Day 25 Muros de Nalón to Ballota

An 8am start from Muros de Nalón which took me through the village which I’d missed yesterday on account of going to the beach instead. I reached Playa de Concha de Artedo, roughly a third of the distance by 10.30, thereafter I slowed up considerably after coffee and tortilla in Soto de Luiña. There the Camino splits for 15k, both options are described as challenging. I had no choice other than to opt for the marginally easier coastal route because I had accommodation booked in Ballota on the coast. The last 10k was idyllic albeit strenuous walking mostly off road, up and down many times. Fortunately, it has been dry for the last couple of weeks so most of the tracks were not slippy and the 5 streams I crossed easy to navigate. I hadn’t expected to come across a long tunnel with a curve so no light and apparently on a slope, quite exciting.

After 31k I was mildly disappointed that the reception/check in for my hostel was 350m away. Similarly dinner and breakfast will be a 350m walk. It’s rather quirky place but clean and has an excellent shower.

31km, 890m ascent, the descents were worse, perhaps 8 pilgrims, one conversation.