LIVE from the Camino Islares to Laredo via coast

[AJGuillaume]

We're in Oriñon, staying at the Albergue Lia.
The weather has been nice over the past few days, and as we had doubts about going up Monte Candina to reach Laredo, we thought we do a trial run up to the Paso de Presa.
There is a little sign in Sonabia pointing to the path, and we were told to follow black arrows.
We were lucky I had both the Wise Pilgrim's Norte app, which shows this route, as well as wikilocs GPS tracks (thanks @peregrina2000 ). Once you are on the side of the mountain, it's easy to follow the track, but we did not find the turn off easily, as experienced by @trecile . There is no sign to show the turnoff, we just relied on the app and the GPS track. I have added two photos: if you get to the sign with an arrow that points to the beach, you have gone too far.
We climbed as far as we could, and then turned around as a storm was coming our way.
The path is eroded out in places, making it difficult. People tell you that if you have vertigo, you should stay away: yes, indeed, the slope is pretty steep.
The locals say it is muy peligroso, well I guess it is, because if you slip, there's nothing stopping you going all the way down.
We decided against walking this tomorrow: my wife felt uneasy climbing up, and when we got to the last bit where we would have to squeeze up a crack in a rock face, we thought it wasn't really a good idea. Note we did this trial run sin mochila ( without backpack).
My recommendation: if you're fit, have mountaineering skills (read: climb like a mountain goat), if the weather is dry and has been dry for the last few days, if you can have your mochila transported to your next destination, then it is really worth it! The views are sensational!
@peregrina2000 stay tuned: we may have an alternative tomorrow which is not just following the N634.
Buen Camino!

 

[peregrina2000]

Well, I think you got the best of both worlds, the glory of the views, the exertion of the ascent, but not the total scariness of the other part! Those pictures are gorgeous, AJ, just hardening my conviction that the northern coast is by far the most beautiful of Spain. You have a lot more coast in your future, aren’t you still in Cantabria, with all of Asturias to come???

I am really looking forward to hearing how you got out to the coast today. I would assume it involves going up again around the ermita, onto the camino alternative, but you probably have a surprise or two up your sleeve!

 

[AJGuillaume]

Well, I think you got the best of both worlds, the glory of the views, the exertion of the ascent, but not the total scariness of the other part! Those pictures are gorgeous, AJ, just hardening my conviction that the northern coast is by far the most beautiful of Spain. You have a lot more coast in your future, aren’t you still in Cantabria, with all of Asturias to come???

I am really looking forward to hearing how you got out to the coast today. I would assume it involves going up again around the ermita, onto the camino alternative, but you probably have a surprise or two up your sleeve!

Laurie, we have just arrived in Laredo. So we still have lots of coast to experience!
I agree, that northern coast is spectacular!
I'll write about my 'surprise' in a new post.

 

[Orford girl]

We're in Oriñon, staying at the Albergue Lia.
The weather has been nice over the past few days, and as we had doubts about going up Monte Candina to reach Laredo, we thought we do a trial run up to the Paso de Presa.
There is a little sign in Sonabia pointing to the path, and we were told to follow black arrows.
We were lucky I had both the Wise Pilgrim's Norte app, which shows this route, as well as wikilocs GPS tracks (thanks @peregrina2000 ). Once you are on the side of the mountain, it's easy to follow the track, but we did not find the turn off easily, as experienced by @trecile . There is no sign to show the turnoff, we just relied on the app and the GPS track. I have added two photos: if you get to the sign with an arrow that points to the beach, you have gone too far.
We climbed as far as we could, and then turned around as a storm was coming our way.
The path is eroded out in places, making it difficult. People tell you that if you have vertigo, you should stay away: yes, indeed, the slope is pretty steep.
The locals say it is muy peligroso, well I guess it is, because if you slip, there's nothing stopping you going all the way down.
We decided against walking this tomorrow: my wife felt uneasy climbing up, and when we got to the last bit where we would have to squeeze up a crack in a rock face, we thought it wasn't really a good idea. Note we did this trial run sin mochila ( without backpack).
My recommendation: if you're fit, have mountaineering skills (read: climb like a mountain goat), if the weather is dry and has been dry for the last few days, if you can have your mochila transported to your next destination, then it is really worth it! The views are sensational!
@peregrina2000 stay tuned: we may have an alternative tomorrow which is not just following the N634.
Buen Camino!

CAUTION!!!!!! I was just through the area and signs are easy..lovely Alberque in Liendo. Easy day to Laredo.
BUT do not stop in El Pontarrón.,woman I walked with did. Horrible experience. No one there. No bathroom facil8ties, filthy! Worse night she ever had. I almost stopped but didn’t because I was there too early in the day!