Castilblanco de los Arroyos to Almadén de la Plata. aka. the stage from hell.

[geraldkelly]

There's a report in El Diario newspaper saying that a number of walkers' rights organisations, ecological organisations and the Amigos del Camino are taking a court case to gain access to a historical right of way which would cut the number of kilometres of road walking on the stage between Castilblanco and Almaden:

http://www.eldiario.es/andalucia/se...ta-Andalucia-Camino-Santiago_0_734577538.html

It would be nice to avoid that 16km of road (although I wouldn't really go along with their description of it as dangerous).

Gerald

 

[Jill81]

I really hope they are successful as it is a very long stretch with the added bonus of a steep hill right at the end. For those who do not want to walk the road section there is a man in the village who will take you to the park entrance for €25.

 

[alansykes]

"The stage from Hell"???

Isn't that teeny bit overstating it? Yes, the long road stage is dull, but there's a wide verge so it's not on tarmac, and there's virtually no traffic.

And the next 14km in the park are just wonderful, rising slowly through the sweet smelling sierra. The lung-busting final climb just before Almadén is tough, but the views out from the Calvario are spectacular, and you can see that lunch is just a short descent down into the village (a very nice village and a very nice albergue, even if the vending machine does make a tiresome noise all through the night). But it would be wonderful if the fist 15km were in countryside as spectacular as the rest.

If I was choosing "my worst stage on the Plata", I think I'd go for Salamanca to El Cubo de Tierra del Vino, dreary suburbs followed by flat flat flat shadeless, with only a motorway for company (oh, and a prison tower).

 

[Anniesantiago]

I enjoyed that stage, personally, except for that last hill!

 

[LTfit]

Totally agree with Alan!

The road is SO quiet, in the three times I've walked it (yes 3) there have been at the most a handful of cars passing. Dangerous I would not at all call it and the reward afterwards is the lovely park.

@alansykes IMHO the walk into El Cubo is the worst - the entire time alongside a highway without a tree or bush to hide behind to pee (for us ladies) - although I am sure that some might enjoy the show while passing by.

 

[Kanga]

Ah, the freedom that comes from having a very clever piece of Swiss engineering.... PM me for details (no commercial interest)!

 

[amancio]

I actually quite enjoy those 16 km by the road, virtually no traffic, quiet misty mornings, beautiful landscape... I have done it 3 times too (only 3,5 hours drive from home, yipeee!) and I find it nice.

This said, it would be ideal if the old path, la trocha, could be opened again, but the Andalusian government refuses to force the landowners to reopen a path that should be public. A disgrace. As soon as the old path is reopened, I will try to go there again!

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

I shared a taxi to the entrance of the park. I thought a 30+ km stage would be too much for my third stage. The walk through the park was wonderful. The climb was not that bad. I thought I was halfway when I allready reached the top ( the feeling might be different when I would have walked the 16 km to the park.

 

[Stephen]

I enjoyed that stage, personally, except for that last hill!

Yes, thr hill at the end of the day comes as a unpleasant surprise

 

[camino-david]

I well remember that hill. After struggling up it on a very hot day, at the top in a park there was a group of teenagers talking as only the Spanish can talk, who, as soon as they saw me, told me to sit down and brought me a big glass of Sangria which I gulped down and they promptly refilled. The Spanish people are wonderful

 

[Sara_Dhooma]

I didn’t mind the Almaden stage. The view at the top of the mountain was awesome at the end of the day!

As for the Salamanca to El Cubo de Tierra del Vino stage, I broke it up by staying at Casa Sosa yesterday. Very friendly hosts, heaters and great wifi. They also have a swimming pool that is open in the warmer months!

 

[ranthr]

I walked the whole stage. The road was not very heavy on traffic. But since the 24 hours in front had been heavy on rain, the arroyos in the park was big rivers, balancing on top of stones with the water froading around. Never took a picture, but should have. The hill at the end of the park was not as bad as described in the guidebooks after the arroyos.

 

[Oppis]

No pain, no gain, as they say. One of the most amazing stage on VdlP. The countryroad is beautifull and silent, though. (IMHO)

 

[crackmrmac]

The next morning is very rewarding.

 

[Davey Boyd]

I broke the stage up by sleeping at the (disused) foresters buildings where the fountain is just after entering the park. There is a shelter there, the sunset was beautiful. The road wasn't dangerous just boring, I hope they do manage to open the countryside route up for 'next time'.

Davey

 

[snale]

Stages like this one add to the variety of the VDLP and make it ne of the great walks. I still remember this stage after walking it in 2009. Didn't find it boring at all.

 

[long trails]

I remember that day well. The previous day was like a mud bath and I feared the same after the road section but things turned out great in the end.