Ponferrada to Monforte de Lemos

You will be pre-booked into a traditional hotel in the heart of the town. While here, you may wish to visit the Castillo de los Templarios, a castle donated to the Knights Templar Order by King Ferdinand II of León in 1178 to protect pilgrims who passed through on the Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela.

Leaving Ponferrada you will climb through woodlands filled with fruit trees to be welcomed by a wonderful view back over Ponferrada. Descending through vineyards, you will then again ascend to Villavieja and the Castle of Cornatel before the final descent to La Medulas, a heritage site that was once the biggest gold mine in the Roman Empire.

A gentle ascent takes you up and out of Las Medulas. Take a moment to stop and appreciate the wonderful views. A long descent follows down the valley to the village of Puente de Domingo Flórez. Shortly after, you will cross over into Galicia, arriving at Quereno. Here, you can choose which route to take but all will take you to O Barco de Valdeorras.

A short but pleasant walk today will take from O Barco skirting the town of Arcos and following the natural curve of the River Sil you pass by the village of Vilamartin staying beside the river. Passing the Valencia reservoir and a great photo opportunity over the Valdeorras Valley, you will arrive into the town of A Rúa de Valderorras. Be sure to visit here the Church of San Esteban which houses a beautiful carving of St James. Also of interest is the Ponte da Cigarrosa which has Roman origins but the bridge we see today is a reconstruction in the 16th century.

Leaving A Rúa you are sent on your way with beautiful views over the River Sil. Walking by walnut and fig trees you then come to an area abundant with Mediterranean bushes of broom and rockrose to descend to the stream of Ferreiros. Crossing the stream you enter Montefurado where ahead you will see the towers of the Church of San Miguel de Montefurado.

Ascending through olive groves you can appreciate views of the tunnel built by the Romans for mining gold surrounded today by vineyards. Passing through the parish of Bendilló, where pilgrims used to discard their old rags before reaching Santiago, you then descend through a pine forest into Quiroga.

Setting out, the now familiar River Sil accompanies you before you ascend through a forest then descend to the Lor River basin. Although a tough section, the solitude and peacefulness of the forest makes it worthwhile. At the Hermitage of the Remedies panoramic views over the Lor River offer a picturesque backdrop. Crossing the river you then begin a final ascent to the plateau of the Lemos valley and Monforte de Lemos.

A charming town with a rich history and notable landmarks. The town’s castle, Castillo de los Condes de Lemos, stands proudly on a hill and offers panoramic views of the surroundings.