Day 41 - A Gudiña to Campobecerros (13 miles)

I remarked to someone this morning that part of the beauty of this route is the variety of landscape you see, changing almost daily, and today was no exception with scenery very different from the last few days. We are quite high in the Galician hills and the route made the most of that fact, following a series of high broad ridges that gave views of even higher hills across the valley on one side and an extensive hilly and shrub covered landscape on the other.  For thirteen miles I maintained my altitude looking down on reservoirs and across at pine plantations on the surrounding slopes, scarred in places by the wide brown tracks of fire breaks, and by large patches of black, charred tree stumps demonstrating evidence of their need. It was not an easy walk, rising and falling quite extensively but always staying high. After four hours, and another climb, I saw the village of Campobecerros below, to me almost Swiss in appearance with its multi-coloured houses sitting isolated in the hilly landscape. 

I am now in the small and simple albergue in this tiny village. The hospitalera told me that there are thirty-six inhabited houses here which can only mean a tiny population but it seems to be at least enough to keep a bar functioning where a few of us had a well earned lunch before relaxing for the afternoon. Others returned there later in the evening for dinner but for my part a quick drink followed by a return to the albergue to finish off a few things in my rucksack was enough. Tomorrow I am faced with a choice of nine miles or sixteen miles and as yet I am undecided. I will see how I feel in the morning and what others plan to do.

Campobecerros