Facilities from Ourense to Ponta Ulla?

[Anniesantiago]

Can anyone who's walked this section tell me what I might expect in terms of places to eat and/or toilet facilities? Are there bars on the route? Any advice?

 

[Bradypus]

I walked this section in February. There are some bars along the route - certainly enough for meals and the odd drink or two. In a few sections they are quite a long way apart though (perhaps a couple of hours).

 

[LTfit]

Geez Annie, I have done this section 3 times and I never went hungry or thirsty although I don't have specifics (I am walking the Camino Portuguese de la Costa now). There is a big supermarket in Puente Ulla which is good for pilgrims staying in the Xunta Albergue in Outeiro. The hospitalera cooks for you if you like but I found her prices unreasonably high. We instead shopped and cooked together.

 

[Bradypus]

There is a big supermarket in Puente Ulla which is good for pilgrims staying in the Xunta Albergue in Outeiro. The hospitalera cooks for you if you like but I found her prices unreasonably high. We instead shopped and cooked together.

In February I stayed at the pension O Cruceiro in Ponte Ulla - large modern building just uphill from the supermarket and next to a petrol station. Dorm beds advertised at 10 euro but I was given a single room with bathroom to myself at the same price. Excellent menu del dia at a very modest price too. Friendly and helpful. A good alternative to the Outeiro municipal.

 

[alansykes]

Can anyone who's walked this section tell me what I might expect in terms of places to eat and/or toilet facilities? Are there bars on the route? Any advice?

As others have said, facilities are pretty widespread. I think the longest section with no bar or population is on the 10km from Cea to Oseira monastery, with just a couple of bars with relatively limited food once you arrive at the monastery. I love the monastery, and attending vespers with a handful of mostly elderly monks keeping the immense place alive.

If you want good food, I recommend the pulpería in Cea, where Orlando, the xunta hospitalero is usually to be found having lunch, and I also liked the María José, on the main road in Bendoiro near Lalín's albergue - good filling simple food and friendly company: the only camino restaurant I've eaten in 5 times.

One minor problem is that breakfast is often difficult to get early on - there is none for a couple of hours after Oseira, and for quite a bit after the albergue in O Outeiro (although, as @Bradypus says, the truck stop in Ponte Ulla is in some ways preferable).

Otherwise it's generally a much more populated area than most of the rest of the Sanabrés/Vía de la Plata.

 

[SYates]

Some info from my pilgrimage on the Via de la Plata concerning Ourense and onward here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-february-abril-2016.38377/page-2#post-403786

Buen Camino, SY

 

[Kiwi-family]

If you are staying at the monastery, grab a loaf of famous wonderful bread in Cea for breakfast.

As for the Outeira municipal - we loved it! Spacious, massive windows, hot showers.

 

[MileHighPair]

I don't remember this section as being as isolated as most of the earlier VdlP. I had several bar stops along the way, and didn't have any trouble keeping the water bottles full. I ate at a nice restaurant in Cea (Sol y Luna), and I remember the bar in Castro Dazon serves food. For much of the way along these few stages, the Camino is near the N-525 highway, which has many services along it, so there always seemed to be something nearby, even if it wasn't directly on the Camino.

 

[KinkyOne]

As I remember from 2015 (I took Tamallancos route out of Ourense):
OURENSE - CEA:
- there was a bar approx.6km from muni albergue in Cudeiro when you cross OU-150,
- supposed to be 2 bars in Tamallancos (KM 15) but haven't seen any, although I've seen signs for one, when crossing the N-525 you should turn right,
- I stopped at bar/estanco in Bouzas (KM 17),
- bar/restaurante A Carballiza in Viduedo (KM 23), last house in the village, on right side of N-525, supposedly tienda there too,
- all infrastructure in Cea.

CEA - CASTRO DOZON:
- two bars in Oseira (KM 11),
- bar at Gouxa (KM 18) was closed, I couldn't ask anyone if permanently because the village was deserted in the midday heat,
- gas station on entering Castro Dozon (KM 24),
- two bars/restaurants in Castro Dozon, first one on the left of main road the second one on the right, at the back of second one is also small market.

CASTRO DOZON - SILLEDA:
- in Ponte Neufe (KM 7) should be market but didn't see it, wasn't searching for it though,
- in A Estacion de tren de Lalin (KM 14) are 2 bars/restaurants and tienda,
- Taberna in A Eirexe (KM 19),
- bar/restaurante on N-525 couple hundred meters after albergue A Laxe (KM 22,5),
- I think there's another taberna soon after Ponte Taboada (KM 27),
- all infrastructure in Silleda.

SILLEDA - PONTE ULLA:
- all infrastructure in Bandeira (KM 7,5),
- albergue/bar Casa Leiras in Dornelas (KM 13),
- there is another bar on CP-2017 near Lagos approx.on KM 19,5, but both times I walked by it was closed,
- Puente Ulla has all infrastructure (KM 23).

Hope that helps, Annie

 

[sharon w]

Just out of Ourense, in Tamallancos there is a lovely restaurant/bar/Casa. It is only new and we wished we had stopped here for the night, then walked on to the monastery. It is called Via Stellae. The website is:
www.viastellae.com
They speak English.