From Pontedeume to Betanzos

This day, in general, is comfortable and pleasant. The main difficulty lies in the great slope that you will find at the exit of Pontedeume, after which, the sea will accompany you for almost the entire route to Betanzos, giving you beautiful panoramic views and pleasant beaches where you can take a dip.

The end of this stage is a historic village, where you can relax walking through the most interesting medieval old town in Galicia and tasting its famous potato omelette.

We bid farewell to Pontedeume by ascending Rúa Real and, upon reaching Plaza de San Roque, we turn left towards Betanzos. During the first 2 km, we face a very steep incline that in some places reaches 25%, so we recommend pacing ourselves. We ascend through cobbled streets until we take a detour to the right that becomes asphalt, leaving the urban area for a flat stretch with beautiful views.

We continue the route following the official signs until we find a dirt path on the left. After crossing the road and passing three bridges, we skirt around the Club de Golf Miño and cross a passage over the highway. The trail then enters a eucalyptus forest with a steep slope that leads us to the village of Outeiro, from where we continuously descend towards Ponte Baxoi.

Through a comfortable path parallel to the road, we pass under the highway viaduct and cross the Baxoi marshes to enter the town of Miño. Following the signs near the Tourist Office, we traverse the town enjoying the landscape of the estuary, its beaches, and the mouth of the Lambre River before crossing a footbridge over the railway.

The route continues alongside the beach of Alameda and crosses the river via Ponte do Porco. A ramp leads us to the village of Montecelo and to the Romanesque church of San Pantaleón das Viñas. After passing through Porto de Abaixo —where the last bar before Betanzos is located— we re-enter the forest to tackle the "Costa de Matacabalos," a slope with a 100-meter elevation gain in just 1.6 km.

Finally, we cross the villages of Chantada, Souto, Gas, and San Paio until we reach the church of San Martiño de Tiobre (12th century). The final descent along an asphalted track leads us to the municipal cemetery and the church of Nosa Señora do Camiño, entering the historic center of Betanzos via the Ponte Vella over the Mandeo River.

Things to consider

The departure from Pontedeume is the most demanding section of the stage; those two kilometers of initial ascent require calm to avoid arriving exhausted at the destination. Although there are services along the way, there are long stretches without provisions, so it is essential to carry enough water.

If the weather is favorable, do not forget your swimsuit to enjoy a refreshing dip at the beaches of Miño before continuing towards the city of knights.

Places of interest

• Playa Grande – Miño
• Church of San Martín de Tiobre – Tiobre
• Church of Santiago – Betanzos
• Church of Santa María del Azogue – Betanzos
• Church of San Francisco – Betanzos

Typical dishes

• The famous tortilla from Betanzos (lightly cooked)
• Octopus, seafood, and fish from the estuary
• Repollo from Betanzos
• Viño da Terra from Betanzos