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Galicia - In the Footsteps of Pilgrims

Dramatic fjords and spectacular sea views

Largely undiscovered except for its famous cathedral city, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia - in Spain's farthest north-west corner - remains wild and unspoiled. Along the 1400km-long coastline, rías (fjords) and broad, sandy beaches alternate with fishing villages whose inhabitants have for centuries eked out a precarious living from the bountiful Atlantic. The lush green interior possesses a timeless quality, with rolling moorland interspersed with steep valleys where farmers lead their small herds of cattle on foot and winegrowers harvest the famous albariño and mencia grapes by hand. This is a land of contrasts and a distinct Celtic culture. Mysterious stone settlements, dolmens and old stone watch towers populate the land, while Santiago de Compostela and the pilgrim routes are testament to its long Christian tradition. You walk through an emerald-green landscape invigorated by the ever-changing weather of soft rain, mellow mists and plenty of glorious summer sunshine.

Nights: 7
Grades: choose from grade 1 & 2 walks
Terrain: coastal paths & cliffs, woodland, some hills
Hotels: two country house hotels
Meals: breakfast each day, dinner on 3 nights
Climate: temperate and changeable, with a warm summer

Starting point: Mirlo Blanco (country house), Catoira. Located amid the more populous, southern fjords of the Rías Bajas, this is an elegant stone-built rural hotel. Here, the owner-chef, José Luis, takes obvious pleasure in extending a warm welcome to you and in creating imaginative meals (except on Sundays and Mondays) based on regional produce sourced daily from the local market. We include dinner on your first night, leaving you free to try some of the area's idyllic seafood restaurants on subsequent nights if you wish.

Days 1 & 2: you have two full days to explore the Rías Bajas. We suggest a variety of short walks which are located within an easy drive of your hotel.
Walk 1, Cape Home: a very pleasant coastal walk along a tranquil spit of rocky coast that takes in three lighthouses, an ancient beacon, a prehistoric site and, if you are lucky, sightings of some interesting seabirds. There are possibilities to shorten the walk if you prefer. (up to 11km, 4hrs)
Walk 2, Cape Udra: easy trails lead you through an interesting boulder-strewn landscape with a pretty shoreline. (3km, 1hr)
Walk 3, Rock Art: this is an interesting walk, revealing not only Galicia's green interior, but also several sites where 4,000-year-old Neolithic engravings of animals and symbols have been found etched into the rock. (8.5km, 3.5hrs)
Walk 4, Islands of Cíes: reached by boat (pay locally), the picturesque and justly popular Islands of Cíes are two islands joined together by a sweep of soft, white sand. An initial loop leads through a eucalyptus wood to reach a lighthouse, while a second route hugs the coastline. The islands have been designated a nature reserve and there are bird hides along both routes. (5.5km, 2hrs & 8.5km, 2.5hrs)

Accommodation: Mirlo Blanco, as above.

Day 3: we suggest two alternative driving routes to reach your next hotel. The first initially leads northwards along the coast, with the chance to stop for a walk (5km, 1.5hrs) through the sand dunes of a Natural Park and later to visit a prehistoric Celtic settlement, then heads north-west over the hills. The second option is to drive via Santiago de Compostela, the city to which pilgrims have flocked for centuries to visit St James' tomb. We provide notes for a self-guided walking tour of this atmospheric city, its labyrinthine streets and its numerous churches and convents.

Accommodation: Casa del Trillo (country house), near Muxía. Your friendly hosts, Rosa and Jesús, whose family has farmed the area for generations, are a mine of information on Galician culture and traditions. We include two dinners of Rosa's delicious interpretations of regional dishes, leaving two nights free to try other restaurants (pay locally).

Days 4, 5 & 6: again, we suggest a selection of walks within easy driving distance of your hotel which reveal different aspects of Galicia's north-western coast.
Walk 1, To Laxe: this is an attractive coastal walk past the beaches linking the small village of Camelle to the bustling fishing port of Laxe. To avoid taking a taxi back to your car (pay locally), you could walk part way and retrace your steps. (up to 12km, 4hrs)
Walk 2, The English Cemetery: this walk explores the idyllic, near-deserted stretch of coast near Cape Veo, passing a beach dubbed the 'Cemetery of the English' because it was here that a British Royal Navy ship ran aground in 1890, drowning all but three of the crew, who were subsequently buried on the beach. Due to the high numbers of shipwrecks, this wild, rocky part of the coast is known as the Costa de la Muerte ('Coast of Death'). (6km, 2hrs)
Walk 3, The Pilgrims' Walk: crossing moorland and woodland as well as passing through several small hamlets, this walk follows in the footsteps of pilgrims who continued beyond Santiago de Compostela to the end of the known world at Finisterre. At the end of the walk you can visit the chapel which marks the point where St James' body is said to have been brought in a boat by two disciples, before returning to your car by taxi (pay locally). (12km, 4hrs)

Accommodation: Casa del Trillo, as above.

Extension: add on two nights in Santiago de Compostela at the attractive 3-star Virxe da Cerca or the charming, family-run Costa Vella, just a few minutes' walk from the world-famous cathedral.

Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system.

Similar holidays: The Costa Verde (grades 1, 2 & 3)

Prices & travel 2008:

*Included travel: 7 days' category A car hire (e.g. VW Polo Match, 1.2 a/c)
Recommended destination airport: Santiago de Compostela
Latest flight arrival time: flexible (the drive to the first hotel is 45mins)
Earliest flight departure time: flexible (the drive to the airport is 1hr 30mins)
Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route, times and price to suit you
Start: any day

Extra night prices 2008 (extra nights can be booked at any hotel):

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