It’s Day 23 on the Camino Frances. This section of the Camino route between Cacabelos to Las Herrerias is a beautiful stretch of the trail, taking Pilgrims through charming villages, stunning scenery and historic landmarks.
Cacabelos to Las Herrerias Overview
- Distance – 30km
- From – Cacabelos
- To – Las Herrerias
- Min/Max Elevation – 475m/690m
- Elevation gain – 634m
After a quiet night in Cacabelos we had an early night. We pushed the boat out and had a private room so had a great nights sleep.
We were up early and out on the road at 7am. After a couple of long days my feet are aching white a bit so I took my Ibuprofen and we set off.
It’s a nice cool morning and we cover 8km quite quickly walking through undulating valleys and vineyards. It was awe inspiring !
We planned a stop for breakfast in a few villages but they were all closed. Some of the villages are very basic with firewood stacked up outside. It looks like Villafranca del Bierzo will be the only place get something to eat after Cacabelos.
Villafranca del Bierzo
Villafranca del Bierzo is a charming town located in the region of El Bierzo in the province of Leon, Spain. It has a population of around 3,500 people and is situated on the banks of the River Burbia.
Its a popular stop on the Camino Frances and it has a rich history and cultural heritage.
One of the main attractions in Villafranca del Bierzo is its beautiful historic center, which has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site.
The center features narrow streets lined with medieval houses and palaces, some of which date back to the 16th century.
The main square, Plaza Mayor, is particularly beautiful, with its arcaded buildings and 17th-century town hall. There are cafes and restaurants galore here for Pilgrims to just chill and relax.
Another highlight of Villafranca del Bierzo is its gastronomy. The town is known for its local delicacy, the botillo, which is a type of sausage made with pork ribs and meat, chorizo and other seasonings.
For those interested in history, Villafranca del Bierzo has several interesting landmarks, including the 12th-century Church of Santiago, which has a beautiful Romanesque portal.
There is also a castle in Villafranca del Bierzo called Castillo de los Marqueses de Villafranca, which dates back to the 15th century and now houses a museum. I shot this great photo of the Castle.
Whether you are a Pilgrim on the Camino or just visiting Villafranca del Bierzo, its a lovely historic Spanish town with plenty to offer and I’d recommend staying there overnight or for a few hours over lunch.
The view on the outskirts of town as we left was very nice indeed. TOP TIP: stop here to take some amazing photos
We had about another 10km on pretty flat terrain before we arrived in Trabadelo. Its a small village with. chemist, small cafe and a lovely bar, El Puente Peregrino.
It is a lovely bar with a small terrace and does rooms as well if you decide to stay here for the night.
After having a break in Trabadelo and another Cafe con Leche we had a hard climb for a few hours and we work our way through small villages on route to Las Herrerias.
My feet are aching today so I’ll definitely be taking some time when we arrive to use my favourite foot cream and keep them Camino ready.
Got calusses, cracks, blisters or dry feet ?
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Buy on AmazonAs we walked uphill for this last stage of the route we came across some great photo opportunities and just had to pose for a few pics.
At last we came to Las Herrerias which is a lovely little village.
We’ve decided to stay one run Las Herrerias as there is a steep 6km climb directly out of the village so we’re leaving that for an early morning climb.
We’re all hungry and fancy a beer so we got unpacked, showered and ready to head out to rest and relax.
There is only 1 small restaurant in the village with some outside tables and we chilled for a few hours and played cards. The food was really nice as well.
Albergues in Las Herrerias
We’ve treated ourselves to a little private albergue called Casa Polin and we have a room to ourselves.
Ive detailed the options available below but any would work. Its a great little town to stop in along if your walking from Cacabelos to Las Herrerias.
Casa Polin – 4 rooms available from $40 a night with a Bar/Restaurant on site.
Casa Do Ferreiro La Fragua – A lovely rural house on the Camino with 8 rooms.
La Pandela – Another rural house that is a little more expensive but very nice.
Albergue Las Herrerias – A dormitory with 17 beds from €5 a night. This isn’t bookable but you can reserve by ringing +34 654 353 940
