Transport from Santiago to Ponferrada

[Rita56]

Hello all.
Apologies if I am not doing this right but I am a new face to the forum. I know there are very helpful people out there so I am appealing for your patience and knowledge. I am walking with 4 friends from Ponterrada to Santiago on 2nd of Sept this year. Our flight gets in from Dublin to Santiage at 15.30 hrs. We need to get to Ponterrada to start the walk the next day. Could you please advise on modes of transport to Ponterrada and times. I know this is asking a lot but I am confident there are good people out there to advise.
Also I am having difficulty booking accommodation in O'Cereiro. Any suggestions or alternative location to stop overnight. We will be walking from Villafranca Del Bierzo that day.
Thanking you in anticipation. I should say I am not good at timetables etc consequently the appeal for help.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

These buses go on to Ponferrada, but you can get off at Villafranca and save some time:

 

[Rita56]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and providing the time table. I really appreciate it. We have our accommodation booked for the first night in Ponferrada and intend walking to Villafranca the next day and then onto O'Cebreiro the day after.
I'm just a bit concerned about accommodation in O'Cebriero as I know it it is in big demand. I have tried lots of places but haven't secured anything yet. Anyway thanks again falcon 269 you have been a great help.
Rita

These buses go on to Ponferrada, but you can get off at Villafranca and save some time:
View attachment 20054

 

[GettingThere]

Hello all.
Apologies if I am not doing this right but I am a new face to the forum. I know there are very helpful people out there so I am appealing for your patience and knowledge. I am walking with 4 friends from Ponterrada to Santiago on 2nd of Sept this year. Our flight gets in from Dublin to Santiage at 15.30 hrs. We need to get to Ponterrada to start the walk the next day. Could you please advise on modes of transport to Ponterrada and times. I know this is asking a lot but I am confident there are good people out there to advise.
Also I am having difficulty booking accommodation in O'Cereiro. Any suggestions or alternative location to stop overnight. We will be walking from Villafranca Del Bierzo that day.
Thanking you in anticipation. I should say I am not good at timetables etc consequently the appeal for help.

Do you mean you want to get to Ponferrada on the evening of the day you fly into Santiago? If so, you'll be pushing it a bit but it's possible if you don't mind arriving quite late. Just make sure you don't try to walk too far the next day! As well as the buses mentioned above, you can get a train, leaving Santiago at 6.35pm with a change at Ourense, and arriving at Ponferrada at 10.19pm. I think that might be your best option - the first bus time available to you would be the 21.30 one on the timetable above (the one at 17.00 doesn't run on the day you need), which would get you to Ponferrada in the early hours of the morning.

For accommodation in O Cebreiro - we stayed at a casa rural called Venta Celta, after it was recommended on this forum. We had a double room with private bathroom for 40 Euros and it was fine - cosy and clean, and the owners were very nice and helpful (and spoke excellent English). There is a big bar/restaurant downstairs where you can eat. You can book by email at ventacelta@hotmail.com.

Buen Camino!

 

[whariwharangi]

Take Empresa Freire bus from Santiago (Labacolla) airport to Santiago train station
http://www.empresafreire.com/html/castelan/seccion9.php

Then Renfe train from Santiago to Ponferrada as described by Getting There.
http://www.renfe.com/

The Xunta operated Albergue at O Cebreiro is large (100 beds) and well built.

 

[Rita56]

Do you mean you want to get to Ponferrada on the evening of the day you fly into Santiago? If so, you'll be pushing it a bit but it's possible if you don't mind arriving quite late. Just make sure you don't try to walk too far the next day! As well as the buses mentioned above, you can get a train, leaving Santiago at 6.35pm with a change at Ourense, and arriving at Ponferrada at 10.19pm. I think that might be your best option - the first bus time available to you would be the 21.30 one on the timetable above (the one at 17.00 doesn't run on the day you need), which would get you to Ponferrada in the early hours of the morning.

For accommodation in O Cebreiro - we stayed at a casa rural called Venta Celta, after it was recommended on this forum. We had a double room with private bathroom for 40 Euros and it was fine - cosy and clean, and the owners were very nice and helpful (and spoke excellent English). There is a big bar/restaurant downstairs where you can eat. You can book by email at ventacelta@hotmail.com.

Buen Camino!

Thank you for all your help. It has been invaluable. Here's hoping it will be a "Buen Camino" Gracias.