I've been going back and forth on email with a pilgrim interested in walking the Invierno but not interested in 40 km stages, and we've come up with a tentative plan.
Distances are VERY approximate (I will be getting better calculations as I work on the guide revisions), but I think these stages make the Invierno days comparable to "average" days on the Francés. Private accommodation will be necessary, but those of us who have walked have found that it prices are very reasonable.
Just throwing this out there for people who are starting to be tempted by this beautiful walk! Buen camino, Laurie
Day 1 -- Ponferrada to Borrenes (23). This day will bring you past the amazing Castillo de Cornatel, which you may be lucky enough to visit if opening hours coincide with your arrival (they have been reduced because of budget cuts). Marisol has lodging.
Day 2 -- Borrenes to Puente de Domingo Flórez (15). As Médulas is in the middle of this day, 6 from Borrenes and 9 from Puente. Well worth a many hour visit. If you're really not rushed for time, stay here and spend the whole afternoon at As Médulas, there is plenty to see.
Day 3 -- Puente to Barco de Valdeorras (17)
Day 4 -- Barco to A Rua (14)
Day 5 -- A Rua to Montefurado (10) and you can take the train back to A Rúa, then the next day train back to Montefurado (depending on schedules, you could also train ahead to Quiroga and then train back to Montefurado) (yet another option would be to combine days 4 and 5, and go back to A Rua for the evening so as not to miss Casa Asún.
Day 6 Montefurado to Quiroga (16) (Having given this option to split A Rúa to Quiroga, though, I think that the A Rúa to Quiroga is very do-able day for most pilgrims. There's an ascent at the end of the day up to the castle, and there is a bit of a slog into Quiroga through suburbs, but all in all an amazing day with good rest stops).
Day 7 Quiroga to Puebla de Brollón (24) Hostal As Viñas is very pilgrim friendly.
Day 8 Puebla de Brollón to one of four options, all of which make for a mid-20s day. Castrotañe, Torre Vilariño, Rectoral, Casa Santo Estevo. This option means that you don't spend a night in Monforte de Lemos, which is a nice place and has a fair amount to see and do. Monforte is about 10 km from Puebla, so it would be a very short day.
Day 9 Casa Rural to Chantada (about 15 or 16). This day is one to really savor -- first stop, romanesque beauty of a church at Diomondi, then the lovely (though hard on the knees) descent to the Miño River, then back up the other side through vineyards to Chantada. Absolutely a five star walk.
Day 10 Chantada to Rodeiro 26 km
Day 11 Rodeiro to Lalín 22
Day 12 Lalín to Silleda 15
Day 14 Silleda to Ponte Ulla 23
Day 15 Ponte Ulla to Santiago 19 or 20 I would estimate.
Distances are VERY approximate (I will be getting better calculations as I work on the guide revisions), but I think these stages make the Invierno days comparable to "average" days on the Francés. Private accommodation will be necessary, but those of us who have walked have found that it prices are very reasonable.
Just throwing this out there for people who are starting to be tempted by this beautiful walk! Buen camino, Laurie
Day 1 -- Ponferrada to Borrenes (23). This day will bring you past the amazing Castillo de Cornatel, which you may be lucky enough to visit if opening hours coincide with your arrival (they have been reduced because of budget cuts). Marisol has lodging.
Day 2 -- Borrenes to Puente de Domingo Flórez (15). As Médulas is in the middle of this day, 6 from Borrenes and 9 from Puente. Well worth a many hour visit. If you're really not rushed for time, stay here and spend the whole afternoon at As Médulas, there is plenty to see.
Day 3 -- Puente to Barco de Valdeorras (17)
Day 4 -- Barco to A Rua (14)
Day 5 -- A Rua to Montefurado (10) and you can take the train back to A Rúa, then the next day train back to Montefurado (depending on schedules, you could also train ahead to Quiroga and then train back to Montefurado) (yet another option would be to combine days 4 and 5, and go back to A Rua for the evening so as not to miss Casa Asún.
Day 6 Montefurado to Quiroga (16) (Having given this option to split A Rúa to Quiroga, though, I think that the A Rúa to Quiroga is very do-able day for most pilgrims. There's an ascent at the end of the day up to the castle, and there is a bit of a slog into Quiroga through suburbs, but all in all an amazing day with good rest stops).
Day 7 Quiroga to Puebla de Brollón (24) Hostal As Viñas is very pilgrim friendly.
Day 8 Puebla de Brollón to one of four options, all of which make for a mid-20s day. Castrotañe, Torre Vilariño, Rectoral, Casa Santo Estevo. This option means that you don't spend a night in Monforte de Lemos, which is a nice place and has a fair amount to see and do. Monforte is about 10 km from Puebla, so it would be a very short day.
Day 9 Casa Rural to Chantada (about 15 or 16). This day is one to really savor -- first stop, romanesque beauty of a church at Diomondi, then the lovely (though hard on the knees) descent to the Miño River, then back up the other side through vineyards to Chantada. Absolutely a five star walk.
Day 10 Chantada to Rodeiro 26 km
Day 11 Rodeiro to Lalín 22
Day 12 Lalín to Silleda 15
Day 14 Silleda to Ponte Ulla 23
Day 15 Ponte Ulla to Santiago 19 or 20 I would estimate.
