The Camino Sanabrés

The Camino Sanabrés turns left and due west from Granja. It follows farm tracks to reach the Puente Quintos (6.7km) over the Río Esla. 

Once over the bridge, the river splits into two distinct routes to get to Faramontanos de Tábara. The right route follows the road and is preferred when rains have been heavy. Follow the road to the first paved left turn to descend and rejoin the left route. The left route turns left at the end of the bridge to follow a more scenic trail along the river.

Once over the bridge, the river splits into two distinct routes to get to Faramontanos de Tábara. The right route follows the road and is preferred when rains have been heavy. Follow the road to the first paved left turn to descend and rejoin the left route. The left route turns left at the end of the bridge to follow a more scenic trail along the river.

The camino to Tábara crosses over the AVE railway development. From this point you can see Tábara in the distance, but note that the camino does not enter Tábara. If you plan on stopping here aim for the church towers. 

If you entered Tábara you have two options to return to the camino. You can return to the camino where you left it, or if you stayed at the Municipal albergue you can follow the alternate route from there.

The camino between here and Santa Croya offers two options, both of equal length. The original and more scenic route turns right and passes through Bercianos de Valverde, however with the shuttering of the bar there this route has fallen out of favor with pilgrims. It has been replaced with the left route, which heads directly towards Villanueva de las Peras.

Small village squabbles and arrows pointing in two directions. The easiest way to Santa Croya de Tera is via the road out of town.

The camino ahead turns westwards and follows closely the Río Tera as it runs between a string of villages. Shortly before Calzadilla de Tera the camino leaves the road to avoid a blind curve in the road.

The camino from Calzadilla follows along the canal, though a number of confusing arrows might lead you to the road which will also get you there.

From Olleros the camino follows a path to the dam on the east side of the Embalse de Agavanzal (4.3km). Once over it turns left to follow a path which follows the contours of the reservoir until it reaches Villar de Farfón.

The camino returns to a rural trail until it reaches the Río Negro, just short of reaching the N-525. It crosses the river on a small pedestrian bridge and then crosses under the N-525 to enter Rionegro.

The camino leaves Rionegro on the north of the N-525 and soon later it crosses over the A-52 to follow a rural track until reaching the gas station and restaurant at the start of Mombuey.

As the camino gets deeper into the region of Zamora, and soon into Galicia, the villages get closer together and smaller. Few offer any services. The camino follows near the N-525 for a short distance before turning south to cross the motorway and the AVE line. After crossing it passes through the small rural hamlets of Valdemerilla (4.6km), Cernadilla  (3.5km), San Salvador de Palazuelo (1.8km), and Entrepeñas (3.4km). It then turns back north to cross back over the AVE, the motorway, and the N-525 into Asturianos.

When the camino leaves Asturianos if picks up the N-525 but leaves it soon after to follow a paved road that turns to the right. DO NOT miss this turn, or the one just after which removes you from the road entirely. It is a country path all the way to Palacios de Sanabria.

Between Palacios de Sanabria and Puebla de Sanabria the camino follows more country paths and once again crosses the motorway and the AVE line. Along the way, it passes through the hamlets of Remesal (2.4km), Otero de Sanabria (2.8km), and Triufé (2.5km).

After Triufé it turns south again to cross the motorway and join the N-525. Follow the road to the first roundabout and turn left, descending gently into Puebla de Sanabria.

In Puebla, the albergue and some services are on the east side of the river.

If you stay at any of the accommodation options on the south side of the city be sure to retrace your steps to get back to the camino, it would be easy to confuse the southern road with the northern one.

The camino follows the road north out of town but soon picks up a trail (before you get as far as the N-525). The walk is scenic, and muddy after a rain. On several occasions, it joins the N-525 but never for very long so keep an eye open for the exit points. It reaches Terroso (9.7km) and then makes a large loop to the north before descending into Requejo de Sanabria.

It is uphill from here to the Portela de la Canda. From Requejo the camino follows a narrow country road adjacent to the river. This road soon ends at another and straight ahead is the OLD camino. DO NOT follow it, rather heed the detour signs telling you to turn right and up the road. It leads back to the N-525 which, unfortunately, you have to follow.

On two occasions the camino leaves the N-525 in search of a safer path, be certain to follow both. At the entrance to Padornelo you can either turn left to walk through the lower part of town or you can keep on the road (the camino returns to it).

The camino leaves Padornelo along the N-525 to a junction. Here there are signs indicating a detour (the old way turned to the right and went through Aciberos). Now the camino keeps on the road to pass over the A-52 and then a short distance later right back under it. It then turns left to follow a rural track up to Lubián.

The camino follows the secondary road out of Lubián, downhill from the main road. It turns right after a few twists in the road to follow the signs to the Santuario de La Tuiza. It descends to pass under the A-52 and pass by the Santuario. From here it climbs to the Portela de la Canda, the gateway to Galicia.

The camino emerges onto a paved road at the alto and almost immediately leaves it, turning left to descend along another track. It passes through the hamlet of A Canda (1.4km) and soon begins its descent into Vilavella, passing beneath a railway line along the way.

From here the camino begins its march through Galicia and there is no shortage of ups and downs. They mellow in altitude as you travel west, but increase in frequency.

The camino descends to O Pereiro (3.8km) and then climbs to O Cañizo (5.3km). It then joins the N-525 as it enters La Gudiña.

From the albergue, pass back under the railway bridge and head back towards the N-525 but turn right onto the Rúa Mayor before you get there. A few hundred meters ahead the camino splits, the route below is the Laza option (straight). 

The way to Campobecerros begins with a climb almost entirely along a quiet paved road with excellent views all around. It passes through Venda do Espiño (4.5km), Venda da Teresa (3.2km), Venda da Capela (2.3km), and Venda do Bolaño (3.2km) before descending steeply into Campobecerros.