LIVE from the Camino Albergue Lama

[becs27]

Just walked the mountain route leaving Villafranca. The scenery was breathtaking but the climb was hard. I had planned to stop at Trabadelo but saw cute handpainted signs leading to the albergue at the end of the track.
Had a drink and chatted to a friendly German couple who had stopped off for lunch. The bocadillos were amazing. Enormous with all fresh ingredients. I had tortilla. Also great. I was so impressed with the food and friendly family service that I decided to stay the night. The room with bunkbeds is spotless. There are fresh cotton sheets and blankets, all for 10 euros. I'm amazed that this great albergue is such a secret. One of the best I have stayed at.

 

[JillGat]

I loved that side route and stopped there for lunch. Nice to know it's a great lodging.

 

[Traveller44]

Just walked the mountain route leaving Villafranca. The scenery was breathtaking but the climb was hard. I had planned to stop at Trabadelo but saw cute handpainted signs leading to the albergue at the end of the track.
Had a drink and chatted to a friendly German couple who had stopped off for lunch. The bocadillos were amazing. Enormous with all fresh ingredients. I had tortilla. Also great. I was so impressed with the food and friendly family service that I decided to stay the night. The room with bunkbeds is spotless. There are fresh cotton sheets and blankets, all for 10 euros. I'm amazed that this great albergue is such a secret. One of the best I have stayed at.

Would you share the name of the albergue?

 

[becs27]

Would you share the name of the albergue?

Albergue Lama

 

[Traveller44]

Albergue Lama

Much appreciated

 

[trecile]

Just walked the mountain route leaving Villafranca. The scenery was breathtaking but the climb was hard. I had planned to stop at Trabadelo but saw cute handpainted signs leading to the albergue at the end of the track.
Had a drink and chatted to a friendly German couple who had stopped off for lunch. The bocadillos were amazing. Enormous with all fresh ingredients. I had tortilla. Also great. I was so impressed with the food and friendly family service that I decided to stay the night. The room with bunkbeds is spotless. There are fresh cotton sheets and blankets, all for 10 euros. I'm amazed that this great albergue is such a secret. One of the best I have stayed at.

I also had a wonderful lunch and freshly made cake at Albergue Lamas, though I didn't stay there. For lunch I had a sandwich with delicious lettuce, tomato, and cucumber from their garden.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Just walked the mountain route leaving Villafranca. The scenery was breathtaking but the climb was hard. I had planned to stop at Trabadelo but saw cute handpainted signs leading to the albergue at the end of the track.

Mountain walk? Were you walking on the Dragonte variant? Is that where Albergue Lamas is?

 

[jsalt]

Mountain walk? Were you walking on the Dragonte variant? Is that where Albergue Lamas is?

No, it’s in Pradela on the Ruta Pradela. Hmm, I MUST do that route one day . . .

 

[Camino Chrissy]

No, it’s in Pradela on the Ruta Pradela. Hmm, I MUST do that route one day . . .

Thanks, Jill. Oh yes, I just looked on my Brierley map and I see it is a variant on the right side of the road after Villafranca, not on the more difficult Dragonte route on the left side.

 

[Anhalter]

Thanks, Jill. Oh yes, I just looked on my Brierley map and I see it is a variant on the right side of the road after Villafranca, not on the more difficult Dragonte route on the left side.

Caution: The walk from Villafranca to Pradela is incredibly beutiful, but also called the "camino duro", the hard way. For a reason. I loved it, but i guess it is not for everyone.
(Or put differently, if you think of SJPDP to Roncesvalles as "a nice walk over some mountains", consider taking that route)

 

[Flog]

The road route out of villafranca is a drag with steel barriers, snarling traffic and belching fumes from heavy lorries. The mountain route is very steep to begin with but it is a glorious walk above the clouds. There is no comparison in my opinion. If I get to walk that way again I will check out that place to eat..

 

[Chenahusky]

The road route out of villafranca is a drag with steel barriers, snarling traffic and belching fumes from heavy lorries. The mountain route is very steep to begin with but it is a glorious walk above the clouds. There is no comparison in my opinion. If I get to walk that way again I will check out that place to eat..

I will admit it is a road, but in 2019, walking up to Trabadelo and beyond, I could count the vehicles on one hand. I think that the lorries and traffic now nearly all use the A6.

 

[Flog]

I will admit it is a road, but in 2019, walking up to Trabadelo and beyond, I could count the vehicles on one hand. I think that the lorries and traffic now nearly all use the A6.

Ah, yes perhaps that is the case now? It's six years since I walked that way! Still, I would choose the mountain variant in a heartbeat, energy permitting!

 

[Amused212]

Caution: The walk from Villafranca to Pradela is incredibly beutiful, but also called the "camino duro", the hard way. For a reason. I loved it, but i guess it is not for everyone.
(Or put differently, if you think of SJPDP to Roncesvalles as "a nice walk over some mountains", consider taking that route)

Caution: The walk from Villafranca to Pradela is incredibly beutiful, but also called the "camino duro", the hard way. For a reason. I loved it, but i guess it is not for everyone.
(Or put differently, if you think of SJPDP to Roncesvalles as "a nice walk over some mountains", consider taking that route)

Am I correct that there are 3 routes out of Villafranca? It looks like the Dragonte route is the steepest, the Pereje route the least attractive, and the Pradela route somewhere in between. I like mountain walks but not looking for a "suffer fest" so likely to chose the Pradela. Any thoughts? And, seriously, I did think crossing the Pyrennes was a "nice walk" but maybe that was just my enthusiasm for starting my Camino.

 

[gollygolly]

Mountain walk? Were you walking on the Dragonte variant? Is that where Albergue Lamas is?

It on an alternative route of the Camino de Santiago, known as "Camino Duro" (The Hard Camino) that starts in Villafranca del Bierzo and goes to Pradela.

https://alberguelamas.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral

 

[Anhalter]

Am I correct that there are 3 routes out of Villafranca? It looks like the Dragonte route is the steepest, the Pereje route the least attractive, and the Pradela route somewhere in between. I like mountain walks but not looking for a "suffer fest" so likely to chose the Pradela. Any thoughts? And, seriously, I did think crossing the Pyrennes was a "nice walk" but maybe that was just my enthusiasm for starting my Camino.

I would not call it a "suffer fest". It is quit a steep way for a couple of km and then it flattens. For someone of reasonable stamina, its likely doable. As i said, i personally enjoyed it a lot, the views are great and the town of Pradela lovely. As was the coffee and cake i had at the Albergue Lamas.
On a second CF i would likely chose that route again, or would take the Dragonte route, but would likely never walk the valley.
(Maybe that particular day is connected to "suffering" in my memory because after Pradela i carried on to O Cebreiro where i checked into the municipal that was just out of warm water. Which i would have appreciated a lot after a good 30km up the mountains...)

 

[becs27]

I was really glad I took the 'camino duro' route because the views were amazing but I was exhausted after it and so happy to see signs for albergue Lamas. I'm in OCebriero now and the climb up to here was easier than the mountain route yesterday!

 

[Former member 98614]

Just walked the mountain route leaving Villafranca. The scenery was breathtaking but the climb was hard. I had planned to stop at Trabadelo but saw cute handpainted signs leading to the albergue at the end of the track.
Had a drink and chatted to a friendly German couple who had stopped off for lunch. The bocadillos were amazing. Enormous with all fresh ingredients. I had tortilla. Also great. I was so impressed with the food and friendly family service that I decided to stay the night. The room with bunkbeds is spotless. There are fresh cotton sheets and blankets, all for 10 euros. I'm amazed that this great albergue is such a secret. One of the best I have stayed at.

Hello, my name is Miguel. I am a 27 year old Portuguese, from Lisbon (GO BENFICA!). I did the English Camino in 2015 and I am planning to bring my girlfriend to the french Camino next week. However, I would love to hear your opinion on whether it is too crowded now and if the albergue race is still a thing in French Camino. Thank you!

 

[barnettstakeagiantstep]

Albergue Lama

Albergue Lamas, just saying w a smile

 

[mmmmartin]

Albergue Lamas

Albergue en Pradela

alberguelamas.business.site

The website of albergue lamas

 

[mmmmartin]

The road route out of villafranca is a drag with steel barriers, snarling traffic and belching fumes from heavy lorries. The mountain route is very steep to begin with but it is a glorious walk above the clouds. There is no comparison in my opinion. If I get to walk that way again I will check out that place to eat..

It's a tedious road walk yet you go through trabadelo where there is casa suzie.
If you wish there's always a bus (late afternoon takes 20 minutes) from villafranca up the hill to a village near ocebreiro then a flattish walk into ocebreiro.

 

[Nandy61]

Albergue Lamas had the best bocadillo Ive ever had in Spain! Ive done the Pradela 2-3 times; the climb up is not so bad (IMO) I found the steep descent more notable. Totally worth it. However, I don’t stay up in O Cebreiro. I usually stop in La Faba.

 

[LesR]

Caution: The walk from Villafranca to Pradela is incredibly beutiful, but also called the "camino duro", the hard way. For a reason. I loved it, but i guess it is not for everyone.
(Or put differently, if you think of SJPDP to Roncesvalles as "a nice walk over some mountains", consider taking that route)

I agree - the toughest day in CF for me, but well worth it.

I bypassed Albergue Lama in favour of booked accommodation in Casa Susi in Trabedelo... Bad move, as I found no water supplies after Villafranca and was quite dehydrated by the time I got to Casa Susi!