As a historian, it sounds really interesting to walk the old Roman road between Calzadilla de los Hermanillos and Mansilla de las Mulas. However, as I'm planning stages right now, that would give me a weird day which I'd like to avoid.
Looking at google maps it also seems possible to pick up the Roman road by walking north from El Burgo Ranero. Has anybody done this? Any comments or suggestions?
I did that in 2022.
Day 1:
I walked north-west from Calzada del Coto, on a well-maintained but very-little-travelled and very dusty red-gravel road, to Calzadilla de las Hermanillos. On this section, I saw no other walkers and saw only one motor vehicle that day. This section felt quite remote and I do not recommend it for solo walkers.
Upon entering Calzadilla dlH, the road became paved again. I enjoyed a nice meal in the clean and pleasant Albergue "Via Trajana".
Cam. Sahagún, 11, 24343 Calzadilla de los Hermanillos, León, Spain
maps.app.goo.gl
That café/albergue was the only source of support services that I encountered that day. In retrospect I should have stayed overnight there but did not do so because, not being aware of its existence, I had reserved elsewhere.
I then walked west on the paved road to highway LE-6620 / CV-163 at (42.4395700, -5.1970049), turned to the south, and walked on the highway to El Burgo Ranero.
The route was sort of interesting, I guess, but having satisfied my curiosity I don't feel any urge to do it again.
Day 2:
I walked back north on highway LE-6620 / CV-163 to (42.4395700, -5.1970049), turned to the west, and walked on the cobblestone road towards Reliegos. I found this cobblestone section very difficult to walk on because the round poorly-seated cobbles tended to unexpectedly roll to one side, causing my feet to rotate and creating a twisting force on my knees. This damaged one of my knees. It was slow and painful going. There was no shade, no seating anywhere except for the ground itself, and no support services. I did not find this route to be interesting. In contrast to day 1, there were zero vehicles but numerous other people walking to the west.
Because of the poor footing and my knee pain, I decided to return to the main route on the highway. I turned left at (42.4671663, -5.3001211), eventually found a shortcut to the main route, and got myself to Mansillas de las Mulas.