Ascents and descents of the Sanabres route

[Cambridge Pilgrim]

I’m considering Salamanca to SdC next year. Can anyone who has done the Sanabres route and the Frances comment on the ups and downs in Galicia on Sanabres using Frances as a benchmark? Ups... how do they compare to Pyrenees and climb to O’Cebreiro (La Faba)? Downs... how do they compare to the descent to Roncesvalles or Molinaesca?

Thoughts much appreciated. Muchas gracias.

 

[terryenroute]

A bit of a climb out of Orense, but all in all no real problems. Nothing like the first day to Roncesvalles.

 

[KinkyOne]

I’m considering Salamanca to SdC next year. Can anyone who has done the Sanabres route and the Frances comment on the ups and downs in Galicia on Sanabres using Frances as a benchmark? Ups... how do they compare to Pyrenees and climb to O’Cebreiro (La Faba)? Downs... how do they compare to the descent to Roncesvalles or Molinaesca?

Thoughts much appreciated. Muchas gracias.

I think there are generally more ups and downs on Sanabres in comparison to the same length of the route on Frances but can't really say that they are tougher.
Best to do comparison here if you click "Ver perfil de la etapa" under the map for each Camino/stage:
https://www.gronze.com/camino-frances
https://www.gronze.com/via-plata ("Desde Salamanca" and then "Por Sanabria")

Buen Camino!

 

[Via2010]

Hi,

Climbing starts after Puebla de Sanabria, so you have some days of trainig before.

I can remember, that there was a very long and demanding ascent after Puebla de Sanabria (something similar to O´Cebreiro) and then a narrow path down to Lubián, but nothing terrific. For this purpose, next time I plan to stop in Requejo rather than in Puebla de Sanabria.

Lubián to A Gudina could be compared to Rabanal-Riego d'Ambros on Camino Francés.

Next day to Laza is also some hills and rather long, but still doable (my parents were 75 and 69 when they walked with me in 2010). The only steep downhill section is to Campobecerros, that could be compared to Riego d'Ambros to Molinaseca. But you can stay on the forrest track (recommended alternative route for cyclists) which is slightly longer.
Very good pilgrims menu in restaurante "A Picota" in Laza.

Next morning some climbing to Albergaría, but then you have earned a coffee and a bocadillo in "El Rincón de Peregrino".

The day out of Ourense we took the left route. It is rather steep at the beginning, but still ok in the early morning hours.

In the public albergue in Castro-Dózon there was the offer of a nearby Restaurant "Parillada Don Antonio" for a pilgrims menue. They fetched us by car. It was the best dinner we had on the whole camino.

Enjoy your camino

Alexandra

 

[LTfit]

It just shows how different we experience the various Caminos. I have walked the Sanabres three times and except for the short steep climb up to Albergueria (cafe with all the shells) and out of Ourense I don't remember any climbs and the only notable descent was the very short drop into Campobecceros which was awful at the time because of all the construction going on and trucks but nothing compared to the long descent into el Acebo and Molinaseca which I did twice this past year so I remember it well!

 

[Cambridge Pilgrim]

Thanks all! Very helpful indeed. You rock!