From Ourense to Cea - Viajes Camino de Santiago

Information

Short stage in which we can choose how to get to Cea, since at the exit of Ourense we will be presented with two options: By Tamallancos or by Canedo. Both options are similar, with several steep slopes and the constant presence of asphalt. Already in our end of stage, Cea, we will enjoy a good plate of homemade food washed down with its famous bread.

We leave Ourense from the Plaza Mayor in the direction of San Lázaro Park. From here we take the Concello street to the Concepción Arenal square and we arrive at the bridge over the Miño river.

From A Ponte Vella there are two alternatives to continue to Cea and both routes are well signposted, have similar slopes and run through the green landscapes of the province of Ourense. The Camino through Tamallancos is 1.1 km longer. However, we recommend taking the official route through Tamallancos and avoid the Costiña de Canedo, a monotonous climb on a narrow road with a lot of traffic.

Option A) Official route through Tamallancos

At the fork we continue to the left and go into the Avenida de Santiago until we reach a petrol station, where we turn right again(Camiño Real Cudeiro Norte). We cross the national road and start a steep climb. In the next 3.5 km we will gain 270 m of altitude.

We arrive at Cudeiro and continue climbing steeply. At times the path becomes paved and, if we look back, we will have a spectacular view of the city of Ourense. We pass the hermitage of San Marcos and come out onto an asphalted track that takes us to a road.

We follow the signs and pass through the village of Outeiros da Forca until we reach Tamallancos, with more than half of the stage completed. We can stop and have a drink in one of its bars and visit the Romanesque church of Santa Maria.

We continue on tracks to Bouza. We pass by some houses in ruins and take the track that leads us to Sobreira. We border the village and arrive at Ponte Sobreira, a beautiful medieval bridge over the river Barbantiño.

We arrive at Faramontaos, where there is a bar 500 m from the road, at the foot of the national road. We have 5 km of asphalted tracks ahead of us with some unevenness. We leave Faramontaos leaving the national road by a path on the right. We arrive at Casasnovas and after 2 km more of walking through the lands of Ourense, we arrive at our destination, San Cristovo de Cea.

Option B) Variant through Canedo

At the fork we take the Caldas Avenue. We follow the national road for just over 2 km until we reach the Restaurant O Fogón, where we turn left onto a street that goes up between industrial buildings.

We cross the railway tracks and start to climb the famous Costiña de Canedo. The asphalt road is monotonous and we must pay close attention to the traffic, which moves at high speed. After a few kilometres we arrive at Castro de Beiro, where we cross the road to continue straight on along a dirt track and reach the road again.

We follow the road until we leave it on the right near Reguengo, where we find the bar La Parada del Peregrino, an ideal place to take a break.

We continue straight ahead to cross the road again and turn right along a wooded path, until we reach the Mandrás Bridge, a beautiful medieval bridge with an arch over the Barbantiño River. We cross the bridge and pass through the village of Mandrás, where we find another bar. We continue straight on and after coming out onto a road we turn right to reach Casasnovas.

We leave Casasnovas along a track that goes into the forest, cross the road by an underpass and enter Cea.

To consider

The bifurcation of the two paths is perfectly signposted, with a stone in the middle of a crossroads. You will find it 250 m after crossing the Ponte Vella.