Ridiculous new routes into Portomarín

[jefferyonthecamino]

Be warned that the two new routes into Portomarín from Vilachá are ridiculous and even slippery dangerous.

Until this year, the Camino just after leaving Vilachá made a right, crossed the small road that leads down to the highway and the Portomarín reservoir bridge, and just before the small cluster of trees in front of you made its way down to highway and bridge on a small (and steep) small paved road. Once on the highway, you then approached the bridge from the right.

With the changes this year, you now make a left on the road you encounter as you leave Vilachá and have two options:

Op. 1 takes you down a VERY steep rock path down to the highway and bridge (not recommended if raining)
Op. 2 takes you down the road and then along the backside of a series of buildings (many which look abandoned), into a mess of garbage and mud (not recommended if raining).
Both of these options take you to the highway and bridge, approaching from the left.

* Next time I go through, it's the old route for me, too 'dangerous', ugly, dirty and muddy on the new routes.

Buen Camino

 

[Robo]

I used the old route last year. And was warning my wife this year that the descent into portomarin was very steep. She was getting sore shins...

So the new routes down that you outlined above took me by surprise.

Option 1 had warning signs and we avoided that.

Option 2 we found quite OK. And at least the descent is not as steep as the old route.

Not sure why they changed it though.....

 

[pilgrim b]

I used the old route last year. And was warning my wife this year that the descent into portomarin was very steep. She was getting sore shins...

So the new routes down that you outlined above took me by surprise.

Option 1 had warning signs and we avoided that.

Option 2 we found quite OK. And at least the descent is not as steep as the old route.

Not sure why they changed it though.....

Congratulations Robo and suffering no lameness this year ,so glad you made it with your wife this year perigreno b and me wish you well. We won't be back again this year just had one of two operations for my kidneys but hope to make the trail to SDC next year sometime. b

 

[Lmsundaze]

I took the slippery dangerous route into Portomarin - following crowd didn't see sign (my bad). Heading into Santiago tomorrow and that was most difficult thing on CF. A lovely young woman from Korea helped me down, I was terrified. Don't go that way unless it is dry and you are young and fit.

 

[jburr3708]

I was there about 4 weeks ago and thought the sign indicated that the left option was for bicycles and straight ahead for walkers so I took the route that proved to be ridiculous and I was glad when I finally reached the bottom. It is so steep with rocks that I was sitting down and sliding on my rear for some of it. I don't recommend it to anyone.

 

[AlwynWellington]

At Villacha Open Street Maps (OSM) shows two local roads, one to the left and one to the right. Both descend along ridges to the road that skirts alongside the reservoir, rather than the track which descends down the steep face between them. The road to the left has the shorter distance alongside the reservoir to the bridge.

When. I descended the marked path to Portomarin some years ago (on my first day) I recall wondering what was the purpose of the "guardians" of the path in this area in making it so difficult and potentially injury causing.

And having since walked the GR 65 in France and Spain I have encountered many more such potential injury inducing difficulties.

There seems to be a mind set that says just walking 800 km, or more, is not challenge enough.

 

[Jenyat53]

I had my only slip/fall of my Camino on those slippery rocks two weeks ago. Fortunately only bruises, but was just following a large group, none of whom saw the sign for the alternate option. It is ridiculously unsafe. At best it should be marked as 'risky option B'

 

[Gareth Griffith]

I was staying at Casa Banderas in early May and the owner ( a very nice chap called Gordon) warned us all over dinner that "they" had altered the route of the Camino to accommodate a new Albergue. He commented that the new route had a couple of options, both of which would end in a mud bath. He recommended continuing on the old route which meant just remaining on the Tarmac and going straight over at the staggered crossroads. Which is what everyone (who was with us that night) did.
He also suggested rather than follow the signs into Portomarin just to do a left after going over the long bridge over the reservoir and save a long trek round the houses into Portomarin.
I'd also like to add that I learnt a new German word "Schlamm" on the Camino and a new Spanish word "mojado" look 'em up and weep!

 

[Deleted member 56069]

Picture of my wife decending option 1 into Portomarin this past April. Rocks were a little slippery, but taking things slowly, not any real drama. It would not be a good idea in the rain at all. I am sure in a heavy rain that this trail turns into a fast flowing stream rather quickly.

 

[Davey Boyd]

I think I will be sticking to to old way!

 

[Juno]

I was staying at Casa Banderas in early May and the owner ( a very nice chap called Gordon) warned us all over dinner that "they" had altered the route of the Camino to accommodate a new Albergue. He commented that the new route had a couple of options, both of which would end in a mud bath. He recommended continuing on the old route which meant just remaining on the Tarmac and going straight over at the staggered crossroads. Which is what everyone (who was with us that night) did.
He also suggested rather than follow the signs into Portomarin just to do a left after going over the long bridge over the reservoir and save a long trek round the houses into Portomarin.
I'd also like to add that I learnt a new German word "Schlamm" on the Camino and a new Spanish word "mojado" look 'em up and weep!

Well, I shall be following JB's instructions as per his 2015 version as there's a steep staircase leading up to the arch & capela de Santa Maria de las Nieves at the entrance to Portomarin, which may be the way you went, which is very charming. Last time I took shelter there in wet weather! It is worth the effort! Cheers!

 

[Kelownagurl]

Thanks for the warning. We took the old route and all was well.

 

[gidivet]

I was staying at Casa Banderas in early May and the owner ( a very nice chap called Gordon) warned us all over dinner that "they" had altered the route of the Camino to accommodate a new Albergue. He commented that the new route had a couple of options, both of which would end in a mud bath. He recommended continuing on the old route which meant just remaining on the Tarmac and going straight over at the staggered crossroads. Which is what everyone (who was with us that night) did.
He also suggested rather than follow the signs into Portomarin just to do a left after going over the long bridge over the reservoir and save a long trek round the houses into Portomarin.
I'd also like to add that I learnt a new German word "Schlamm" on the Camino and a new Spanish word "mojado" look 'em up and weep!

I learned a similar word in Italian - "fango".

 

[lbpierce]

Be warned that the two new routes into Portomarín from Vilachá are ridiculous and even slippery dangerous. ...

* Next time I go through, it's the old route for me, too 'dangerous', ugly, dirty and muddy on the new routes.

I don't remember the old route - are there still signs that help you figure out the old route?

 

[Camino2010]

I don't remember the old route - are there still signs that help you figure out the old route?

Portomarin is one place that, for me, has a slightly confusing and vague entry. My first Camino in 2010 was fine, but in 2011 I walked it in the dark (a friend of mine and I encountered a full albergue in Ferreiros and decided to walk on to Portomarin but it was 9:30pm in October before we got there; even with flashlights, in the dark we missed the first turnoff and ended up walking on the road all the way around to the left (and thus approaching the long bridge from the left instead of right). In 2012 it was fine again, I could see where I'd missed the turnoff the time before and walked in as usual. But last year the turnoff was blocked and the route was changed to quite a steep downhill path compared to what I'd walked before. I plan to walk again this year and would really appreciate a good set of directions for how to get down to the bridge safely. I might just stick to the road if it seems too unclear. Or, could someone please post a Google maps image with the suggested (old way) route marked somehow? Many thanks if so!

Rachel

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

I don't remember the old route - are there still signs that help you figure out the old route?

No, there are no longer signs for the old route. Yellow is the old route. Red the direction of the new ones

 

[jpflavin1]

I used the old route last year. And was warning my wife this year that the descent into portomarin was very steep. She was getting sore shins...

So the new routes down that you outlined above took me by surprise.

Option 1 had warning signs and we avoided that.

Option 2 we found quite OK. And at least the descent is not as steep as the old route.

Not sure why they changed it though.....

Robo:

The good point about option one is that it is so narrow you can actually hold both sides of the wall while going down. It is steep and very slippery when wet.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[Camino2010]

No, there are no longer signs for the old route. Yellow is the old route. Red the direction of the new onesView attachment 26750

Thank you very much! I'll take this with me when I go next time.

Rachel