Stage Notes & History

HISTORY: The village, mainly off road down in the river valley, has an English connection. The last houses in Herrerías were called Hospital in line with a Papal Bull of 1178 which mentioned a ‘hospital of the English’. There was also a chapel where pilgrims who had died were buried.

DIRECTIONS: There now follows a beautiful route up to O Cebreiro (only 8 km but very steep so allow adequate time), initially through chestnut woods and then through open country and a series of hamlets. There is a tarmac road to the first hamlet, La Faba, but walkers can turn left on a well signed track up through woods. Cyclists can continue, turning right at a junction, by-passing La Faba, and rejoining walkers at the second hamlet, Laguna de Castillo, but be warned it is a long climb. In bad weather, walkers are advised to take the cyclists’ option. In atrocious weather, walkers are advised to take the slightly longer but safer tarmac road. The weather can be very bad here at any time of the year. Make sure that you have time to make it to O Cebreiro in daylight.