Ourense doesn’t let you ease gently into the day. It revolves around one long, steep climb of well over 300 metres. You’ll feel it in your legs and hear it in your breathing. You climb much more than you descend, so you finish higher than you started. Fortunately, between the tougher sections there are also some peaceful kilometres.
Ourense is a popular starting point. You’ll share the path with pilgrims who are just setting out, still with fresh legs and clean shoes. From here, Santiago is just over 100 kilometres away. Cea welcomes you quietly after all that climbing. The village is known for its bread, and after today it tastes twice as good. Take the climb at your own pace, and the rest of the day is yours.