Hotel Mieres Del Camino, Mieres, Chanos to Pola de Lena, 19 Km, 15 May 2025

After breakfast at the Albergue (the best one we have encountered so far) we headed down the road to Puente de los Fierros in the usual Asturias rain. While it might have been wet the walking was down hill was on a firm surface. Shortly after arriving at the Puente we had an option of following the N-630 or the Camino path which headed up the side of a very steep hill.

Unfortunately we chose the latter and after a hard climb found ourselves on a narrow winding St C goat track with wet grass, puddles, mud and low overhanging trees (not to mention the blackberries and stinging nettles). In the right conditions it would have been a very pretty walk but today it was closer to a nightmare. The only compensation was the spectacular views down into and across the valley.

This section of the walk was 6.7 kilometres and took forever. Just before Campomanes I managed to slip over twice and broke one of my walking poles. Going down hill was definitely worse and more embarrassing than going up.

The remainder of the walk to Pola de Lena followed the fast flowing Rio Pajares with a short sharp ascent to visit the 9th century Inglesia de Santa Cristina de Lena.

On arrival in Pola de Lena on the advice of our Spanish walking companion Jaun, we took a bus to Mieres to avoid 13 kilometres of flat road walking along the N-630.

Tomorrow we will complete the Camino San Salvador when we arrive in Oviedo. We will spend two nights there to catch up on our washing and find a replacement walking pole.

Stunning views

Waterfall crossing our path

Mud and wet grass

9th Century church

Local cows