Lebaniego

[Susan6]

My daughter and I walked the Camino Lebaniego last week. The first stage, 28.5 kms, was mostly alongside the river and was pleasant but not especially interesting and, with no fuentes, bars, restaurants or albergues, we used google maps to find a restaurant/bar off the Camino which meant an extra 3 or 5 kms before we reached the albergue at Cades. All but one of the people we met up with were Spanish and having only a small amount of the language, we found it difficult to communicate with most of them. However, an English speaking peregrino informed us that the albergue at Cabanes was booked out by a large group for the following night. Much discussion about the quandary of what to do about accommodation took place and we went along with the general decision to walk to Cicera the following day and overnight there, leaving us a longer walk on day 3. However, there was another way, the SP-7, that bypasses Cabanes and Pendes which goes across the mountain from Lebena. This was a very scenic route but involved abseiling in parts using fixed giant ropes - very very scary. I would not recommend this route to anyone but experienced mountaineers! From Tama to Potes was a gentle stroll. My overall view of this Camino is that it is lonely and doesn't have any infrastructure.

 

[Kanga]

Thank you @Susan6, for providing information that is very useful for those interested in this route.

 

[Anamya]

Hi @Susan6

The abseiling part connects Lebena with where? Midway Pendes-Tamas?
Did you visit the MOnastery of Santo Toribio?

 

[naplesdon]

The infrastructure support begins around Fromista. It’s sad because walking along the Canal de Castille is very pleasant. I spent a night in an albergue about 25 km south of Fromista in Anahi with just one other pilgrim. Fortunately he was a fellow Forum member, Canuck. He was headed north. Ask him for recommendations.

 

[naplesdon]

Sorry for spell check correction the town was Abajo or more properly Amayuelas de Abajo. I like lonely Caminos, so I would be one to suggest Fromista to Potes, just like I would suggest the Camino Madrid. You generally get a private albergue every night.

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

Hi @Susan6
The abseiling part connects Lebena with where? Midway Pendes-Tamas?...

Anamya, did you find out about this abseiling when you and hubby did the Lebaniego???

 

[Anamya]

Anamya, did you find out about this abseiling when you and hubby did the Lebaniego???

Nope. I took the Rio Robero variant, which is quite remote and bypasses Cabanes, but it enters Pendes with no abseiling. We actually did not even see where the SP-7 route was.
Rio Robero was a beautiful variant and, if you are ok with being away from any civilisation for a few hours, it is a lovely route to take. Not too tough, but quite hard, as most of this camino.