Is Skye's Cuillin Ridge on your bucket list? If so, you're in luck! Get 20% our guidebook to this iconic route and other scrambling guidebooks in our range - use code CUILLINRIDGE at checkout. Offer ends 30th April.

Walking La Via de la Plata and Camino Sanabres

The Camino de Santiago from Seville to Santiago de Compostela and Astorga

ISBN

9781786310804

Availability

Published

27 Sept 2023

Edition

First

Pages

320

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.80cm

Weight

370g

Delivery & Returns

Free 1st Class postage on UK orders. European postage is £3 per item. Worldwide postage is £5 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...

Guidebook to walking La Vía de la Plata and Camino Sanabrés, a pilgrim route through Spain. A 995km route between Seville and Santiago de Compostela or Astorga (where it links with the Camino Francés). Ourense variants are also provided.

Seasons

Walkable at any time of the year but ideally in Spring and Autumn, especially when leaving from Sevilla. Winters are mild in the south but can be harsh after Mérida.

Centres

Sevilla, Zafra, Mérida, Cáceres, Salamanca, Zamora, Benavente, La Bañeza, Astorga, Puebla de Sanabria, Ourense and Santiago de Compostela.

Difficulty

Suitable for all walkers. Prior Camino experience is helpful to walk at the very least 20km self-sufficiently in difficult weather conditions at any given time. Stages are graded from Easy to Very hard.

Must See

Five UNESCO World Heritage cities plus Zafra, Zamora, Astorga and Ourense. Innumerable national heritage sites and Roman ruins. Vast, empty landscapes: meadows, hills, farms, rivers, forests. Travel through four autonomous regions: Andalucía, Extremadura, Castilla y León and Galicia.

ISBN

9781786310804

Availability

Published

27 Sept 2023

Edition

First

Pages

320

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.80cm

Weight

370g

Overview

A guidebook to walking the Vía de la Plata and Camino Sanabrés between Seville and Santiago de Compostela. Covering 995km (619 miles), this pilgrimage route through Spain takes around 6 weeks to hike and is suitable for any reasonably fit walker.

The route is described from south to north in 43 stages, each between 11 and 35km (7–22 miles) in length. An extension to Astorga for those wishing to join the Camino Francés is detailed as well as alternative Ourense route options via Laza or Verin.

1:100,000 mapping plus larger-scale urban maps for key locations
GPX files available to download
Handy stage planning tables and pilgrim lodging listings help you plan your itinerary
Detailed information about refreshments and facilities along the route
Advice on planning and preparation

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map of the Spanish Caminos

Map key

Overview map

Overview profile

Route summary tables

Foreword

General introduction

A brief history of the Camino de Santiago

The Vía de la Plata and the Camino Sanabrés

Landscape, economy, cultures and languages

Planning your Camino: before and during

The pilgrim experience

Route and schedule options

Getting there and back

When to go

Planning your day to day on the Camino

Accommodation

Food

Budget planning

Preparation and training

What to pack

Baggage and storage services

Local facilities and practical information

Waymarking, shells and symbols

Safety and health

How to use this guide

GPX download

Section 1: Sevilla to Mérida

Stage 1 Sevilla to Guillena

Stage 2 Guillena to Castilblanco de los Arroyos

Stage 3 Castilblanco de los Arroyos to Almadén de la Plata

Stage 4 Almadén de la Plata to El Real de la Jara

Stage 5 El Real de la Jara to Monesterio

Stage 6 Monesterio to Calzadilla de los Barros

Stage 7 Calzadilla de los Barros to Zafra

Stage 8 Zafra to Villafranca de los Barros

Stage 9 Villafranca de los Barros to Torremejía

Stage 10 Torremejía to Mérida

Section 2: Mérida to Granja de Moreruela

Stage 11 Mérida to Aljucén

Stage 12 Aljucén to Alcuéscar

Stage 13 Alcuéscar to Valdesalor

Stage 14 Valdesalor to Casar de Cáceres

Stage 15 Casar de Cáceres to Cañaveral

Stage 16 Cañaveral to Galisteo

Stage 17 Galisteo to Carcaboso

Stage 18 Carcaboso to Hotels Asturias and Jarilla

Stage 19 Hotels Asturias and Jarilla to Puerto de Béjar (Colonia la Estación)

Stage 20 Puerto de Béjar (Colonia la Estación) to Fuenterroble de Salvatierra

Stage 21 Fuenterroble de Salvatierra to San Pedro de Rozados

Stage 22 San Pedro de Rozados to Salamanca

Stage 23 Salamanca to Calzada de Valdunciel

Stage 24 Calzada de Valdunciel to El Cubo de Tierra del Vino

Stage 25 El Cubo de Tierra del Vino to Zamora

Stage 26 Zamora to Montamarta

Stage 27 Montamarta to Granja de Moreruela

Section 3: Extension to Astorga

Extension Granja de Moreruela to Astorga and the Camino Francés

Section 4: Camino Sanabrés to Ourense

Stage 28 Granja de Moreruela to Tábara

Stage 29 Tábara to Santa Marta de Tera

Stage 30 Santa Marta de Tera to Rionegro del Puente

Stage 31 Rionegro del Puente to Asturianos

Stage 32 Asturianos to Requejo

Stage 33 Requejo to Lubián

Stage 34 Lubián to A Gudiña

A Gudiña to Ourense via Laza

Stage 35 A Gudiña to Laza

Stage 36 Laza to Alberguería

Stage 37 Alberguería to Xunqueira de Ambía

Stage 38 Xunqueira de Ambía to Ourense

A Gudiña to Ourense: variant via Verín

Stage 35A A Gudiña to Verín

Stage 36A Verín to Xinzo de Limia

Stage 37A Xinzo de Limia to Allariz

Stage 38A Allariz to Pereiras (connection with Stage 38 to Ourense)

Section 5: Ourense to Santiago de Compostela

Stage 39 Ourense to Oseira

Stage 40 Oseira to Botos (Estación de Lalín)

Stage 41 Botos (Estación de Lalín) to Dornelas

Stage 42 Dornelas to Deseiro (Sergude)

Stage 43 Deseiro (Sergude) to Santiago de Compostela

Appendix A Stage planning tables

Appendix B Spanish–English glossary of key terms

Appendix C Useful contacts and links

Appendix D Bibliography

Updates

April 2024

Clarification of the Vía Verde option on Stage 19 p132

The Vía Verde option (recommended) route should read: 'Go through the car park of Hotel Asturias, which is located directly across the N-630 from the hotel itself. At the far end of the car park take a path past two buildings and turn left onto the Vía Verde (disused railway track), which promptly goes under a road. Go under another road (3.8km) and pass the old Casas del Monte railway station. At a junction by a ruin (3.6km), etc...'

February 2024

From February 2024: Temporary diversion and alternative route before entering Zamora (Stage 25)

The local associations for pilgrims have added new arrows and covered existing waymarkers for pilgrims to enter Zamora due to ongoing works along the usual path. Pilgrims should now follow the new arrows and ignore the old ones for the next few months. Updates will be provided.

Please see the images where the current route is marked in yellow and in purple for ease.

p.166-167 of the guidebook temporarily read as follows:

“Turn left towards a roundabout (bar) but keep to the road on the right, passing the Iglesia de San Frontis. Turn left at the next roundabout onto Ctra. Carrascal, pass a playpark on the right. Reach another roundabout and go right to cross over the Río Duero river on the bridge known as the Puente de los Poetas (bridge of the poets).

Keep ahead across the roundabout with views of the old town of Zamora to the right, turn right along a narrower lane and right at the next junction. Keep right passing a park and reaching the riverside.

Continue all the way to the Puente de Piedra stone bridge to follow signs for the albergue and tourist office. Pass by the Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes then the Iglesia de Santa María, behind which turn left. Keep left uphill then turn right up Cuesta San Cipriano to the albergue.”

1080 Temporary alternative route into Zamora

February 2024

Stage 1 Route change between Santiponce and Guillena as of February 2024

Due to persistent flooding in winter along the dirt tracks between Santiponce and Guillena on Stage 1, the pilgrim Association of Sevilla has painted new yellow arrows to mark a new and recommended route that avoids flooding by making use of bridges across the stream called Arroyo de los Molinos and other streams. The waymarking bollard has not yet been moved but should now be disregarded by pilgrims, and the yellow arrows followed instead.

The new updated GPX files for this stage are now also available to download.

Note: this very same stream can often be dried up at other times of the year.

Please consider these 5 important points therefore:

Changes affect pp52-53 route descriptions after the Roman ruins of Itálica. The new description reads as follows:

Keep to the same road towards the highway, cross over the roundabout and go under the A-66 (1.7km). Turn left on a wide dirt track and left again onto another wide track. Almost immediately ignore the waymarking bollard (old route) that keeps straight and instead fork right onto a track following yellow arrows.

Keep straight along the same track ignoring any tracks from the left and right and passing buildings before taking the bridge over the Arroyo de los Molinos (3.6km). Having passed a ruined building, at the next fork (2.3km) take the righthand track. Use a ford/bridge, then another and a third to then head left onto a wider dirt track and reach a bend with a narrower track on the right (2.0km) and two options to arrive in Guillena.

Direct route to the albergue (unwaymarked then waymarked): Keeping to the wider track by turning left leads to a cattery and kennels (0.7km) where yellow arrows from the old route are still present. Take the next track on the right, alongside the road. The path steps down onto the road into Guillena and reaches the albergue on the left.

New waymarked route: Use the narrower track by forking right and again keep straight after the next fork on narrower route over the Arroyo Galapagar (0.8km). Keep straight as the track turns into a road in Guillena to pass the cemetery (0.6km) and at the fork, now in town, keep left to take cl. Sevilla on the left. After 400m reach cl. Garcia Lorca with the albergue on the other side of the road slightly to the left.

Changes affect p47 and the Stage Information box

Start Sevilla Cathedral

Finish Guillena

Distance 22.2km

Total ascent 171m

Total descent 164m

Difficulty Easy

Duration 5½hr

Percentage paved 37%

Albergues Santiponce 9.3km; Guillena 22.2km

The distance from Santiponce to Guillena is now 12.9km.

The municipality box on p.53 which now reads: 12.9km GUILLENA

Page 1 Route summary table

Please now instead consider the Stage Information given above for Stage number 1.

Appendix A on p300

Note that the distance from the previous place for Guillena is now 12.9km, the itineraries on this stage are now 400m longer. Finally, the overall distance of the Vía de la Plata to Santiago de Compostela is 400m longer!

February 2024

Albergue de Peregrinos de Fontanillas de Castro (Stage 27)

We bid farewell to beautiful Diva, the Afghan hound, who passed away this week and who helped host pilgrims. Angela and Paco miss her very much but are, as ever, looking after pilgrims in the most caring way.

February 2024

Accommodation update

Availability dates at the albergue municipal in Castilblanco de los Arroyos

As of February 2024, the albergue municipal in Castilblanco de los Arroyos (Stage 2) has changed its opening/closing schedule.

p56 - Stage 2 in Castilblanco de los Arroyos (at stage end)

Albergue de peregrinos de Castilblanco de los Arroyos [Dorm rooms] [Kitchen] [Storage for bikes] 2/30, €Donation, Av. Antonio Machado s/n, tel 955 734 811, email oficinaturismocastilblanco@gmail.com. Closed 1 December to 31 January and 1July to 31 August.

February 2024

New albergue municipal in El Real de la Jara

As of January 2024, a new albergue municipal in El Real de la Jara has opened and can be considered for accommodation.

p65 - Stage 4, in El Real de la Jara (at stage end)

Albergue Municipal La Casa del Cura [Open all year] [Dorm rooms][Reservations possible] [Kitchen] [Washing and drying machine] [Storage for bikes] [Wheelchair access] 4/18, €15-18, cl. Real, 39, tel 633 248 505, email alberguerealjara@gmail.com, cost of stay €15 on presentation of the credencial

p64 – last paragraph should now read:

'other accommodation options, including a brand new albergue municipal, host pilgrims in the town centre'

January 2024

Accommodation update

Accommodation closure from January 2024:
Very sadly, as of January 2024, the La Almazara albergue on Stage 8 has had to close due to a lack of funds from the Extremadura council.

This affects the following pages:
p46: in the Planning section, please disregard point 3.

p78: in the green route overview box, I would still suggest the recommended route passing by the building of the La Almazara albergue as it is pleasant and a safer crossing over the N-630.

P79-81: on the map and in the route description, please do not consider La Almazara as an option for drinking water, food or lodging. It has closed entirely. Therefore, the distance from Los Santos de Maimona to Villafranca de los Barros is 16.4km with nowhere to stock up in between.

Note: as stated in the book, the albergue in Villafranca de los Barros closes at short notice at unpredictable times of the year. You may wish to secure accommodation at the hotel Hostal Rural Casa Perín indicated on p.81 of the guidebook.

September 2023

Luggage storage

Ivar Revke, who stores luggage for pilgrims in Santiago de Compostela, has changed his address to

Casa IvarATT:

[Your name goes here]

Rúa Nova 7

15705

Santiago de Compostela

España

Therefore, p.37 in the guidebook should now read:

'Casa IvarATT: [Your name goes here] Rúa Nova 7 15705 Santiago de Compostela España'

Note: for full details of services, it is worthwhile reading his webpage:

https://casaivar.com/luggage-s...

September 2023

Stage 2 albergue and price increases

As of September 2023, a new albergue has opened and can be considered for accommodation:

p.56 - Stage 2, in Castilblanco de los Arroyos (at stage end)

[Private albergue] Albergue La Posada de Escardiel [Open all year] [Dorm rooms] [Reservations possible] [Kitchen] [Breakfast] [Washing and drying machine] [Storage for bikes] 2/7, €15, cl. Pilar Nuevo, 15s/n, tel 641 024 128, email laposadadeescardiel@gmail.com, sells the credencial €2, price includes breakfast

Update as of 18 September 2023:

The new set price for albergues municipales in the Galicia region is €10 (it was previously €8).

P.31 of the guidebook in the Accommodation section under the sub-heading “Albergues” should read “In Galicia, albergues municipales ... and cost €10 euros”

This now affects the following albergues listed in the guidebook:

p.232 Albergue de peregrinos de A Gudiña

p.237 Albergue de peregrinos de Laza

p.242 Albergue de peregrinos de Vilar de Barrio

p.244 Albergue de peregrinos de Xunqueira de Ambía

p.249 Albergue municipal de peregrinos de Ourense Eligio Rivas Quintas

p.255 Albergue de peregrinos de Verín

p.259 Albergue de peregrinos de Viladerrei

p.261 Albergue de peregrinos de Xinzo de Limia

p.263 Albergue de peregrinos de Sandiás

p.276 Albergue de peregrinos de Cea

p.278 Albergue de peregrinos del Monasterio de Oseira

p.284 Albergue de peregrinos de A Laxe (Bendoiro)

p.287 Albergue de peregrinos de Bandeira

p.292 Albergue de peregrinos de Outeiro

Reviews

We do not yet have any reviews for this book

If you would like to send us a review then please use our contact form. They will be published here shortly.

Downloads

Walking La Via de la Plata and Camino Sanabres - GPX File

By Nicole Bukaty

Nicole Bukaty is a secondary school French and Spanish teacher in Crieff, Scotland. Originally from Kraków, Poland, she grew up in London and France and has lived in Colombia, Spain and Russia. She has a BA Joint Honours degree in Philosophy and Hispanic Studies and an MA in Philosophy, both from King's College, London. On weekends she's usually up the Scottish hills or writing away in the local library. She obsessively uses up her holidays to walk, totalling just over 7000km on long-distance paths so far, predominantly pilgrimages. She has even completed the 450km route from her mother's house in Ilawa, Poland to the Polish monastery of Jasna Góra in Czestochowa. She is the author of the Vía de la Plata and Camino Sanabrés guidebook for Cicerone. Currently, co-authoring with Sandy Brown, she is immersed in writing the Via Francigena in the South of Italy guidebook also for Cicerone.

View author profile