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As above: I've taken that option a few times, it's not a busy road, though at weekends you can expect cyclists. It's safe enough if you excercise a bit of common sense:It isn’t all that bad if you stay alert, anticipate traffic, when you are heading into a blind curve and simply go to the other side of-the road. Make sure no traffic is coming from behind when you cross, then return to the left side once ( agains the traffic) ) you are able to see ahead again.
There are some spots where there is little room for cars and-you to coexist, so
Stop and see if traffic is coming before you enter those area. For the most part I did not find it to be heavily trafficked in the Fall, Spring and Winter when walking down(3 times) but dnk about the summertime. It has a couple of hairpin turns.
The short answer is yes. You've asked if it's possible, which it is. However there are some blind bends with narrow to non-existent verges. The only time I've walked it there was so much snow that there wasn't any traffic. Safety will depend on being very sensitive to traffic and making yourself as conspicuous as possible.
Google Maps Street View will give you an opportunity to walk it from the safety of your PC https://www.google.com/maps/@42.503641,-6.4616899,3a,75y,180h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1scRixAwFzYvqesxSnSy9d6A!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?panoid=cRixAwFzYvqesxSnSy9d6A&cb_client=maps_sv.tactile.gps&w=203&h=100&yaw=49.55915&pitch=0&thumbfov=100!7i13312!8i6656
Is the Puentes de Malpaso trail sign posted?I know many dislike the descent from El Acebo to Molinaseca. I can’t really remember where the steepest rocky parts on that stage of the camino are, but if you can make it to Riego de Ambrós, there is an absolutely beautiful trail from Riego de Ambrós to Molinaseca. It’s called the Puentes de Malpaso and it is green, quiet, lush and lovely. Wikiloc tracks here, with some nice pictures to show you what I mean. it’s about a km longer than the camino, but it is just gorgeous.
Having walked both variants – trail and road – several times, I never became comfortable with either.On my last Camino I needed to take a taxi down from El Acebo because I injured my knee coming down. Does anyone know if it’s possible to walk beside the road the whole way down? I know it would mean a longer descent down which I’m willing to do to stay safe.
I walked down in this year in late November. It rained pretty hard the whole time. VIrtually everyone was walking on the road as the path was pretty treacherous. Precautions for sure. Turning around alot. Just be aware and when there are sharp curves do what is needed to insure your safety. Take a little extra time.It isn’t all that bad if you stay alert, anticipate traffic, when you are heading into a blind curve and simply go to the other side of-the road. Make sure no traffic is coming from behind when you cross, then return to the left side once ( agains the traffic) ) you are able to see ahead again.
There are some spots where there is little room for cars and-you to coexist, so
Stop and see if traffic is coming before you enter those area. For the most part I did not find it to be heavily trafficked in the Fall, Spring and Winter when walking down(3 times) but dnk about the summertime. It has a couple of hairpin turns.
I actually walked this trail from Ponferrada to Riego de Ambrós, which is the opposite direction than Francés pilgrims would be walking. I was not walking the Camino Francés, but rather a 3 day loop from Ponferrada to Peñalba de Santiago, which is one of the most beautiful walks I’ve ever taken. Details here for anyone who has extra time.Is the Puentes de Malpaso trail sign posted?
I agree that it is dangerous. I cannot recommend it. The Camino path is also beautiful, you shouldn't miss it.On my last Camino I needed to take a taxi down from El Acebo because I injured my knee coming down. Does anyone know if it’s possible to walk beside the road the whole way down? I know it would mean a longer descent down which I’m willing to do to stay safe.
Thank you for suggesting this alternative. Do you remember any parts of that beautiful trail that may not be wheelchair accessible?I know many dislike the descent from El Acebo to Molinaseca. I can’t really remember where the steepest rocky parts on that stage of the camino are, but if you can make it to Riego de Ambrós, there is an absolutely beautiful trail from Riego de Ambrós to Molinaseca. It’s called the Puentes de Malpaso and it is green, quiet, lush and lovely. Wikiloc tracks here, with some nice pictures to show you what I mean. it’s about a km longer than the camino, but it is just gorgeous.
It is not at trail for a wheelchair. Sorry.Thank you for suggesting this alternative. Do you remember any parts of that beautiful trail that may not be wheelchair accessible?
I know many dislike the descent from El Acebo to Molinaseca. I can’t really remember where the steepest rocky parts on that stage of the camino are, but if you can make it to Riego de Ambrós, there is an absolutely beautiful trail from Riego de Ambrós to Molinaseca. It’s called the Puentes de Malpaso and it is green, quiet, lush and lovely. Wikiloc tracks here, with some nice pictures to show you what I mean. it’s about a km longer than the camino, but it is just gorgeous.
If you are talking about the Puentes de Malpaso trail, it is absolutely not wheelchair accessible. You should look at some online pictures, there are many on the internet, for some idea of how it goes.Thank you for suggesting this alternative. Do you remember any parts of that beautiful trail that may not be wheelchair accessible?
That is exactly how I feel about it and have walked the trail twice. Both the walk to El Acebo and the next morning down to Molinaseca are both beautiful, favorite stretches on the Frances for me, and my memories are vivid.The Camino path is also beautiful, you shouldn't miss it.
I would not recommend the road down for wheelchair usage either.If you are talking about the Puentes de Malpaso trail, it is absolutely not wheelchair accessible. You should look at some online pictures, there are many on the internet, for some idea of how it goes.
Annie, you might be a perfect candidate for the Puentes de Malpaso.I walk the road all the time, facing traffic.
I have found it easier than the trail.
I'd never heard of it!Annie, you might be a perfect candidate for the Puentes de Malpaso.
r. Cruz de Ferro was one of the few places on my pilgrimage which was “crowded”, maybe half a dozen people. I walked down the track and it was horribly dangerous - Uneven rocky surface, running water, snowdrifts disguising the rocks underneath . Crunching through the snow I fell over countless times. Everyone else I caught up with later, including serial Camino walkers took the road. There was virtually no traffic and at the time was by far the safer option.On my last Camino I needed to take a taxi down from El Acebo because I injured my knee coming down. Does anyone know if it’s possible to walk beside the road the whole way down? I know it would mean a longer descent down which I’m willing to do to stay safe.
Yes, you can. I did just that in 2018. I reckon it's about 3 to 4km longer, but it would me much more forgiving on the knees than the rocky path route. It's still a fair way to go down hill, but there is the small village of Riego de Ambrós on the way down where you can take a break.On my last Camino I needed to take a taxi down from El Acebo because I injured my knee coming down. Does anyone know if it’s possible to walk beside the road the whole way down? I know it would mean a longer descent down which I’m willing to do to stay safe.
Fantastic information and advice, definitely adding this to my itinerary from El Acebo to Ponferrada, anticipating that there will not be too many climatic problems in May.I know many dislike the descent from El Acebo to Molinaseca. I can’t really remember where the steepest rocky parts on that stage of the camino are, but if you can make it to Riego de Ambrós, there is an absolutely beautiful trail from Riego de Ambrós to Molinaseca. It’s called the Puentes de Malpaso and it is green, quiet, lush and lovely. Wikiloc tracks here, with some nice pictures to show you what I mean. it’s about a km longer than the camino, but it is just gorgeous.
Thank you for letting me know.It is not at trail for a wheelchair. Sorry.
Thank you for the advice.If you are talking about the Puentes de Malpaso trail, it is absolutely not wheelchair accessible. You should look at some online pictures, there are many on the internet, for some idea of how it goes.
Thank you for this validation.I would not recommend the road down for wheelchair usage either.
Laurie, I have read your link in the past on walking to Penalba because I could see it in the far distance on the way to El Acebo and it intrigued me.I was not walking the Camino Francés, but rather a 3 day loop from Ponferrada to Peñalba de Santiago, which is one of the most beautiful walks I’ve ever taken. Details here for anyone who has extra time.
I had to look at a map to see the relationship. Peñalba is about 75 km from Puebla de Sanabria, which I chose as a random stop on the Sanabrés that is kind of south of Peñalba. Mombuey is also about 75 km south, so this would be a pretty substantial detour even in the best of circumstances. A quick wikiloc search doesn’t pull anything up. Looks like you could go on minor roads, but that’s not an ideal way to see this part of Spain. Unless someone has seen any other options, I would say that a detour from the Sanabrés is complicated, while a detour from the Francés is easy and well worth it.Do you know if there is a way to cut over from the Sanabres to Penalba, then head up to Ponferrada, or turn back to finish the Sanabres?
Yes, I walked it “backwards” when I went from Ponferrada to El Acebo, El Acebo to Peñalba de Santiago, and Peñalba de Santiago to Ponferrada. This was a little loop I did with @Rebekah Scott several years ago and it was a five star three day walk. Details here.I'd never heard of it!
But now I have to do it!
I googled it. Beautiful photos!
Have you walked it?
Totally do-able. Start in Ponferrada. Three days in a circle ending back in Ponferrada, then the Invierno. But that’s not going to get you to 4-ish weeks, I don’t think. The one wrinkle is that the lodging that there used to be in Peñalba de Santiago, where Reb and I slept, is no longer available. She closed it. There are other options but they are expensive and hard to find.The Invierno starts in Ponferrada, so how about starting there, looping down to Penalba and circling back to Ponferrada to walk the Invierno? That "sounds" doeable.
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