Excursions off the Camino Frances

[hfenton]

I'm planning to walk the Camino Frances from SJPP to Finisterre/Muxia and have about 2 months (May 23 - July 21) for this. I've just learned about the short, 3-day walk to Covarrubias. I would probably catch a bus back to Burgos to get back on the CF. Are there any other 1-3 day side trips you might recommend off the CF? Thank you.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

I'm planning to walk the Camino Frances from SJPP to Finisterre/Muxia and have about 2 months (May 23 - July 21) for this. I've just learned about the short, 3-day walk to Covarrubias. I would probably catch a bus back to Burgos to get back on the CF. Are there any other 1-3 day side trips you might recommend off the CF? Thank you.

here are my 2 cents

The world heritage Yuso Monastery is 20 km south of Sto Domingo Calzada. Laguardia is also 20 km north of Logroño (Rioja wine country and awesome town). another unesco site are Las Médulas, a long 25 km uphill from Ponferrada.

good luck and Buen Camino

 

[mspath]

March 2007 I detoured from Arzua to another Unesco World Heritage Site, Sobrado dos Monxes monastery, Stayed at the then basic pilgrim albergue within the Cistercian/Trappist monastery; there also was a separate hospederia for visitors.

This monastery complex is a Baroque masterpiece, but then the albergue dorm was actually in a renovated stable; no other pilgrims were there and it was freezing! The pilgrim albergue has since been vastly up-graded.

Attended Vespers with one other 'outsider'. The evening service was held in a splendid circular contemporary space. Walls were either painted white or natural wood. All was lit by thick, sputtering candles. The monks wearing their white robes responded in unison. It was a true privilege to share such a timeless ambiance....Don't miss it!

 

[peregrina2000]

The absolute best three day detour I've ever taken off the Camino was a circle from Ponferrada to El Acebo to Peñalba de Santiago and back to Ponferrada. Spectacular, beautiful walk.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...n-splendor-from-ponferrada-or-el-acebo.27697/

And here's another thread with ideas on this question.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/side-trips-off-the-camino-frances.41811/

And if you are thinking of going to Covarrubias, you might want to consider taking the bus to Santo Domingo de Silos and then walking to Covarrubias and from there on the Camino San Olav.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...an-olav-between-burgos-and-santo-domingo.173/

Alexwalker walked it in one direction this year, and Rebekah and I walked it in the other direction. We both have posts on it. It was fabulous, you will see that others (Virananni and alansykes are the two that jump most quickly to mind) have also enjoyed it a lot.

 

[scruffy1]

Santo Domingo de Silos Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the village of Santo Domingo de Silos an hour plus country bus ride from Burgos. Romanesque architecture and sculpture in the cloister, world class(!) Gregorian chants at every service, quiet and solitude. One late afternoon bus there a day, one early morning bus back, plan two day excusrsion to enjoy it all.

 

[Tia Valeria]

You could stay 2 nights in Palas de Rei and walk out to Vilar de Donas (approx 6kms each way). They love to have pilgrims visit and have a sello. Sadly it is just too far off the Camino for many to make the diversion.

Not only amazing stonework but also wall paintings

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

when in palas de rei or melide, find your way to pambre castle. it's a long but spectacular walk. and the castle has just reopened and - WOW

 

[peregrina2000]

when in palas de rei or melide, find your way to pambre castle. it's a long but spectacular walk. and the castle has just reopened and - WOWView attachment 31296

I went out to Pambre in 2010 when it was still under construction. That was kind of a disappointment, having walked from my albergue, but the route was, as you say, very pretty. Crossed a river once or twice if I remember (on a bridge, not through the water). http://caminoolvidado.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-9-km-castle-detour.html

If you are interested in this detour (which I have read somewhere described as the finest example of some type of military architecture, but military architecture is not really my thing), the easiest way would be to walk to the Albergue Bolboreta, which is about 1.5 km off camino.
http://www.gronze.com/galicia/lugo/o-vilar-remonde/albergue-pension-bolboreta. From there it's not far at all. And what was amazing to me was how just a few km off Camino, you can be in rural Galicia where the Camino hasn't had any impact at all. Beautiful scenery, beautiful old houses, but a lot of abandonment, houses falling down, etc.

 

[peregrina2000]

Here's another one I just thought of. If you like ancient churches, San Miguel de la Escalada is about 15 km northeast of Mansilla de las Mulas. It is actually on the Camino Vadiniense, which joins up with the Frances a few km west of Mansilla. The town of Gradefes has a nice albergue, I was all alone coming down on the Vadiniense. But you could probably get yourself out to Gradefes by bus, stay in the albergue and walk the next day back to Mansilla. It is one of those camino gems -- if you are as enamored of medieval churches, this is one not to miss. Highly recommended, I've been there twice now!