Soto de Luiña

Camino del Norte

To end of camino
278.5
Altitude
15

Mumayor

2.80

Soto de Luiña

19.90

Cadavedo

Services
ATM
Yes
Bar
Yes
Bus
Yes
Grocery
Yes
Pharmacy
Yes
Train
Yes

The Iglesia de Santa María was once a hospital for pilgrims. Those pilgrims, like today’s pilgrims, had to choose between two westward routes. They did not have maps or gps or Pepe who gives a description of the following days walk every night at 7pm at the municipal albergue.

Keep in mind that Pepe was part of the group that waymarked the Ballota route, so his opinions are somewhat biased. Choose the option that suits you best.

If you arrive early, consider an extra 2km to the beach, signed.

The Road

From Soto de Luiña there are two different routes to take. Both are well waymarked and the split is evident. It occurs along the road and there is a marker with two shells indicating which direction to go.

Option 1: ‌Mountain Route - 19.9

This route is entirely mountain walking and is far and away the most scenic option. As the name suggests it takes you up to and along the ridge of the mountain. If you chose this route be sure to pack enough food and water as there are no services along the way. At the point where the camino splits, the Mountain Route turns left and begins to climb.

Option 2: ‌Road / Ballota Route - 19.5

Although this route does not reach great heights, it does do a considerable amount of climbing and descending; it is essentially a long series of switchback shortcuts that parallel the road. A word of caution is in order. Because this route frequently joins the road it is necessary to keep a watch for all the arrows which take you away from it. Although you will reach your destination if you stay on the road, you will walk a great deal farther and do a lot more up and down. There are quite a few more services along this route. To follow it, simply keep to the road where the split occurs.

City Map

Comments

All Caminos App User (not verified)

I took the mountain route. I am a solo hiker, very capable and confident. Today was a sunny day, no rain in the forecast. However, the mountain route climbed up and up and up. The higher I climbed, the more I went into the fog and grey skies, ultimately ending in rain when I reached the peak. Also, the farther I went into the route, the more signs were missing where the route splits up, so it was a guessing game if I was choosing the right path. I had my offline map, but it was STILL difficult to tell where to go. Absolutely TERRIFYING to be miles and miles from civilization, extremely unclear signage, overgrown paths covered in mud streams in the pouring rain on the side of a mountain with poor visibility. AND SNAKES. I saw 2. After weeks on the Norte, today was the first time I genuinely felt unsafe. I would never do this hike again. No to mountain route!

All Caminos App User (not verified)

After a long stage on the way we saw the cat in the window, Limon guesthouse (Limon was one of theirs cats).
The town is small but you have everything you could need. Relaxing in the garden listening to the river is priceless. The owners helped us with everything and we were even able to make lemonade with the lemons from the garden. Outstanding price quality. Thank you Gonzalo and Iratxe for your hospitality

All Caminos App User (not verified)

i just did the coastal route and it was a great experience with stunning views, beautiful nature paths in fairytale forests, pitoresque countrysides..very colorful mixed landscapesituations. it is often up and down a bit, but not steep and so very pleasant to walk. some parts are on serpentine roads, but there was not a lot (almost none) traffic the 2 days i was walking the coastal route.
i was happy that i had my walking sticks, cause in the forests were about 3 situations i had to balance over a small and not really dangerous river/trickle on stones.

i don't know about any pilgrim in my timeframe who did the mountain route. one elderly pilgrim started walking it by mistake but turned around after he felt like he's the only pilgrim and after a spanish passenger told him he shouldn't walk it, cause too dangerous.

All Caminos App User (not verified)

Limón guest house gives you a room for yourself when the price is 25euros. And with a clean shared bathroom, kitchen, living room, it’s really cozy and highly recommend. Llater that night, grab some really good hamburger at the bar call La tasca de Rosa. Just so good.

All Caminos App User (not verified)

Mountain route is extremely overgrown. You do have an option to go around the waist high grass. After rain the day before, the very narrow and poorly maintained path was a river. If there is any risk of rain, fog, or just clouds, there are no views. Not worth the extra time and slow going to navigate with the lack of markers and low trail visibility, only to have to walk on a highway at the end of it all.

All Caminos App User (not verified)

It’s so worth it!! Only a few steeper hills, but not very long ones. Go for it, you are not gonna regret it. Just be aware there are quite a few ticks on the second half of the path, so stay away from higher grass maybe, and check your skin.

All Caminos App User (not verified)

The coastal route is as described- MANY steep ups and downs, several sections of very dangerous road walking, and mud, rocky downhills and stream crossings. I didn’t do the mountain route, but I almost wonder if that would have been better because the coastal route was quite exhausting with the constant up and downs- longest 19km hike I’ve done so far. There are some stunning coastal views in the second half of the day, but it did feel like this section would never end, and I was glad when it did.

All Caminos App User (not verified)

Beautiful space right on the Camino! Has 2 bedrooms, one with double bed and another with a pull out bed. Full shared kitchen, washing machine, garden with line for drying clothes. 35 euro for 2 people in double bed. Fast internet, good shower/hot water. Very nice hosts. Overall highly recommend staying here!

All Caminos App User (not verified)

Beautiful views! A large number of the tiles have fallen off the way markers. However it is normally quite clear which way to go. Quite overgrown in places. Watch out for ticks - we were wearing shorts and had to remove several.

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

I choose the mountain route and didn't regret as I experienced the most stunning views on the Camino since Irun. Nice to be away from roads and houses. I managed to get a little lost at one point where there was a discrepancy between the waymarker and the route in the app. I followed the app over a steep hill.