Camino Francés
24.5 km, 292 m up and 527 m down, through 15 places, 7 of which have somewhere to sleep. Where you stop is up to you.
Every place on the path in order, with the distance from Os Valos. Most are too small to sleep in — a fountain, a chapel, a bar that may or may not be open — but they are what the day is actually made of.
A hamlet on the approach to Palas de Rei. No services.
A hamlet near Palas de Rei. No services.
From here the camino passes through more forests and nears the road at Rosario.
Along the descent from here you will pass Os Chacotes, a recreational area with a log-cabin style hotel and sports facilities. At the entrance to Palas de Rei is the Iglesia de San Tirso, where a stamp is available. From there it is down a set of stairs into town.
You have now entered eucalyptus territory, and although there are patches of old oak forests to be found this non-indigenous species has taken over the landscape and has become a symbol of Galicia.
You've entered eucalyptus territory. Although patches of native oak forest survive, this non-indigenous species has taken over the Galician landscape. Love it or hate it (the locals are divided), the tall, fragrant trees…
Near San Xulain the camino is undergoing a rerouting to accommodate the new highway connecting Santiago with Lugo. Most recently this meant walking across the unfinished highway. Changes are frequent and it is best to follow the detour signage.
The bar here opens at 7:30.
A medieval bridge over the Río Pambre. The bridge is well-preserved and the setting, in a wooded valley, is pleasant. No services.
A hamlet between Ponte Campaña and Leboreiro. A small albergue and bar may operate. The walking is easy, through Galician farmland.
A tiny hamlet. No services.
A hamlet with a bar that provides refreshment on the approach to Leboreiro.
Leboreiro is one of the more charming hamlets on this stretch. Sparsely populated but well-maintained, with stone houses and the small Romanesque Iglesia de Santa María de las Nieves. The tympanum over the doorway is wor…
Furelos has a Roman bridge, a church, and a bar — a satisfying combination. The bridge is small but genuinely ancient, its stones worn smooth by two millennia of traffic. The bar serves excellent tortillas. The Iglesia …
The camino leaves Melide through the town center — watch for arrows, which can be hard to spot in the market-day crowds. Follow the main road to the first roundabout and continue straight. The terrain ahead is rolling, with forest and farmland alternating.
A hamlet between Melide and Boente. No services.
1037
Past the church, the camino turns right and descends. The hills ahead involve steep ups and downs — take it easy on tired legs.
Distance, climb and descent are measured along the GPS track for this camino — 455 recorded points across this span, the same track the app carries. The town-to-town figures in my data put it at 25.4 km.
Esta entidad ha sido beneficiaria de una ayuda del Programa de incentivos a la movilidad eficiente y sostenible (MOVES III), gestionado por la Xunta de Galicia a través del Instituto Enerxético de Galicia (INEGA) en el marco del Real Decreto 266/2021, y cofinanciada por la Unión Europea — NextGenerationEU, dentro del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia.