We have two guidebooks to help us find our way to Santiago (and a few apps!) – one advised us to to ride the bus from Mansilla to León and the other advised us to take a bus from León to La Virgen del Camino, just on the outskirts of León . We took both pieces of advice and as a consequence had a lovely day’s walk and feel refreshed and ready for the last few stages of our trip over two mountain ranges and then into Santiago!
We had another sleep in today knowing that we only had a 14km walk. We headed out from the hotel just after 9:30 and very quickly made the 7km to La Virgen. After rubbing the nose of San Froilán for good luck, we were back walking again after a 48hr break!
Lovely paths underfoot, a brilliant blue sky and much less monotonous scenery made it easy walking through the villages of Fresno del Camino (where we had a coffee but really only needed the toilets!) and Oncina de la Valdoncina. Slightly longer sections through to Chozas de Anahi and then our destination Villar de Mazarife.
The scenery was a distinct change from the meseta before León, with trees shrubs and the occasional paddock before returning to farmland just before Mazarife. The Picos de Europa are directly behind us now and the Montes de León are starting to appear in front of us. One more day on the meseta and then we’re back in the mountains!
The route video here includes the taxi ride out of León – without the ride it is 14km today and 458km so far.
steelewalking 