Routes
Walking
WALK THROUGH THE GOLD MINES: LAS MÉDULAS
Distance: Approx. 9 Km – From the village Médulas.
Difficulty: Medium-Easy.
Elevation gain: 360 m.
Itinerary: Médulas -Mirador de Las Pedrices- -Recreational área of Campo de Braña- Canal de Peña Escribida-Mirador de Orellán (viewpoint)-Fuente de la Tía Viviana (fountain)- La Cuevona (cave)-La Encantada- Médulas.
Difficulty: Medium-Easy.
Elevation gain: 360 m.
Itinerary: Médulas -Mirador de Las Pedrices- -Recreational área of Campo de Braña- Canal de Peña Escribida-Mirador de Orellán (viewpoint)-Fuente de la Tía Viviana (fountain)- La Cuevona (cave)-La Encantada- Médulas.
THE SILENCE PATH
Distance: 4 Km – Circular from Peñalba (one of the most beautiful villages in Spain).
Difficulty: Medium-Easy.
Elevation gain: 360 m.
Itinerary: Peñalba de Santiago – Cave of Saint Genadio - Peñalba. A written wish should be left in the cave, provided it is good, since the wishes have a boomerang effect. Once a year, the inhabitants of the village collect them and burn them as a purifying act. Legend has it that Saint Genadio, a hermit monk, was so annoyed by the sound of the waters of an old stream during his meditation that one day he shouted for silence, a silence that today gives its name to the valley.
Difficulty: Medium-Easy.
Elevation gain: 360 m.
Itinerary: Peñalba de Santiago – Cave of Saint Genadio - Peñalba. A written wish should be left in the cave, provided it is good, since the wishes have a boomerang effect. Once a year, the inhabitants of the village collect them and burn them as a purifying act. Legend has it that Saint Genadio, a hermit monk, was so annoyed by the sound of the waters of an old stream during his meditation that one day he shouted for silence, a silence that today gives its name to the valley.
By Bicycle
THE STRENGHT OF WATER- FORGE COMPLUDO
Distance: 40 Km – Circular.
Difficulty: Hard.
Itinerary: Ponferrada- Molinaseca – Riego de Ambros-El Acebo (so far we are doing the Way of Saint James upside down)– Carracedo de Compludo (Forge of Compludo, a fantastic example of a traditional medieval industry, still in operation) – Espinoso de Compludo – Los Barrios-Ponferrada.
Difficulty: Hard.
Itinerary: Ponferrada- Molinaseca – Riego de Ambros-El Acebo (so far we are doing the Way of Saint James upside down)– Carracedo de Compludo (Forge of Compludo, a fantastic example of a traditional medieval industry, still in operation) – Espinoso de Compludo – Los Barrios-Ponferrada.
WAY OF SAINT JAMES THROUGH EL BIERZO (French way)
Distance: 20 Km.
Difficulty: Medium-Easy.
Itinerary: Ponferrada – Columbrianos – Fuentesnuevas – Camponaraya – Cacabelos – Pieros – and Villafranca, where we can find the Church of Santiago and its famous Door to Forgiveness (Puerta del Perdón), the only place in the Way of Saint James where it is possible to earn the Jubilee indulgence before arriving to Santiago.
Difficulty: Medium-Easy.
Itinerary: Ponferrada – Columbrianos – Fuentesnuevas – Camponaraya – Cacabelos – Pieros – and Villafranca, where we can find the Church of Santiago and its famous Door to Forgiveness (Puerta del Perdón), the only place in the Way of Saint James where it is possible to earn the Jubilee indulgence before arriving to Santiago.
WAY OF SAINT JAMES THROUGH EL BIERZO (Winter way)
Distance: 35 Km
Difficulty: Medium-Hard
Itinerary: Ponferrada – Toral de Merayo – Priaranza del Bierzo – Santalla – Castle of Cornatel – Villavieja – Medulas – Puente de Domingo Flórez
Difficulty: Medium-Hard
Itinerary: Ponferrada – Toral de Merayo – Priaranza del Bierzo – Santalla – Castle of Cornatel – Villavieja – Medulas – Puente de Domingo Flórez
By car
BIOSPHERE RESERVE OF THE ANCARES MOUNTAIN RANGE IN LEÓN
Distance: A 172-km route where we will discover impressive valleys, full of lush vegetation and wild fauna (bears, capercaillies, wolves, roe deer and Iberian ibex).
Itinerary: Vega de Valcarcel – Vega de Espinareda-Candín-Balouta (pallozas)-Balboa-Villafranca.
Itinerary: Vega de Valcarcel – Vega de Espinareda-Candín-Balouta (pallozas)-Balboa-Villafranca.
