Cows in a wet meadow, a stone village with a church tower and not a soul around. That’s how this stage begins: quiet and green. The path climbs and descends again and again. You reach just over 900 metres above sea level. It’s not a spectacular mountain day, but you’ll feel it in your calves.
So, moderate. There’s no need to dread it, but it isn’t a walk to squeeze in between other things either. You’ll be on your feet for almost 7 hours, not counting breaks. At the end you descend into Villamartín de Sotoscueva, a peaceful village in a valley. So start early. That way you can walk without rushing and keep the afternoon free to put your feet up.