Information
Start your adventure with an affordable mileage stage, with lots of ups and downs, and diverse terrain: from the urban ground of Malpica, passing through the dirt tracks of the Ermita de San Adrián, until you reach the typical fishermen’s paths, sometimes narrow and delimited by the towers of Niñóns Beach; in some stretches it is necessary to pay attention, and it is advisable to walk in single file. You will find beaches, cliffs, forests, small inhabited places and various creeks and springs, and of course, lighthouses. Take it easy, as the second half of the stage is a bit demanding.
We begin this stage at the port of the fishing village of Malpica de Bergantiños, capital of the city council (in Galician, concello) of the same name and of the region of Bergantiños, on the way to Niñóns Beach. A town of great fishing tradition, its port is famous for whale fishing.
From the harbour beacon we start our adventure. Leaving the Port we can find the first signs that will guide our steps, which will take us through the central streets of the city centre until we reach the Paseo Marítimo and the beaches of Area Maior and Canido. From there we can sense the path that will take us to the Hermitage of San Adrián passing by the Seaia Beach and the fountains of Navenllos and Los Romeros (be careful, the first one causes flu, the second one cures warts!).
Passing the hermitage we arrive at the Cape of San Hadrian, from where we admire the fabulous Sisargas Islands, with the lighthouse of the Sisarga Grande Island. We continue along fishermen’s paths, which we will find many along this Way, as well as along the first cliffs until we reach Beo Beach. We continue and Seiruga Beach awaits us which, as usual, will force us to take off our shoes and roll up our trousers to cross the small stream that flows into it: this is a lively and fun Way.
We continue towards Barizo, with a new beach, and here begins the hardest part of this stage.
A short climb takes us to a very short stretch of asphalt that leads to the Puerto de Barizo, and here we will (almost) climb, getting ready to reach the Mount Punta Nariga and the Punta Nariga Lighthouse, the most modern of the route (1998) and designed by the renowned architect César Portela with a lot of work on the “Costa da Morte”. Be sure to observe the environment, the rocks have very particular shapes and you can also find petroglyphs, those marks and incisions in the rock work of ancient inhabitants of the area.
We continue a little further to reach the end of the stage, Niñóns Beach, but before we get there there are a series of streams of very fresh water that fall into the sea. Once on the beach, once the stage is over, you have to take into account that this is a place that hardly has mobile coverage.
To be taken into account.
The Way of the Lighthouses is much more than you can imagine with the first kilometres you will find in this stage, and when you finish it you will realise what this fantastic route is all about. You will find some fountains with drinking water as well as streams. From Malpica, mobile coverage is sometimes conspicuous by its absence, in this case even at the end of the stage in Playa de Niñóns. There are some bar and restaurant services along the way, but they are usually closed in low season.
Places of interest.
- Viewpoint “Atalaia” of Malpica (near the route).
- Casa del Pescador de Malpica (on the route).
- Hermitage of San Adrián (on the route).
- Pazo and towers of Mens (outside the route, privately owned, not open to visitors).
- Petroglyphs of Punta Nariga (on the route).
- Beaches and lighthouses (on the route).
Gastronomy.
- Fish.
- Seafood.
- Galician broth.
- Tripe.
- Lamb.
Photos
