2.Puente Almuhey to Congosto

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Day 11: Puente Almuhey – Cistierna (02.10.)

Another beautiful section that ended up being harder than expected. The first part was very pleasant, then followed by a somewhat demanding climb.

toward Cistierna
toward Cistierna
toward Cistierna
toward Cistierna – Virgen de la Velilla
toward Cistierna

What was most difficult was the long and tiring descent.

toward Cistierna
toward Cistierna

In Cistierna, overnight stay at the Albergue Cistierna.

Cistierna – Albergue Cistierna

Day 12: Cistierna – Boñar (03.10.)

It was a bit cloudy day.

toward Boñar
toward Boñar

The biggest highlight was encountering the old stone signpost of the Camino. It’s located near the church of Santa Marina, after the village of Acisa de las Arrimadas.

toward Boñar – Santa Marina: old Camino signpost
toward Boñar – Santa Marina

It was difficult to find accommodation in Boñar, but in the end we settled in Hostal Nisi.

Boñar – Hostal Nisi

Day 13: Boñar – Vegacervera (04.10.)

Breakfast at the local bar El Negrillón. Enjoying tasteful churros!

Boñar – El Negrillón: churros

Perhaps the most beautiful section of this Camino! Not an easy climb on a fairly narrow and difficult path,

toward Vegacervera
toward Vegacervera

but at the end of it a beautiful reward in the form of a plateau.

toward Vegacervera
toward Vegacervera
toward Vegacervera
toward Vegacervera

Then follows a hiking stone path with quite a bit of climbing.

toward Vegacervera
toward Vegacervera
toward Vegacervera
toward Vegacervera
toward Vegacervera

After crossing the ridge, there is a descent and then on the road to Vegacervera.

toward Vegacervera
toward Vegacervera

Accommodation at Camping las Hoces de Vegacervera.

Vegacervera – Bar Camping Las Hoces
Vegacervera – Camping

Day 14: Vegacervera – La Pola de Gordón (05.10.)

We set off early since we had a lot of time today,

but in the very first village we were stopped by Nano “El Feo”. He welcomed us as pilgrims with a rich offer of salami, prosciutto, cheeses and wine. One of the angels of the Camino!

toward La Pola de Gordón – Nano “El Feo” Cubano
toward La Pola de Gordón – Nano “El Feo” Cubano
toward La Pola de Gordón – Nano “El Feo” Cubano
toward La Pola de Gordón – Buen Camino from Nano “El Feo” Cubano!

After a not too demanding climb, there was a terrible descent on the rocks. Pure mountain hiking!

toward La Pola de Gordón
toward La Pola de Gordón
toward La Pola de Gordón
toward La Pola de Gordón
toward La Pola de Gordón

Then straight to Ciñera and finally to La Pola de Gordon. Accommodation at Hostal Fontañán.

toward La Pola de Gordón – Ciñera
toward La Pola de Gordón
La Pola de Gordón – Hostal Fontañán

For dinner we went to Meson de Miguel, where we had eaten almost a year ago, when we were on the Camino San Salvador, which intersects with the Camino Olvidado in this part.

Day 15: La Pola de Gordón – La Magdalena (06.10.)

A beautiful morning walk, first to Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso.

toward La Magdalena – Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso

A short rest in La Robla then westbound toward La Magdalena.

toward La Magdalena
toward La Magdalena -mural
toward La Magdalena
toward La Magdalena
toward La Magdalena

Overnight stay at Hotel Restaurante Santa Lucía, two kilometers before La Magdalena. A strong and affordable protein meal at a very reasonable price.

La Magdalena – Hotel Restaurante Santa Lucía
La Magdalena – Hotel Restaurante Santa Lucía

Day 16: La Magdalena – La Omañuela (07.10.)

The sunny and beautiful weather continues. Unfortunately, what is now typical for the Camino Olvidado, we pass for hours and hours, through many villages, without finding a single bar, not a single shop where we could get supplies and refreshments!

toward La Omañuela
toward La Omañuela
toward La Omañuela
toward La Omañuela
toward La Omañuela
toward La Omañuela

Only in the town of Riello do we find a restaurant, bar and a small shop, but they warn us that for the next section and a half we will not find anything again.

toward La Omañuela – Riello: El Rincón De Manolo
toward La Omañuela

We stock up and finally reach the lovely La Omañuela. The beautiful Casa rural Omañuela in an abandoned village right next to the stream.

La Omañuela
La Omañuela
La Omañuela

Day 17: La Omañuela – Fasgar (08.10.)

A long and almost boring walk through a dozen villages, all of which at first glance look deserted.

toward Fasgar
toward Fasgar
toward Fasgar

Until today’s destination of Fasgar, we did not come across a single open bar or shop! In Fasgar itself, there are dozens of houses, and officially only six people live there.

toward Fasgar

A hostel with about ten beds has been set up in a former school, run by a hardworking hospitalier. We tried to get a good rest because we had a very tough and challenging section ahead of us tomorrow.

Fasgar – Albergue la escuela Fasgar

Day 18: Fasgar – Igüeña (09.10.)

Leaving Fasgar…

Fasgar – Albergue la escuela Fasgar
toward Igüeña – leaving Fasgar
toward Igüeña – leaving Fasgar

Just a month ago, all the surrounding hills were burning in terrible fires, the flames of which reached Fasgar itself. This morning we first climb to the pass and see burnt areas all around us. Regardless, it is a beautiful morning and the first rays of the sun reached us right at the end of the climb.

toward Igüeña – Fuente
toward Igüeña – dawn
toward Igüeña – Campo de Santiago
toward Igüeña – Campo de Santiago
toward Igüeña
toward Igüeña

What followed was a long descent along a rather difficult and narrow rocky path. There was no phone signal for almost the entire way.

toward Igüeña
toward Igüeña
toward Igüeña
toward Igüeña
toward Igüeña
toward Igüeña – Colinas del Campo de Martín Moro Toledano
toward Igüeña – Fuente

Finally, we arrived in the beautiful town of Igüeña.

Igüeña – Albergue del Catoute
Igüeña – Cafetería Sabugo

Day 19: Igüeña – Noceda del Bierzo (10.10.)

After a few very tiring days, we decided to end today’s section in Noceda del Bierzo. The first ten kilometers we walked with flashlights, still in the dark and semi-darkness, again to avoid the midday heat.

toward Noceda del Bierzo
toward Noceda del Bierzo – Cabanillas de San Justo
toward Noceda del Bierzo

In San Justo de Cabanillas, a nice lady welcomed us, refreshed us with water, grapes and information about the history of their church.

toward Noceda del Bierzo – San Justo de Cabanillas
toward Noceda del Bierzo – San Justo de Cabanillas
toward Noceda del Bierzo – San Justo de Cabanillas

We had now entered the area of chestnut forests. In Noceda our today’s lodging will be in the local albergue.

toward Noceda del Bierzo
toward Noceda del Bierzo

A long village, needed to walk more than six kilometers to the pharmacy and back. In the other hand, this willage has an excellent restaurant where we finally had a good meal.

Noceda del Bierzo – Albergue de Noceda del Bierzo
Noceda del Bierzo
Noceda del Bierzo
Noceda del Bierzo
Noceda del Bierzo
Noceda del Bierzo – Hotel Restaurante El Verdenal

Day 20: Noceda del Bierzo – Congosto (11.10.)

Another beautiful day for walking, however again we didn’t come across a single bar or shop on this stretch, until the last village of Cobrana, before today’s finish in Congosto.

toward Congosto
toward Congosto
toward Congosto – first wineyards
toward Congosto
toward Congosto
toward Congosto
toward Congosto

The craziest accommodation awaited us there: a miniature facility, the size of a garage, at the entrance to the cemetery!? Could it be a former morgue?

Congosto – Albergue Municipal
Congosto – Albergue Municipal

There is also a restaurant and a bar in the village, so there was no shortage of refreshments today.

Congosto
Congosto
Congosto: mural
Next: 3.Congosto to Santiago de Campostela