Newbie travelling Astorga to Santiago

[FergC]

Hi All,

First post here, and first timer pilgrim...so Hi!

I’m planning on walking the Camino from Astorga to Santiago de Compostela on 13th May.

I have 2 weeks booked, so I was wondering if anyone has suggestions of towns to stay an extra day in (i.e. 2 nights) on the way? I think I’ll have 2 stay overs along the way, so any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Ferg

 

[Dave C.]

Hi All,

First post here, and first timer pilgrim...so Hi!

I’m planning on walking the Camino from Astorga to Santiago de Compostela on 13th May.

I have 2 weeks booked, so I was wondering if anyone has suggestions of towns to stay an extra day in (i.e. 2 nights) on the way? I think I’ll have 2 stay overs along the way, so any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Ferg

My advice is take a day off when and if you need it. I wouldn’t plan one. If you arrive early go the Muxia. Very beautiful!!

 

[nidarosa]

Hi and welcome! This is my favourite stretch, you will love it. Not sure if I can suggest any towns to stay a day in, most places are pretty small, but I would suggest you take @Dave C. s advice and take it when you fancy or need it, or even better, plan some shorter days. Some guidebooks - which are just that, guides, and not to be followed slavishly - will suggest you walk from Villafranca to O Cebreiro, for instance. I wouldn't, I would walk the Duro/Pradela route out of Villafranca and then stop somewhere between Trabadelo and Herrerias, then really enjoy the walk along the river the next day and the gorgeous and steep path up to O Cebreiro. Also Rabanal to Acebo rather than Molinaseca, so you can take your time on the steep down hill. Don't be afraid to make up your own stages! Buen camino and enjoy, you are in for a treat.

 

[Kurt5280]

Of all the towns I visited on the Camino Frances I thought that I could make Astorga my home.

 

[jungleboy]

It depends a bit on what you'd like to do on your off-days. If you want to do tourism, you could stay two nights in a town like Ponferrada and then take your time visiting the castle and some of the other sights on your off-day. Or even Villafranca del Bierzo, which is smaller but has some things to see.

If you'd prefer to be in a nice little village and take it easy on your rest day, there are plenty of choices and as others said above, you could play it by ear as you're going.

Once you get to Galicia, another option could be to stay a night in Triacastela, then take the right route and have a very short day (2km!), stopping at El Beso which was probably my favourite albergue on the CF. You could spend the day there enjoying the solitude and surrounding forest scenery, visiting the ecological garden etc.

 

[scruffy1]

Welcome to the Forum. First night out Rabanal stay where ever you choose but don't miss Vespers at the church next to the Gaucelmo alberue, the singing is divine. As to where to stop over, follow your instincts and your nose. Excepting Santiago of course, I am not wild about any of the cities in Galacia, Arca-Arzua-Melide-Triacastela don't appeal to me personally.Don't much like Ponferrada-Palas de Rei-Portomarin either. Then again, I have arrived there after walking from SJPP and further once from Le Puy and again from Vezelay meaning by the time you hit say Ligonde, you can s-m-e-l-l Santiago and all the rest is unimportant.

 

[Anamiri]

Hi All,

First post here, and first timer pilgrim...so Hi!

I’m planning on walking the Camino from Astorga to Santiago de Compostela on 13th May.

I have 2 weeks booked, so I was wondering if anyone has suggestions of towns to stay an extra day in (i.e. 2 nights) on the way? I think I’ll have 2 stay overs along the way, so any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Ferg

This is a bit off-topic, and not a town - but I would recommend taking your time through the Galecian mountains - they are quite beautiful, so savour them. The day we climbed to O Cebreiro the mist had filled the valleys and it looked amazing. The alpine and then the rural landscapes are really lovely. In June, there were wild flowers everywhere, and lush green mountainsides.
A treat for the eyes.
And take the downhill to Molinaseca carefully, its rocky and tricky.

 

[FergC]

Thanks everyone, very much appreciated

 

[Deleted member 39850]

I also adored Astorga on my first go. I was glad I’d not stayed 2 days in León because it allowed 2 in Astorga. The Gaudi museum, the chocolate museum, the town square with the mechanical people who chime the bells on the clock tower.... and the great provisions shop with the giant backpack out front... it was all great. I wished I’d had more time in Pontferrada because I was interested in how the older industrial architecture was being repurposed. I hope to spend an extra day there this summer when Spouse gets to do the whole thing from SJPDP and I get to join him 300k from Santiago.