 Day 1 - Oviedo
You will be booked in a hotel in the heart of the
town of Oviedo. The rooms are en-suite.
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Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.
Accommodation: 3* hotel, en-suite, in the historical part of the town
Meal: B&B |
DAY 2 – From Oviedo to Grado (30km 8h +70m -170m)
The Camino starts from the Cathedral of El Salvador and, after leaving the town of Oviedo, heads west. We arrived at the chapel of El Carmen in Lampajúa (Llampaxuga) from where we descend toward Ponte de Gallegos. From here the Camino follows a beautiful trail along the river Nora to finish in a steep ascent in the lovely village of Escamplero. As we get closer to the river Nalón, we cross the N-634, and the river.
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Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.
Accommodation: 2* hotel, en suite.
Meal: Half Board |
DAY 3 – From Grado to Salas (18km 4h30 +430m -300m)
The Camino starts by the most difficult section of the day, dropping more than two hundred meters leaves us 3 miles way from El Alto in Fresno, near the beautiful temple of Our Lady of The Fresno. From here we start another steep descent to San Marcelo (4.4 km). Continuing downhill we meet a dirt track leading to Cornellana (11.2 km). Here we recommend the visit of the monastery of El Salvador. Finally we approach Salas on a more gentle terrain.
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Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.
Accommodation: 2* hotel, en-suite
Meal: Half Board |
DAY 4 – From Salas to Tineo (19km 5h +600m -50m)
This is a hard stage of the Camino, not because of its length (actually shorter), but because it is ascending constantly. We can almost say that there is no break in the climb for almost eight hundred meters. Fortunately, most of the climb is concentrated at the beginning. Following the national road for a short while, the Camino continues on a quieter paved path that leads us to La Espina. Here we quit the “Camino Norte” that continues North West. From here we enter in a more area with strong character and traditions.
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Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.
Accommodation: 2* hotel, en-suite, close to the Albergue
Meal: Half Board |
DAY 5 – From Tineo to Pola Allende (28km 8h30 +310m -460m)
This is a difficult stage of the Camino with ups and downs. After following the road for a short time, the Camino comes to a path descending thought woodlands. Then passing the small villages of Vega el Rey, Berrugoso y Campiello, where the time seems to have stopped, we finish the day by a steep descent of about three hundred meters to arrive in Pola de Allande .
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Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.
Accommodation: 2* hotel, en-suite
Meal: Half Board |
DAY 6 – From Pola Allende to Berducedo (17km 5h +740m -310m)
Another difficult day beginning by an ascent of almost 600m, reaching the summit of Puerto del Palo. Here you can catch amazing views of the Cantabrian chain with its 2500m+ summits. Followed by a drop of 250m on what is called the “Camino de los hospitales"... so be prepared. Finally going through woods we arrive in Berducedo.
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Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.
Accommodation: 1* hotel, en-suite, Casa Rural, family-run.
Meal: Half Board |
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DAY 7 – From Berducedo to Grandas de Salime (16km 4h30 +520m -800m)
This is the most rewarding part of the Camino Primitivo, but also one of the hardest. Some pilgrims suffer from ascending some other from descending... Those who in the past did not suffer will do so today. We start by climbing to Aerogenedores at 1100m above sea level, where you will get spectacular views on the embalse de Salime (artificial lake), the River Navia below, and of course the mountains surrounding us! Then it is a steep descent of 900m in just 7km! Finally, passing the dam, the Camino make its way up to Grandas Salime after a more gentle 350m ascent.
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Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.
Accommodation: 2* hotel, en-suite
Meal: Half Board |
DAY 8 – From Grandas de Salime to A Fonsagrada (26km 7h +520m -170m)
Today the Camino starts by a steep ascent to El Acebo (1050m) for other fines views of the Cantabrian Mountains, but it is also time to bid our farewell to Asturias and to say hello to the land of the Celts: Galicia! After passing mountain villages of Cabreria, Fonfría, and Barbeito we arrive in A Fonsagrada for well deserved rest!
in the town center stands Fons Sacra, from which it takes its name. This fountain witness one of the miracles of the apostle Saint James, who after being attended by an impoverished widow, turned the water from this fountain into fresh milk for her children.
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Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.
Accommodation: 1* hotel, en-suite
Meal: Half Board |
DAY 9 – From A Fonsagrada to O Cadavo Baleira (23km 7h +320m -540m)
After leaving A Fonsagrada the Camino passes through A Pobra de Buron, where there have been records of pilgrims passing this ancient village since the 12th C., and the route has been referred as the "Camino de Oviedo". Coming to Hospital de Montouto, we can see the hospital standing sitting on a hilltop. It is now in ruins, but was one of the last to close, and was probably the most important on all the mountain routes of Galicia. There is also a magnificent Dolmen in the vicinity of the hospital. The Camino then makes its way to the town of O Cadavo, passing quaint villages such as Calzada, Degolada, and A Fontaneira.
O cadavo is the second most important town the pilgrims on the Camino Primitivo will pass on their way to Santiago. according to the tradition alphonse II the Chaste fought the Islamic Army nearby.
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Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.
Accommodation: 2* hotel, en-suite, great bar, very atmospheric
Meal: Half Board |
DAY 10 – From O Cadavo Baleira to Lugo (30km 8h +220m -530m)
The Camino continues through these lands famous for their slates mines as far as Paradavela. This attractive village, which retains much of its original character, is home to a number of "Pallozas" (primitive thatched dwelling) and other buildings of interest. Then passing by the convent of San Francisco de Vilabade and arriving later in the nice town of Castroverde. After crossing Castroverde, the Camino passes the abandoned village of Soutomerille; nestle in a landscape of great beauty. Finally crossing farmlands, the way arrives in "Lucus Augusti" by the Gate of Saint Peter.
Lugo, a large town of Roman origin, whose origins date back more than 2000 years, making it the oldest town in Galicia! Take the time to explore it!
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Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.
Accommodation: 3* hotel, en-suite
Meal: B&B |
DAY 11 –Lugo
After breakfast we bid you farewell.
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Best to fly to Santander or Oviedo and back from Santiago
To Santander airport
Ryanair are the only low cost airline that currently offer direct flights to Santander. They offer flights from London Stansted and now Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Milan and Rome as well as Reus and Madrid in Spain.
Iberia offer a good selection of internal flights from Alicante, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Seville and Valencia.
Information on flights from Dublin to Santander and Stansted to Santander
To Oviedo airport
Oviedo Airport is located 47Km North West of Oviedo, 17Km West of Aviles.
Bus to every 2 to 3 hours during daytime, Oviedo approximately €5, Aviles €3.
Taxis to Oviedo approximately €40, Gijon €37, Aviles €17. |
To the beginning of the trip: Oviedo
From Santander many bus a day (around 3hours)
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Back home from Santiago de Compostela Airport
Ryanair and Iberia/BA fly direct to Santiago de Compostela from the UK. Ryanair fly from Stansted, Nottingham East Midlands and Liverpool and Aer Lingus operates from Dublin.
Many of the flights that arrive at the airport are from internal Spanish flights. Iberia and Spanair offer the best selection of flights and you can fly to and from Santiago De Compostela from: Frankfurt, Paris and Rome and Barcelona, Bilbao, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Madrid, Malaga, Palma, Seville, Tenerife (north and South) and Valencia.
From Lugo to Santiago airport it is an easy 1h30 by bus (5 a day, around €10)
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