Bike Tour: Camino Primitivo on Mountain Bike - 8 days

Independent arrival in Oviedo. If you have some time, we recommend visiting the old town and the Gothic Cathedral, the starting point for pilgrims to Santiago. You can stroll through the lively atmosphere in this historical city centre, with plenty of cafés, restaurants and cider houses. 

Challenge: Arrival in Asturias

We start our pilgrimage following the Jacobean copper shells through narrow lanes in the city centre, then out into the green Asturian countryside. Tarmac lanes, old footpathsand country roads take us past quiet villages and through hilly countryside. We go past Cornellana Monastery. Founded in 1024, this centre was of great religious and political importance throughout the early history of the Christian kingdom in Asturias. After this stop to rest, the last part of the route will follow a few detours, as the motorway is still under construction here. Your Hotel*** in Salas is located in the historical town centre.

You have the option to do this route both on a Mountain Bike and on a Hybrid Bike. Below, we show you the route options.

Challenge:

OPTION 1: MTB 48km, 1459m ascent, 50m descent

OPTION 2: HB 48km, 1400m ascent, 670m descent

Today´s cycling stage begins going southwards (via La Espina) in a continuous ascent towards Tineo, a historical town of great importance on the Camino. Then the stage flattens out and you continue towards the Romanesque church and Monastery of Obona. These partially demolished buildings formed part of an important cultural and intellectual centre for centuries. From here you will pass through a succession of small churches and chapels until you reach the top of Collado de Lavadoiro (812m), before descending to Pola de Allande, a pretty town with a distinctly Asturian touch. The final section through the old pilgrim hospitals once located along the entire ridge until reaching the Puerto del Palo is hard because it involves 600m more of ascent. This section can be avoided by following the ''Low route Pola de Allande'' or the simplest option by road ''Alternative main road Pola de Allande''.

Challenge:

OPTION 1: MTB 58 km, 2195m ascent, 1908m descent

OPTION 2: HB 39 km, 770m ascent

Today is though day, since you will have to climb about 650m, in the first 12km, from Pola de Allande to Puerto el Palo. This pass, at an altitude of 1146m, is dividing line between the green and wooded areas of Allande and the arid slopes of the south face. Of course, you can always walk your bike in the hardest parts...and enjoy the landscape! From el Palo, you will literally "fly" down the mountain, through Grandas de Salime, a pleasant village with a Romanesque church and interesting ethnograpich museum. It´s also the last larger town in Asturias on your way into Galicia. Today´s another important ascent is between Grandas and the pass at Alto del Acebo (1030m). Once you´ve crossed over into Galicia, you leave the steep ascents and mountainous areas behind, moving into a gentler rural landscape, dotted with picturesque hamlets. However your destination for today - A Fonsagrada - is conveniently located on a hilltop wich makes for a steep ascent at the end.

If you decide to finish the route in Grandas de Salime, you can hire a transfer from there to Fonsagrada, this would be an extra transfer that you would have to request when booking the trip.

Challenge:

 OPTION 1: Pola de Allande - Fonsagrada MTB   67km, 3004m ascent, 2586m descent

OPTION 2: Pola de Allande - Grandas de Salime HB   39km, 1423m ascent

OPTION 3: Pola de Allande - Fonsagrada HB   32km, 1282m ascent

A relatively long tour today, with lots of prolonged downhill sections and some short ascents. The easy riding allows you to truly enjoy the Galician countryside, with exquisite traditional architecture such as the 'Pazos' and 'Casas Grandes', well-preserved country homes on large estates, all impressive buildings in stone and wood. At the end of the day, you reach Lugo, where the town centre was declared a National Historical Monument in 1973, mostly due to the impressive 3rd century walls wich merit a place on UNESCO´s Cultural Heritage List. There are several interesting buildings to be visited, including Romanesque- Gothic cathedral an Baroque town hall and Palace. Outside the walls, there are Roman baths at the natural hot springs on the banks of the River Miño.

Challenge:

OPTION 1: MTB 54km, 1147m ascent, 1935m descent

OPTION 2: HB 60km, 1220m ascent

This morning you have time  to visit the major monuments in Lugo, and maybe do some shopping, before you get back on your bike for the ride to Palas de Rei. From Lugo onward, the Camino Primitivo merges with the more recent, but more popular French Route, somewhere between Palas de Rei and Melide. From here the Camino de Santiago is busier and you begin to feel the pilgrim 'atmosphere' more strongly.

Challenge:

OPTION 1: Lugo - Melide MTB 46km, 1149m ascent, 1155m descent

OPTION 2: Lugo - Palas de Rei HB 43km, 940m ascent 

OPTION 3: Palas de Rei - Melide HB 15km, 280m ascent, 370 descent

Today is the last stage of the trip, to Santiago. You pass Monte del Gozo, the viewpoint at the top of the hill just before descending towards Santiago that offers a small view of the city. From here you follow the Camino at the same that you feel the atmosphere of excitement and illusion as you reach the cathedral of Santiago, in the historic center.

Challenge: 

OPTION 1: MTB 53km, 1138m ascent, 1340m descent

OPTION 2: HB 54km, 1010m ascent

Today, after breakfast, your cycling tour comes to an end.