You’ll feel it in your legs soon enough: this is a long day, almost eight hours on the road. It isn’t steep, but it’s constantly up and down. That adds up, and you’ll notice it in your breathing too.
You start in San Vicente de la Barquera, where the Vadiniense joins the Camino del Norte, which carries on to Santiago. At first you still follow the yellow arrows of the Norte. After Hortigal you swap them for the red arrows of the Lebaniego. Keep an eye out for that moment, because that’s where your route splits from the Norte.
Cades is a small village. After a day like this, that feels just right. Take it steady, the Vadiniense isn’t going anywhere.