Highlights of the Camino Primitivo

Today you arrive in Asturias, in time to visit the Gothic Cathedral devoted to San Salvador, THE historic holy site where the Camino begins. This evening you’ll enjoy the city’s lively atmosphere, charming lanes in the old town and traditional cider houses around the corner from your comfortable city hotel****.

You start off at the cathedral, following brass Camino shells through the city centre and out into the green Asturian countryside. Quiet lanes and ancient footpaths take you past peaceful villages, some with historic pilgrims’ hostels and inns. From Puerma you follow the main road, to reach Grado. From there, it’s just a short transfer to your charming rural hotel***. 

Challenge: 6.5 hrs, 26 km / 16 mi, 250 m ascent, 375 m descent

Villages along the way: Oviedo, Premoñu, Peñaflor, Sama de Langreo

Today’s route starts with a transfer to La Espina to avoid road works on the most recent “Camino”, a new motorway! You do a short section on tarmac then move into more serene landscapes on the way to Tineo, capital of dairy production in Asturias. Your hotel**** is a 16th-century palace built in Renaissance style, but with elegant modern decoration. Indoor swimming pool and spa.

Challenge: 4 hrs, 11 km / 7 mi, 240 m ascent and descent

Villages along the way: La Espina, Tineo

From Tineo you traverse forested terrain to reach the monastery at Obona, the region’s first School of Latin and a retreat for scholars in the Middle Ages. From there, you follow woodland tracks and quiet tarmac lanes to reach the village of Campiello.

Challenge: 6 - 6.5 hrs, 18 km / 11 mi, 500 m ascent, 300 m descent

Villages along the way: Tineo, Obona, Campiello

After a short drive to La Mortera, you begin a tough ascent on the High Route - “la Ruta de los Hospitales” - traversing steep slopes on barren mountainsides to reach the pass at Puerto del Palo. This section has always been one of the most treacherous, due to extreme winter weather, and you’ll see ruins of centuries-old pilgrims’ hospitals on either side of the pass. Superb views from the top before you start the last section, on tarmac, down to a comfortable rural guesthouse. 

Challenge: 7 / 8.5 hrs, 18 - 22 km / 11 - 13,5 mi, 520 / 620 m ascent and 450 m descent

Villages along the way: La Mortera, Puerto del Palo, Berducedo 

After Berducedo the pilgrimage route makes a slight detour, to skirt a modern-day reservoir which effectively “erased” the historic Camino in the mid-20th century. You follow a steep path down through lovely woodlands, then cross the dam to reach your charming 3*hotel, overlooking the lake. 

Challenge: 6.5 hrs, 15 km / 9,5 mi, 330 m ascent, 970 m descent

Villages along the way: Berducedo, Grandas de Salime

Today you begin with a 30 min transfer to avoid a long section on tarmac. As you drive to Fonsagrada, you cross over the border and into Galicia. Your walking route starts in Proba de Burón and takes you past the old pilgrims’ hospital at Montouto, to Paradavella. Short transfer to a beautifully restored old manor house, outside Castroverde, surrounded by a huge garden. 

Challenge: 4.5 hrs, 14.5 km / 9 mi, 400 m ascent, 650 m descent

Villages along the way: Montouto, O Cádavo, Paradavella

This walk is a celebration of quintessential Galician countryside, as you walk quiet country lanes and farming tracks from one hamlet to the next. Gorgeous examples of traditional architecture, from stone barns to historic “pazos”. If you don't fancy walking so much, your hosts can ride you furthern than Castroverde to make today's stage shorter! Your next boutique hotel**** is located in Lugo’s historic town centre, just 100 m from its splendid Roman walls, a UNESCO World heritage site. 

Challenge: 6 hrs, 22 km / 13,5 mi, 150 m ascent, 250 m descent

Villages along the way: Gondar, Castroverde, Lugo

Your arrangement comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Option of booking an extra night in Santiago de Compostela to walk the final section to the cathedral.