FROM RIBADEO TO SANTIAGO (190 Km)

Ribadeo – Lourenzá

 Medium 7h28,4 Km

In this first stage of the Northern Way, you will leave Ribadeo leaving behind the sea and the coastal landscape to enter the Lugo mountain. The Way crosses a grove and enters the Council of Barreiros, from the top you will see a land abundant in pastures and cattle, a small valley furrowed by the river Porto Bragán that you must cross to arrive at the top of Villamartín Grande, where you will have a good panoramic view of the Valley of Cabarcos. From O Corveiro the path is well signposted to Ponte da Pedra, a bridge of medieval origin that will welcome you to Lourenzá, your final destination and a village renowned for its rich “fabas” (beans).

Lourenzá – Abadín

 Medium 6h25 Km

You will start the stage from Lourenzá in ascent to the parish of Arroxo, where it connects with the national road. At the end of the valley, Mondoñedo appears, a town that has a fabulous monumental set that reveals its past as one of the seven capitals of the old Kingdom of Galicia. You will be impressed by the cathedral of Santa María, of gothic style and in which its great rose window in the main facade stands out. You will continue your journey on a local road with little traffic until you reach Abadín, where you will have all the services to rest and recover from the walk.

Abadín – Villalba

Medium 5h23 Km

Today’s journey alternates between dirt and asphalt paths, crossing the parishes of Ponterroxal, O Rei and Candia, until you reach the village of Martiñán, where there is a beautiful bridge over which the path passes and which you will reach halfway through the stage. Villalba is considered the capital of the Terra Chá, a region whose main source of income is livestock, thanks to its vast green pastures. In this town you can visit the Tower of Andrade, today are the remains of a feudal castle that serves as a parador.

Although this area does not have a great architectural wealth, it offers the walker a great number of bars, inns and grills where you can enjoy a good steak of excellent beef.

Villalba – Baamonde

 Low 5h18,6 Km

Leaving the Andrade Tower behind, the North Road runs along Concepción Arenal Street until it leaves the town by crossing the Magdalena River next to a restored mill. The medieval bridge of Rodríguez crosses the Trimaz River to Xoán de Alba. The stage combines asphalted tracks with dirt tracks near the national highway and the highway. After reaching your goal, Baamonde, you will have at your disposal all the services and you will be able to visit the church of Santiago and the museum house of the local sculptor Victor Corral.

Baamonte – Sobrado dos Monxes

 Alta 8h35,4 Km

At this stage you will walk mainly through the Galician mountains, with good views, through native forests, villages and small streams until you reach the parish of Miraz, from where a gentle climb to the Alto de Mámoa awaits you. In Sobrado dos Monxes is famous its Monastery of Santa Maria, inhabited by Benedictine monks and that today also hosts the hostel for pilgrims. Declared a Historic-Artistic Monument, it is one of the most important convents of medieval origin in the province.

Sobrado dos Monxes – Arzúa

 Low 4h 30′21,4 Km

Last stage of the North Way, since once in Arzúa you will link up with the French Way. The stage runs along the regional road and asphalted tracks, leaving small villages like Froxa and Madelos on either side, and then going into the mountains, always entering and leaving the main road. Once you have arrived in Boimorto, which has all the services, you can take advantage of the opportunity to rest. You continue the march taking the road again until the parish of Santa Maria, and reaching the end of your stage. Arzúa is a pilgrimage town with a strong Jacobean tradition, famous for its rich cheeses with denomination of origin that you cannot miss .

One more! Find out more about Arzúa in this post!

Arzúa – Pedrouzo

 Low 4h 30′19,2 Km

Today you are lucky, your feet will hardly suffer as you will find a short and less complex stage than the previous ones. You will walk on flat and comfortable ground, finding an abundance of bars, stores and places to rest. Santiago is getting closer and closer and the pilgrimage ritual of this stage is to go to bed early in order to get up early and enjoy the day in Santiago de Compostela.

Almost there! Find out more about O Pedrouzo in this post!

Pedrouzo – Santiago de Compostela

 Low 5h19 Km

As it is a relatively short stage and without difficulty, we recommend getting up a little earlier to arrive early for the pilgrim’s mass and take advantage of the day in Santiago de Compostela. When you arrive at Monte do Gozo, you will discover the reason for the name of this place: the tickling, that pleasant sensation that will invade you when you see the towers of the cathedral from afar, closer and closer.

As you descend the city, the blisters and the tiredness will disappear until they disappear completely in the most magical moment of the whole Way: the entrance to the Obradoiro Square.

We’re here! Find out more about Santiago de Compostela in this post!

Santiago de Compostela

This is a day of farewells for many, the end of a journey, and why not, the beginning of many. The last day will dawn with one more road in your lives, but not a road of miles, but of experiences, emotions and new friendships, a journey that will be projected in your lives and will help you to continue walking free towards your own goals.

You have managed to finish the Northern Way that you started ten days ago in Ribadeo.

**After leaving the accommodation our services will be over.

You did it! Congratulations pilgrims!