Villadangos del Páramo - Astorga

(S) From the campsite, join the N-120 then continue left (south-west) along the footpath, which runs parallel to the road. Continue until you reach a crossroads with a signpost.

(1) Carry on straight ahead and, after a little over 3 km along a straight stretch, you will arrive at San Martin Del Camino.

(2) Walk through the village, staying on the main street. Follow the signs for Hospital de Orbigo and continue until you reach the edge of the village, at the Canal General del Paramo.

(3) After this canal, carefully cross the N-120 and continue straight ahead on the small tarmac road, then quickly turn left (south-west). Pass under a high-voltage power line before joining a track that runs alongside the N-120 on the left. Continue until the track curves to the right, moving away from the N-120.

(4) Continue along the stony track until you reach a farm shed.

(5) Turn left, then head right to follow the main road again. Continue to the junction with the Santa Marina road.

(6) Continue straight on towards Villavante until you reach two large silos.

(7) Continue steadily south-west until you reach a crossroads.

(8) Staying in the same direction, carry on to the next crossroads.

(9) Continue until you reach the sign indicating a change of direction.

(10) Turn right to continue across the fields and carry on to the water tower.

(11) Carry on straight ahead, cross an irrigation canal and continue westwards to reach Hospital de Orbigo. Continue to the stop sign.

(12) Cross carefully to continue straight ahead along the cobbled lane, then cross the River Orbigo via the Puente de Órbigo, a superb 200-metre-long cobblestone bridge. On Álvarez Vega Street, you can stock up on supplies at a grocery shop: continue straight ahead, pass the church, and carry on to the junction with Avenida de los Fueros de León.

(13) Cross carefully. At the fork, go to the left of the small drinking fountain and continue to the junction with Carro Vega Street, facing a field.

(14) Turn right and continue along the stony path through vast agricultural land. Carry on until you reach the crossroads.

(15) Continue north-west to the next crossroads.

(16) Continue westwards to the crossroads running alongside a stream.

(17) Continue on to reach the village of Villares de Órbigo.

(18) Cross the village, following the clearly visible signposts. Refreshments available. You will arrive at a memorial stone.

(19) Turn left at the stele and continue until you reach the Stop sign.

(20) Turn left, then veer right to reach a Stop sign.

(21) After crossing carefully, continue along the path heading towards the heath. At the rest area, head south-west and continue until you reach the LE-6451.

(22) Turn right onto the small, deserted tarmac road and continue to the Stop sign at the entrance to the village of Santibáñez de Valdeiglesias.

(23) Turn left and head straight on until you reach the fork. Take the right-hand track heading south. Continue until you reach the Community Centre.

(24) Turn right to pass in front of it and continue straight on (north-west) to leave the village. Continue to a straw storage shed.

(25) Keep going in this direction until you reach a rest area for walkers with a cross and a sculpture.

(26) Continue and turn left at the fork to carry on through fields and woods until you reach the crossroads with a boundary stone.

(27) Continue south-west to reach the Casa de los Dioses,a small spot where you can refuel and quench your thirst.

(28) Keep heading in the same direction and carry on to the fork.

(29) Take the middle path, following the signposts, and pass under the high-voltage power lines before reaching a sort of roundabout with the cross of Santo Toribio next to a rest area.

(30) Turn right and head down to the fountain with the sculpture of the pilgrim drinking.

(31) Continue to the Stop sign and carry on along the N-120a to San Justo de la Vega. Walk through the town, staying on the main street. Refreshments available at the butcher’s and mini-market. Continue to the junction with the LE-6410.

(32) Carry on straight ahead (west) to leave the village. Continue to the Rio Tuerto.

(33) Cross the bridge, then a little further on, leave the N-120a and turn right onto the concrete path, then veer left to continue across the fields. You will arrive in front of a long factory boundary wall.

(34) Continue north-west to reach the outskirts of Astorga via a small cobbled lane and a small bridge.

(35) Turn left, carry on to the Stop sign and turn right to reach the green footbridge.

(36) Cross this footbridge over the railway tracks and continue along Calle de León to the hostel. Turn left. Please note: the route here has been altered from the IGN map. Staying on the pavement, follow the signposting which leads you to a roundabout.

(37) Cross just before this roundabout and head left onto Traversia de Minerva. Continue to the signpost and turn left. Continue to the crossroads.

(38) At a hairpin bend, turn right up a concrete street. Pass the pilgrim statue and the Santa Veracruz chapel. Continue straight on to the Roman Museum, then walk down the one-way street and carry on to Plaza España.

(39) Cross the square diagonally. Refreshments available. Continue along the small Calle Pío Gullón heading north-east. Carry on until you reach Calle García Prieto.

(40) Cross carefully and continue straight ahead along Calle Postas until you reach the Santa María College.

(41) Turn right, then left onto Plaza Eduardo de Castro. You will see the Episcopal Palace of Astorga opposite. Turn left, pass in front of the Church of Santa Marta before arriving in front of the Cathedral of Santa María de Astorga.

(42) With your back to the cathedral, continue along Leopoldo Panero Street. Turn right onto Obispo Street to reach a Stop sign. Cross carefully and continue straight ahead onto San Pedro Street, passing to the left of the small Church of San Pedro de Rectivía, and carry on until you reach the traffic lights

(43) Cross carefully and continue straight ahead onto the LE-142. Pass in front of a residential building before leaving the pretty town of Astorga.

(44) Continue straight on to reach the Chapel of Ecce Homo. Walk on to the rest area set up for pilgrims to find a quiet spot to camp (E).

Supply points available at: Hospital de Orbigo (13), Villares de Órbigo (18), San Justo de la Vega (31), and Astorga (37).
Camping: no campsites; camping possible around the rest area after Astorga.
Accommodation available in Astorga.
ALBERGUE MYWAY. Tel: +34640176338
Hostal El Emigrante Luso. Tel: +34987602620
Hostal Coruña. Tel: +34987615009
Imprenta Musical. Tel: +34987045704
Albergue Só Por Hoje. Tel: +34690749853

(3) San Martín del Camino
The parish church of this small village in León, with a population of 500, is dedicated, as Millón Bravo points out, to the Bishop of Torres, patron saint of pilgrims, and on its altar are gathered the statues of other protectors of the Way of St James: San Miguel, San Roque and San Antonio Abad.

(12) Puenté Orbigo
The village takes its name from one of the most famous and frequently mentioned stone-paved bridges on the Way of St James in Spain. Of Roman origin, it has undergone numerous restorations and, in its centre, a monolith has been erected commemorating the battle won in the name of love in 1434 by the Leonese knight Suero de Quiñones.

(13) Hospital de Orbigo
Virtually a twin of Puente de Órbigo, this town in León owes its name to the hospital founded to care for pilgrims by the Knights Hospitaller of St John. The remains of the hospital and the church of San Juan bear witness to these events.

(18) Villares de Orbigo
Like so many other towns along the Way, it venerates the icon of Saint James the Apostle, to whom homage is paid in the parish church. On its high altar, an icon of Santiago Matamoros presides over the services.

(38) Astorga
The capital of the Maragatería region was awarded the titles of ‘August’ and ‘Magnificent’ during the celebrations marking its 2,000th anniversary. To these titles are added those of ‘Most Noble’, ‘Loyal’ and ‘Praised’.
The town of Astorga is a monument in itself. As soon as you pass through the fortified walls via the Puerta Sol, walk past the Redemptorist monastery towards the old Rúa de los Francos, now Plaza de San Bartolomé, the Roman ergastulum, the Town Hall (39) – where two mechanical ‘maragatos’ tell the time – the Episcopal Palace (42) – a neo-Gothic work by Gaudí, now home to the Museum of the Ways, with a room, the Jacquaire Room, dedicated to the Way of St James – and the Gothic Cathedral of Santa María, near the Hospital of San Juan.
The Cathedral Museum (42), the Aljibe Park, the Seminary and the Synagogue Gardens are just some of the city’s many historical landmarks.