A Gudina to Ourense

A Gudina is a small town that seems to have two distinct identities, with its main street bordered by modern buildings where one has all the services one may need. On the other hand, a few metres away, the parallel back street seems more like an isolated rural village with its 17th Century Baroque church.

When leaving A Gudina, we follow the wonderful scenic route that leads us to Campobecerros. We will also pass through remote Galician hamlets, often offering magnificent views over the mountains, such as Venda Teresa or Venda Capela. This is not an easy stage, but the views you get during the day are among the most enjoyable of the whole Via de la Plata. One of the highlights of the day is probably when the Camino overlooks the Las Portas Ddam, and soon after it, a steep descent brings you down to Campobecerros. From here, its just a short transfer to your hotel.

We will arrange your transfer back from your hotel to Campobecerros. As you go up and down through the Galician mountains, once again the Via de la Plata route will surprise you with great views, passing through pretty hamlets such as Portocomba or the gorgeous As Eiras. Then, a shady paved road leads you down to Laza, offering spectacular views over the valley and the surrounding mountains. We will arrange a transfer from Laza to your hotel.

We will arrange the short transfer from your hotel back to Laza. The first few kilometres after Laza run through the valley, passing through Soutelo Verde and past its old church. Then, it is a long climb up through low pines and heather, until you reach Albergueria and its incredible stone balconies. Then you will start a gentle walk down on the other side of the mountain (much flatter, greener, and more populated) before reaching Vila de Barrio, a village located on a large plain at the foot of the mountains. From here, you will be transferred to your hotel.

We will arrange the short transfer from your hotel back to Vila de Barrio. Today, we leave the mountains behind us and spend the day walking through the plain, which has more farmlands and modern villages than those seen up in the mountains. From Bobadela, the scenery alternates between oak woods and open landscapes before we arrive in Xunqueira de Ambia with its 12th Century monastery.

When leaving Xunqueira de Ambia, we also leave the quietness of the isolated mountains behind. Indeed, as we walk towards Ourense, we come across many hamlets that merge one into another and as the Camino mostly follows the main national road, we also walk through a few industrial areas before reaching the final destination of this section: Ourense.

After breakfast, we bid you farewell. If you want to explore the town, the San Rosendo Monastery, an old church and cloister from the 17th Century, is a must. The Ponte Vella Bridge that crosses the Miño River is also a nice place for calm reflection.