This day is all about altitude. You climb to well over 1100 metres, and you’ll feel it: the air is cooler, even when the sun is out. The climb itself isn’t extreme. Overall, you actually descend more than you climb.
That makes it an average stage. It’s not a day to rush through, but it goes well if you keep a steady pace. All that downhill is good for your fitness, but less so for your knees. Eventually you walk into San Martín de los Herreros, a small mountain village where a sense of calm comes naturally. At just over six hours of walking, setting off in the morning is enough to arrive at a relaxed pace and in daylight.