Getting from Sahagun to Ourense

[Robo]

OK, I'm sure someone with more brains that I has a solution to this!

So my next Camino (with Pat) is a hybrid.

Madrid to Sahagun.

Then for a change of scene, some nice seafood and the chance for 2 compostelas......
(she wants to get 2 more compostelas for relatives who have passed)

Ourense to Santiago
then
Muxia-Fisterra-Santiago

BUT...

How to get from Sahagun to Ourense?
No problem I thought.
The train goes via Leon, but there are no connections.
There is a 7 hour layover.

Plan A.
Lunch in Sahagun on arrival, evening train to Leon.
Overnight in Leon.
Catch the morning train to Ourense........
There is no morning train.
Only an evening train that gets in about 9:30 pm.

We could spend the day in Leon, but I'd rather keep going.
We've been to Leon a couple of times already.
Would be nice to see somewhere new.

Plan B.
Leave the Madrid early and head over to Salamanca / Zamora sight seeing!
Then up to Ourense
The trains work out a lot better.
But we'd miss a fair chunk of the Madrid, which would be a pity.

Any thoughts?

The good news is!
The train after Ponferrada seems to follow the river valley along the Invierno!
Should be some great views.

 

[henrythedog]

Plan A - there is one bus/day Leon to Ourense. 0815/1230

 

[Robo]

Plan A - there is one bus/day Leon to Ourense. 0815/1230

Ah good to know!

Plan C. I'm just looking at one-way car rental.
Leon to Ourense.
That would be a nice drive!
We could take our time and do some sightseeing.

 

[Glenshiro]

The train after Ponferrada seems to follow the river valley along the Invierno!

I have used that train twice, latterly from Ponferrada earlier this year. It comes all the way from Barcelona, so by the time it gets to Ponferrada it is ALWAYS an hour late! Yes, it follows the Invierno, more or less, to Monforte de Lemos (currently a bus service from there to Ourense)

Plan A - there is one bus/day Leon to Ourense. 0815/1230

There are three possible bus, bus/train routes from Leon, the 08:15-12:30 as @henrythedog says, also 11:45 bus to Zamora, arriving 13:35, train from Zamora to Ourense, 14:42-16:17 and another bus at 15:45, changing in Ponferrada, arriving Ourense 21:15. Very scenic route, again along the Invierno.

 

[camino07]

I remember in 2018 after walking the Madrid I caught the 2pm train from Sahagun to Leon only to discover the same train goes on to Astorga and Ponferrada. This might help with your transport to Ourense.

 

[Stephan the Painter]

No suggestions on your itinerary, but Salamanca is well worth a visit.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

@trecile mentions in the first post of thread https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/day-trip-from-santiago-ourense.87592/ that the train from Santiago to Ourense takes 45 minutes. Maybe go from Sahagun to Santiago first.

 

[Robo]

@trecile mentions in the first post of thread https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/day-trip-from-santiago-ourense.87592/ that the train from Santiago to Ourense takes 45 minutes. Maybe go from Sahagun to Santiago first.

It's a bit of a 'cross country' route by the looks of it.

I think we might actually go via Salamanca on the train, and have a rest day there.

 

[peregrina2000]

Plan C. I'm just looking at one-way car rental.
Leon to Ourense.
That would be a nice drive!
We could take our time and do some sightseeing

I’d be tempted by the car rental if the price is reasonable. You could go on a northern route, which would take you to some of the Invierno, or a southern route which would take you to some of the Sanabrés.

But what would clinch the deal for me would be if I were able to keep the car an extra day and drive out to the Parador de Santo Estevo, which is one of Spain’s most awesome paradores, and the standard is very high on that score! It’s about a half hour outside Ourense. And would give you the opportunity to see the Sil River Gorge, the most beautiful part of the Sil River, which you have spent days walking along on the Invierno.

Just idle dreaming on my part.

 

[Robo]

I’d be tempted by the car rental if the price is reasonable. You could go on a northern route, which would take you to some of the Invierno, or a southern route which would take you to some of the Sanabrés.

But what would clinch the deal for me would be if I were able to keep the car an extra day and drive out to the Parador de Santo Estevo, which is one of Spain’s most awesome paradores, and the standard is very high on that score! It’s about a half hour outside Ourense. And would give you the opportunity to see the Sil River Gorge, the most beautiful part of the Sil River, which you have spent days walking along on the Invierno.

Just idle dreaming on my part.

Hmm. You've me looking at Rental Cars now!
Though I haven't driven a 'stick shift' (manual) in about 40 years!
Watch out

Auto transmissions have never been popular in Europe for some reason.
They only seem to be available as Rentals at major hubs.

Doesn't look like we can pick up a car in Sahagun.
So a train to Leon, to get one there would work.
There is a drop off in Ourense though. (Europcar)