if you can stay an extra day the markets; hot springs; and cathedral are all wonderful.

First town out of Ourense is Cea which is small but charming and beautiful. Great memories of the town square and restaurant in Cea.

 

[Kiwi-family]

@peregrina2000 You need to look for this:

The coin won't still be there - it was ours;-) We tossed it to make the decision...and went right!
It DID go up, but not unbearably.

And then you get this view looking back which makes you realised you HAVE climbed! (sorry about the shonky crooked uncomposed photo)

 

[alansykes]

I've done both routes out of Ourense, turned left three times and right three times. On balance I think I prefer right. It's ~1 km longer, but the very steep path on the left is narrow and has quite fast traffic on a weekday.

The pulpería in Cea is highly recommended for lunch.

And I love the monastery at Oseira, a couple of hours on from Cea. The albergue there is somewhat Spartan, but vespers in the almost deserted Gormenghast monastery in an experience not to be missed, and the hospitalero there is very friendly and chatty (your Trappist monk is often very chatty, in my limited experience).

 

[peregrina2000]

I've done both routes out of Ourense, turned left three times and right three times. On balance I think I prefer right. It's ~1 km longer, but the very steep path on the left is narrow and has quite fast traffic on a weekday.

The pulpería in Cea is highly recommended for lunch.

And I love the monastery at Oseira, a couple of hours on from Cea. The albergue there is somewhat Spartan, but vespers in the almost deserted Gormenghast monastery in an experience not to be missed, and the hospitalero there is very friendly and chatty (your Trappist monk is often very chatty, in my limited experience).

Alan,
I think you have been there more recently than I — what’s the food situation like? When I was there, there were two bars, neither of which was particularly interested in serving us food, but we did get a meal so I can’t complain.

 

[MarieLauFlorin]

Long way in and out of Ourence. As fas as I remember walking from Xunqueira it's mostly along the main roads to Ourence, passing through some industrial zone on the way, I didn't find it totally unpleasant or disturbingly long. The road goes uphill to the centre of town. The municipal albergue is close to the centre. The city is known for pulpo, so make sure you taste some there Very pleasant town, wish we had more time there. Next time I'll make sure to get a soak in the thermal waters there, the one on the centre is free. Next day we walked to Cea, plenty of woods with edible mushrooms there Casa Cesar is a good stop on the way to have a drink and talk to a Camino enthusiast

Thank you, very useful

 

[Kanga]

I took the left route (only a few months ago). A bit of a walk along the main road until the turn uphill, from there it was beautiful. No crushed gravel Laurie!

 

[MarieLauFlorin]

Hi Marie,
This thread may be useful https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/going-in-and-out-of-ourense.10127/

I plan to use this option in October[/QUOTE

I read excactly that toreador before posting my question, but the the thread is from 2011. I thought I might need newer information...

 

[MarieLauFlorin]

I walked Ourense to Santiago last year and took the right hand route out of Ourense. Lots of uphill but I was so excited to be on the Camino I hardly noticed! Met up with folks who took the left route and after comparing notes it seemed the right was the better option.

Loved Ourense so if you can stay an extra day the markets; hot springs; and cathedral are all wonderful.

First town out of Ourense is Cea which is small but charming and beautiful. Great memories of the town square and restaurant in Cea.

Thanks, will try to find right hand routeout of Ourense...

 

[Kiwi-family]

Laurie
The bars were not overly keen to serve us food but I really can't complain as the grandma at one went down to their allotment and came back with an armful of lettuce so we had a salad of sorts!

 

[Harington]

How is the route in and out of Ourense? Heavy traffic? Are there alternative routes we should consider? We will start about 10 K before Ourense this time.

STEEP!

 

[KinkyOne]

I've only done the right hand option once and it is indeed STEEP. It felt like someone lifted that concrete road through the village vertically but as you can see here the left hand option is no less steep just at different point (click on "Ver perfil de la etapa" under the map):
- right hand: https://www.gronze.com/etapa/ourense/cea
- left hand: https://www.gronze.com/etapa/ourense/reguengo/cea

Buen Camino!

 

[Rosalinda]

I highly recommend the river route I described in that post linked to by @AML. It is peaceful and shady, but — full disclosure — it is a wee bit longer.

Leaving Ourense, I have tried several times to find the right hand route, but never was able to. So I have always taken the left hand route, and it is fine. There is a steep ascent, short and sweet, right as you leave the city, but then it is quite beautiful, lots of dirt paths (unless the Xunta has put in crushed gravel) through green woods.

Buen camino, Laurie

Laurie we did the Sanabres and to take the right route this is the information I followed.: After crossing the bridge, take your second right onto Ave. Santiago. Follow that and continue following the yellow arrows and markers.