Walking Holidays in Camino - Stages - The French Way - Stage 3 - Burgos to Leon

For the previous Stage of the Camino click here 

In the province of Castilla y Leon, this is the land which named the Spanish language of Castillian dating back to the Muslim Invasion.  Inhabitants are swarthy and the food robust.  Villages are timeless combinations of ancient adobe houses, hillside ‘hobbit’ like storage cellars and imposing, lonely churches.  Castrojeriz and Mansilla de las Mulas provide cultural stops amongst the plains.

Arriving in Leon is breathtaking as a Gothic Cathedral of majestic proportions dominates the sky line.  Within the Cathedral, a riot of colour reflecting from its magnificent stained glass windows dances off the cool stone walls providing the Pilgrim with a perfect place to reflect on their journey across the Meseta.

The Walking

Walking the Camino involves average daily distances of about 14 miles and follows well marked paths with good surfaces. Some days are long and where possible we offer a split with accommodation midway. In more remote regions, where accommodation is sparse, this is not always possible. We provide a step by step guide to the trek and location of your overnight hotel along with other supporting notes such as language and history. You may wish to spend an extra night in one of the cities exploring its architecture and culture, especially Santiago at the journey’s end to relax and reflect on your journey. On rare occasions, we offer a short transfer to avoid less attractive sections but if you wish to walk every step it can be arranged! We show the route as five separate sections starting in St Jean Pied-de-Port and ending in Santiago de Compostela, which may be combined as desired. Each section has a brief summary followed by our standard itinerary with approximate distance, ascent and descent.

The Experience

Without doubt this holiday is about more than the usual joys of walking! The Camino may be walked  for religious or non-religious reasons or perhaps just the desire to hop out of the fast lane to reflect on life and refresh the soul. For whatever reason, a very special atmosphere arises from the comradeship quickly established between pilgrims of many nationalities - each walking for their own personal reasons. With our fully flexible stages and accommodation grades you can walk all or part of the Camino – many walk a week each year until completed….and then start over again! The experience is recommended for everyone from Church Groups to the solo walker, all joining together at the Cathedral in Santiago to witness or participate in the daily Pilgrims’ Mass – an intensely memorable and moving experience.

Variations

Our basic itineraries can be varied when possible. You may make the walking days shorter by adding additional nights, take rest days in one of the existing stops or stay longer at the beginning or end to explore the historical and vibrant cities. Just contact us with your wishes and we will provide a quotation.

Luggage Transfers

Luggage may be transported from each hotel to the next enabling you to travel with a day rucksack. Unlike our other treks, baggage transfer is an optional extra as many Perigrinos (Pilgrims) prefer to travel light and carry their own. See price section for costs.

Walk Grading

Easy, with long days. Total for standard itinerary:- Ascent 1250m, Descent 990m, 112 miles.

Click here for the next Stage of the Camino 

Click here for Burgos to Santiago de Compostela 

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Day 1 Travel to Burgos and overnight in the city centre.

Day 2 Burgos to Hornillos del Camino The Camino soon leaves the city and passes through attractive rolling farmland. Cross a few rivers, climb a few hills before reaching the pretty village of Hornillos. As no accommodation here, transfer to Burgos for overnight and opportunity to explore more of the city.

Day 3 Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz A day of remoteness crossing typical ‘paramo’ landscapes of bleak moorland. Folds in the gentle hills hide picturesque villages – some of the most beautiful along the Camino.

Day 4 Castrojeriz to Fromista Depart the beautiful castellated village of Castrojeriz by crossing a Roman walkway and bridge over the river before a short, sharp climb to Alto de Mostelares brings the reward of magnificent views. Descending across rolling hills of many shades to walk alongside a canal to Fromista with its fine examples of Romanesque architecture.

Day 5 Fromista to Carrion de los Condes Two options of route are available today as the Camino splits between a quiet but longer path with a distinct mediaeval feel to it, or a shorter faster roadside route. Both converge at the beautiful village of Villacalzar de Sirga. Overnight in the mediaeval town of Carrion de los Condes.

Day 6 Carrion de los Condes to Calzadilla de la Cueza An easy day of absolute flatness, much of the route following a Roman Road, but if skies are clear you will see the Cordillera Cantabrica in the far distance – stunning if snowcapped.

Day 7 Calzadilla de la Cueza to Sahagun Endless flatness, endless views and a birdwatchers’ paradise.

Day 8 Sahagun to El Burgo Ranero A choice of routes again, either follow the road or detour through the isolated village of Calzadilla de los Hermanillos with its fine examples of adobe houses. A few small hills, groves of trees and flowing streams signify a change in the landscape as you approach El Burgo Ranero.

Day 9 El Burgo Ranero to Mansilla de las Mulas The sweeping, open countryside gives constant views of the horizon and the Cordillera Cantabrica ahead. The complete absence of settlements and trees creates an almost desert like landscape with the land becoming more fertile as you draw closer to the walled town of Mansilla.

Day 10 Mansilla de las Mulas to Leon Hills and mountains now fill the horizon as you continue on to Leon. At the end of this stage, there are magnificent views as you descend into the city. Overnight in Leon.

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Burgos to Leon can be walked all year although summer temperatures may be too hot for enjoyable walking. Winter can be cold but clear and bright.

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