LIVE from the Camino Grandas de Salime - shortcut

[Lise Z]

I am walking the Primitivo - an amazing experience. I want to share a tip while it is still fresh in my memory. On the stretch Berducedo - Grandas de Salime - when one reaches the dam after thát downhill, the route follows the road up to Grandas de Salime. When one is nearly at the top, the route takes you left up and down a steep hill. If you want a break, just continue with the road, in less than two kilometers, practically around the corner, one reaches town at the same spot where the route meets up again.

 

[Pelegrin]

But that road has traffic.

 

[Tincatinker]

As the extremely wise Tolkien said "short cuts make long journeys". The way marked Camino route is shorter, takes you through some pleasant Chesnut forest and gets you off that hazardous road. I've walked both and I know which I would walk again. I know that the first ascent from the road looks challenging, and it is, but after that it's all down-hill ;0)

 

[Lise Z]

But that road has traffic.

The shortcut, following the road, is very short - less than two kilometers. Fortunately the road was quiet when I continued with it. It is the same road which takes you up from the dam to the town.

 

[Lise Z]

As the extremely wise Tolkien said "short cuts make long journeys". The way marked Camino route is shorter, takes you through some pleasant Chesnut forest and gets you off that hazardous road. I've walked both and I know which I would walk again. I know that the first ascent from the road looks challenging, and it is, but after that it's all down-hill ;0)

I guess I was lucky that the road was quiet, come to think of it, it was on Saturday. On the other hand, give me an uphill rather than a downhill any time!

 

[peregrina2000]

It looks like there is a total of about 360 m elevation gain between the dam and Grandas. And there is no discernible blip in the elevation profile on either Gronze or Mundicamino on those last few kms into Grandas. I have only taken the official camino, but then I will never choose asphalt over dirt no matter how steep the ascent. And that road can be busy on weekdays.

But, Lise, I know what you mean. I remember the first time I walked into Fonsagrada, thinking that the last ascent into town must have been an enormous amount of elevation gain. Then I looked at the profile map and saw that, no, it wasn’t much more than 100m. But it was at the end of the day, in the heat, with the city of Fonsagrada perched up high taunting us.

 

[QuailHiker]

No way that walk up to A Fonsagrada was only 100m of elevation gain!

 

[Lise Z]

Thank you for the interesting feedback, Peregrina2000. Yes, when walking from the damwall to the town of Grandas de Salime, one has already covered ninety percent of the hazardous road by time one reaches the turn-off to the route. Then one can turn left for the scenic route or continue straight and be in town within twenty minutes.

That last uphill to Fonsagrado is special! Although today I felt that some of the uphills en route to O Cadavo gave it some competition.