First come the last streets of Gijón, then it gets greener. Meadows, patches of woodland, small villages and, in between, a stretch of factories and busy roads. Not exactly pretty, but it comes with the Norte.
The climbing stays modest: the highest point is only 185 metres. You’ll still feel it in your legs, though, because the route keeps going up and down and the day takes a good 7 hours. This is more about keeping going than grinding uphill.
Avilés starts with industry on its outskirts, but the old centre more than makes up for it. Cobbled streets, café terraces, a square where you can kick off your boots. Take your time over that first beer.
Take it at your own pace, the Camino really isn’t going anywhere.