VN’s Torre Vilariño loop

[peregrina2000]

I left Monforte at the ungodly hour of 8:20. I did a lot of poking around for the guide, cleared some things up, and was still at the intersection well before noon. So rather than check in, I decided to walk VN’s loop before shower and lunch. It was really great. Though I did it unintentionally in the opposite directioN from VN, I walked on the wrong side of the road so I could look for the credential. No luck. But spectacular views.

I’m now checked in and looking forward to shower and nice lunch.

I highly recommend doing this. My total for the day was 24 approx, so perfectly doable for most.

 

[peregrina2000]

But the really nice part was just as I checked in. Note the distinctive red stripe

 

[VNwalking]

OMG, Laurie, YOU FOUND IT!!!!
The Miño' glorious loop.

And ... the credencial!!!!!
I'm grinning like an idiot...and you are today's camino angel.
☺
It"s absurd to be so attached to a piece of paper and a plastic sleeve, but there you go.
Where the heck was it?

Later we can deal with the trade-off of credencial for reward, hopefully to be done somehow in person...in some fabulous place.

Meanwhile you have tomorrow's gifts to savor...
And I'm so glad you enjoyed that wee loop. Nice, wasn't it?
Buen camino!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

 

[VNwalking]

Looking at your pics more closely...the chestnuts are all blooming, and they really stand out. Gorgeous.
You'll have a fragrant walk tomorrow!

 

[Nana6]

I left Monforte at the ungodly hour of 8:20. I did a lot of poking around for the guide, cleared some things up, and was still at the intersection well before noon. So rather than check in, I decided to walk VN’s loop before shower and lunch. It was really great. Though I did it unintentionally in the opposite directioN from VN, I walked on the wrong side of the road so I could look for the credential. No luck. But spectacular views.

I’m now checked in and looking forward to shower and nice lunch.

I highly recommend doing this. My total for the day was 24 approx, so perfectly doable for most.

Thank you for the beautiful photos. Makes me feel I am there ( I wish)

 

[NualaOC]

But the really nice part was just as I checked in. Note the distinctive red stripe

That's a really cool ending to the lost credential saga! So glad that you found it.

 

[C clearly]

This is hilarious! What fun!

 

[peregrina2000]

Just got back from a little walk. On the advice of one of the owners of Torre Vilariño, I went to see if anyone was around the museum. The gate was open so I went in but could find no one. All the buildings were locked up, but I did make it up to the Castro (hill fort) and enjoyed another view.

Torre Vilariño is a beautiful place to do nothing, too!

 

[peregrina2000]

And just to make sure I don’t lose this little piece of paper, Susana (daughter of the couple who opened the casa rural and now in charge) says pilgrims can contact her cell phone via WhatsApp for reservations.
640 10 46 27

I know some prefer not to have to talk on the phone, and also it maybe cheaper to use with WiFi than calling.

 

[VNwalking]

. The gate was open so I went in but could find no one. All the buildings were locked up, but I did make it up to the Castro (hill fort) and enjoyed another view.

Why the heck did I not think to do that!?
Great you got up to the castro!

 

[peregrina2000]

Why the heck did I not think to do that!?
Great you got up to the castro!

More beautiful views from there, but not as great as near the adega.

 

[VNwalking]

More beautiful views from there, but not as great as near the adega.

Indeed - the top of the Miño loop is out of sight. But that castro! Wonderful.

I discovered the allure of castros on the Invierno.
There's a special feeling of standing in a very old place and imagining the people who lived there - not different from us, with all their joys and sorrows, but way back, into the bronze and iron ages. Eventually their world was submerged by the tide of invading Romans, who themselves feel ancient to us. It feels like connecting across a deep abyss of time.

In addition to this one, there's also a small castro before Monforte de Lemos that's not far from the camino and mercifully not so much of a climb. It's well worth a visit. The castro I didn't have the 'juice' to check out is the one right before Ponte Ulla, before the descent to the river - the view from up there must be mind-boggling.

 

[peregrina2000]

The castro I didn't have the 'juice' to check out is the one right before Ponte Ulla, before the descent to the river - the view from up there must be mind-boggling.

I walked up there several years ago, and though the view was nice, the site itself was kind of depressing. Lots of litter, a modern covering, I don't even remember if the ruins of the ancient fort were visible. So don't feel bad, you didn't miss much. Unless things have changed.

 

[VNwalking]

Ah good to know - thanks, Laurie, for saving me ghe trouble next time.

 

[peregrina2000]

Stop the presses. It looks to me like they have built an elevated viewing platform from the spot where we had our views obstructed by lots of vegetation.

Take a look here. Another good reason to walk that beautiful little loop from Torre Vilariño

 

[VNwalking]

Stop the presses. It looks to me like they have built an elevated viewing platform from the spot where we had our views obstructed by lots of vegetation.

Take a look here. Another good reason to walk that beautiful little loop from Torre Vilariño

Wonderful to see over the Wattle!!
That's a higher-level view than the one from the vineyard. It's still worth going down there, though, for the ermita.

But for someone staying at Torre Villariño who's short of time and energy, taking in the upper view is a much shorter and easier walk - and it allows time for visiting the castro, impressive in its own right.

 

[peregrina2000]

That's a higher-level view than the one from the vineyard. It's still worth going down there, though, for the ermita.

Actually, it turns out that there are two newly constructed viewing spots, Mirador do Cabo do Mundo I (linked above) and Mirador do Cabo do Mundo II, linked here. They really went to town to open up the views. The two are less than a km apart - I’ve put in a google maps screen shot.



And then of course the mirador from the Bodega Abadía da Cova.

All of these viewing spots are shown in this guy’s blog. And he adds the view from the castro that’s next to the museum. Though the view from there is not as great, I would highly recommend a visit to the castro (prehistoric hillfort) on your way to the miradores or back.

That loop is really a most beautiful little walk.

 

[VNwalking]

Amazing, a huge improvement over this:

I vaguely remember 2 options, but in either case the view was unmemorable!

these viewing spots are shown in this guy’s blog

Fabulous blog. With links about some of the ermitas. Wowee.