As Catedrais

After a couple of days sightseeing around Muros de Nalon and near Luarca we headed west again to As Catedrais. The low tide at mid-day meant that we were able to walk right round the headland to the remaining arches.

An easy walk across the sand then over the barnacle covered rocks into the next bay and the arches themselves. Last year we had our boots on and did not want to risk getting salt water on them! We wore our Crocs this time, and also went part of the way barefoot, then rinsed our feet off in a rock pool before walking back over the barnacles.

This walk can be made from Ribadeo, or take a taxi to Rinlo. The route is marked well along the coast (Ruta de las Praias and then later signed to As Catedrais). If needing accommodation you can return to the road junction just before As Catedrais, turn right and under the FEVE bridge, then left at the roundabout towards Ribadeo. O Lar de Carmiña at Devesa is approx 500mts along the road on the right. Good food too.

La Vega to Bérbes

This short walk is on the Camino del Norte. We walked from the beach at La Vega to Bérbes and then returned to our start point. The interest was in the section of the track which is very ancient and still has its old cobbles, followed by a cliff top section with good views. There is a cafe at Bérbes, which for a circular walk may be a better start point.

The track from La Vega and cliff top view

The view inland just before Bérbes and the 'Buen Camino sign on the side of the farmhouse

La Isla and Gobiendes

Wednesday:-

We arrived in La Isla on Tuesday and found our hotel which was by the beach. On Wednesday morning we walked up to the headland and found the trenches, now restored, a sobering reminder of the Civil War. Then in the afternoon we went to Gobiendes to visit the pre Romanesque church.

Santiago de Gobiendes is only open on the first Wednesday of the month from 2.00pm and you have to either phone or arrive at the nearby Sueve Museum before then. The guided tour was very interesting and this is a good place to visit, just off the Camino del Norte.

Following the suggestion made by the guide we then walked from Gobiendes to Obayu and back along a lovely forest track. This leads to a waterfall and 'fuente' (fountain) and in Gobiendes itself also passes the walk around the local hórreos.

The beach and hotel at La Isla

The trenches on the headland

The church at Gobiendes

The waterfall at Obayu

Hórreo at Gobiendes

Spain 2016

After nearly 5 weeks in N Spain we are now home again. Our plans to walk or take the car various places of interest along the northern Caminos were added to and we have visited some amazing places. Once our photos are sorted we will add posts along the Camino del Norte, the Ruta do Mar, the Camino Primitivo and also the mountain area around Cangas del Narcea. This last is not on the Camino but in the national park. Finally we visited the Picos de Europa and the lakes at Covadonga before returning to Santander via Cabezon de la Sal.

Watch this space!

Our first night was spent at Cóbreces in the little hotel (left in photo) near the church.

It is opposite the steep track where the Camino comes into the village

Plans and packing

Plans for this year are going well, but we are still working on packing etc. at present we are taking the same kit as for last year plus and extra set of clothes (trousers, shirt, socks, fleece) so as to keep our packing to a minimum. Weight is not an issue but we will still pack most of our gear into our rucksacks and then add a small 'overnight' bag each for the extra clothes and to use on the ferry. This means we will have 3 complete sets of clothes each, plus extra underwear and socks. We will also take a light shower jacket each as well as our ponchos - this is partly for an extra layer if evenings are cool rather than for walking in.

It feels slightly strange to be taking the car and needing to check road directions from the ferry to our first stop. Looking for places to visit we have found several 'off the Camino' but easily accessible by car so this will be a mix of sightseeing and Camino walking. Day 1 we will stay overnight in Cobreces before moving on to La Isla for 3 nights. Here we have found a nearby church and museum as well as wanting to walk from La Vega to La Isla. Then we move on to a casa rural near Luarca, again to walk part of the Camino.

So back to the planning and practise walking. At least the weather is improving here and still has plenty of time to improve in Spain too before we go.

Walking Around New Year to Easter

We have been mostly road walking during the winter but are beginning to get 'off road' again. The old railway provided some walking and the field tracks were drying out.

Over Easter we have been walking around Dartmoor at Becky Falls, Haytor and Parke. The moor itself seemed very dry but Parke was extremely wet after further weekend rain. All good practise, especially the climb up by the falls!

New Year, new plans

Having walked the Camino de Santiago several times we plan this year to return to N Spain with a car. We want to visit places on the Camino which we missed previously. Then we can walk either sections of the Camino or other footpaths in the area. Places we hope to see are Mondoñedo, Britoña, Puerto de Palo and part of the Hospitales route. Then to other places including the lakes above Covadonga.

This is all much later in the year so as ever.....watch this space.