Last day before Burgos

[Ian Campbell]

Did you know...a lesser known path skirts the southern flank of the Sierra de Atapuerca to take you into Burgos? This avoids the eastern industrial outskirts of that city and also opens up certain accomodation and food options.
If you were so inclined you could walk to San Juan de Ortega, turning left there, and then a couple of kilometres to Santovenia de Oca. Nice little albergue with a good restaurant. I think they have 24 beds and there were only 10 of us. The next day carry on to Burgos near, but not on, the N-120 highway. After an hour there are bars and cafés. The lady at the albergue said it was an old camino path. There are scallop signs and yellow arrows, but the route doesn't seem to be well known. It's not on Gronze. It's mostly gravel and dirt but there are some sidewalks and tarmac closer to Burgos. It is perhaps two kilometers longer than the conventional route.
FYI for Santovenia de Oca, either bring food or plan to eat in the albergue restaurant. There's literally nothing else in town.

 

[mspath]

Ian Campbell,
Your description of the "lesser known path" is great. I did something similar in February 2008 which also paralleled N 120 along an old marked path. After hiking for hours I finally arrived at the old municipal albergue in the Parque El Parral near the Monasterio de La Huelgas and Burgos University on the far western edge of the city.

 

[irrie]

I did this path yesterday. You will see the camino signs on te way. Only on one place the plate fell off (facing the highway). There you have to take to the right. For the last part take the river route.

 

[Ian Campbell]

Ian Campbell,
I did something similar in February 2008 which also paralleled N 120 along an old marked path.

I wonder how many of these little "variantes" there are. I will keep my eyes open.

 

[Pilgrim9]

Ian Campbell wrote: ".. you could walk to San Juan de Ortega, turning left there, and then a couple of kilometres to Santovenia de Oca. Nice little albergue with a good restaurant. I think they have 24 beds and there were only 10 of us. The next day carry on to Burgos near, but not on, the N-120 highway. ... FYI for Santovenia de Oca, either bring food or plan to eat in the albergue restaurant. There's literally nothing else in town."

Thank you, Ian Campbell. This is exactly the information I was searching for today.

 

[Pilgrim9]

For the last part take the river route.

Thank you, Irrie. I have wanted to do the Burgos-approach River Walk for years.

 

[Pilgrim9]

Might anyone be able to guide me to the start of the Burgos-approach River Walk please?

I can probably figure out a route but if someone knows of a particularly pleasant route then some pointers would be much appreciated.

I plan to enter the Burgos area from Santovenia de Oca as per Ian Campbell's comment above.

 

[trecile]

Might anyone be able to guide me to the start of the Burgos-approach River Walk please?

I can probably figure out a route but if someone knows of a particularly pleasant route then some pointers would be much appreciated.

I plan to enter the Burgos area from Santovenia de Oca as per Ian Campbell's comment above.

Yes, download this excellent PDF.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/burgos-river-way.480/