8-day Camino de Santiago by Handbike Holiday

Your pilgrimage begins in lovely Castrojeriz where historic monuments cluster around ancient hilltop remains, recalling battles between Arab domains and Christian kingdoms. Take time to wander round the town and get a taste for Castille as you sample local dishes this evening at dinner.

Your journey on the Way begins with a transfer (not adapted vehicle) to Itero de la Vega, where you pick up your companion’s rental bike and start the first route of this tour. Entering the province of Palencia, you traverse a farming area called Tierra de Campos, a land of vast plains and gentle hills carpeted in waving wheat. Eight kilometres into the route, you'll be treated to panoramic views from Boadilla del Camino, population 200, with its pretty ‘Iglesia de la Asunción’ church and imposing 15th century Gothic column, ‘el rollo de justicia’.

The remaining six kilometres of this stage follow a firm dirt track alongside the Canal de Castilla, formerly used to transport grain and nowadays part of local irrigation systems. In the afternoon you reach Frómista, for a must-see tour of Romanesque gems.

Villages: Itero de la Vega - Boadilla del Camino - Frómista

Today’s stage takes an easy track alongside Route P-980 through nearly flat terrain surrounded by immense fields of grain. Stop off in Villalcázar de Sirga to visit Santa María la Blanca church. Then continue on the same track for another six kilometres to reach Carrión de los Condes (population 200), a classic Camino town with intriguing monuments such as the churches of Santa María de la Victoria and Santiago and the sublime Real Monasterio de San Zoilo.

Villages: Frómista - Población de Campos - Revenga de Campos - Villovieco - Villarmentero de Campos - Villalcázar de Sirga - Carrión de los Condes

Set off by adapted taxi with your handbike and rental bike to begin today’s stage at the crossing where Route PP-2411 meets the ancient Roman Road or Vía Aquitana. Roll along on flat, easy ground following a compact gravel track in a nearly straight line to the village of Calzadilla de la Cueza, which appears out of nowhere just as you approach, nestled in a depression in the surrounding terrain. Its adobe houses and bell tower create a familiar scene right out of a western. On this section the old Roman Road later became the Camino de Santiago, in more recent times dotted with the area’s typical round dovecotes.

Villages: Calzadilla de la Cueza - Lédigos - Terradillos de los Templarios - Moratinos

This stage leads from the farmland of Tierra de Campos into the stark open scenery of the Páramo Leonés, as you glide along on easy dirt tracks with very little ascent and descent. You will pass Moratinos and San Nicolás del Real Camino then take a short detour to admire the Romanesque-Mudejar chapel at Ermita de la Virgen del Puente on your way into Sahagún, population 3000. The town offers all sorts of services and the magnificent Mudejar churches of San Lorenzo y San Tirso.

The remainder of this stage, another 10 km / 6 mi, follows a pleasant quiet road or the (slightly slower) parallel track as you make your way to today’s destination Bercianos del Camino Real.

Villages: Moratinos-San Nicolás del Real Camino-Sahagún- Calzada del Coto-Bercianos del Camino Real.

Today you embark on a dead-straight section across the plains of El Páramo, through wide-open spaces and endless fields of grain. Once again you have the option of doing a comfortable route on the road with very little traffic or choosing a slightly slower section on a compact dirt track with fine gravel.

Villages: Bercianos del Camino Real - El Burgo de Ranero- Reliegos - Mansilla de las Mulas

Since this last stage into Leon is almost continously along busy roads, we recommend to go directly (by adapted taxi) to the city of León, to check out the city. A stunning array of local monuments includes a grand Gothic church, the 12th-13th century Catedral de Santa María with impressive stained-glass windows, and the Romanesque Basílica de San Isidoro. Art lovers can peek in at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (MUSAC) and foodies will love to get lost in the labyrinth of el Barrio Húmedo, the historic tapas district where Plaza de San Martín leads to tasty narrow lanes like Calle Ancha, de la Rúa, Badillo and Las Cercas.

Your unique pilgrimage comes to an end this morning after breakfast.