Winter Way

Downloadable guide · 6 October 2026. This file opens offline. External links require a connection.

From Ponferrada avoid O Cebreiro, follow the Sil and cross Valdeorras and Ribeira Sacra before rejoining the Vía de la Plata.

Route information

Start

Ponferrada

Finish

Santiago de Compostela

Total distance

about 260,2 km

Total ascent

5530 m

Total descent

5800 m

EU-DEM estimate on the available track; samples every 250 m.

Indicative distance on the available track.

Distances and elevation data depend on the route variant. D+ and D− are total ascent and descent in metres, not slope percentages. Estimates and missing data are indicated in the source.

Places to see along the route

• Castillo Viejo Ponferrada · Source
• Castillo de Ponferrada Ponferrada · Source
• Museum de la Radio Ponferrada · Source

  Gil y Carrasco 7 24400 Ponferrada · Opening times reported by the source: Tu-Sa 10:00-14:00,16:00-20:30; Su 10:00-14:00 · Website reported by the source

• Museum del Bierzo Ponferrada · Source

  Calle del Reloj 5 24400 Ponferrada · Opening times reported by the source: Apr-Sep Tu-Sa 10:00-14:00,16:30-20:30; Apr-Sep,Mar,Oct Su 10:00-14:00; Mar,Oct Tu-Sa 10:00-14:00,16:00-19:00; Nov-Feb Tu-Sa 10:00-14:00,16:00-18:00 · Contact reported by the source: +34 987 414 141 · Website reported by the source

• Centro de Interpretación de los Canales Romanos Puente de Domingo Floréz · Source
• Castro de Vilabarbás Puente de Domingo Floréz · Source
• Iglesia de San Roque Puente de Domingo Floréz · Source
• Iglesia de la Asunción de Puente de Domingo Flórez Puente de Domingo Floréz · Source
• Igrexa da Nosa Señora de Fátima de Fontei A Rúa de Valdeorras · Source
• Capela de Vilela A Rúa · Source
• Museum Xeolóxico Quiroga · Source

  Opening times reported by the source: Mo-Fr 11:30-13:00; Sa-Su 11:00-12:00 · Contact reported by the source: +34982435125 · Website reported by the source

• Museum Etnográfico de Quiroga Quiroga · Source

  Rúa Real 27320 · Opening times reported by the source: Mo-Fr 13:00-14:00; Sa-Su 12:00-13:00 · Contact reported by the source: +34982435125 · Website reported by the source

• Centro de Interpretación da Minería Aurífera Romana Quiroga · Source
• Igrexa de San Martiño de Quiroga Quiroga · Source
• Museum Lodeiro Monforte de Lemos · Source

  Rúa Armando Cotarelo 7 27400 · Opening times reported by the source: Tu-Su 10:30-13:30 · Contact reported by the source: +34982402252 · Website reported by the source

• Museum de Art Sacra das Clarisas de Monforte Monforte de Lemos · Source

  Website reported by the source

• Castelo de Monforte de Lemos Monforte de Lemos · Source
• Convento das Clarisas Monforte de Lemos · Source
• Igrexa Nova de Santa Mariña de Chantada Chantada · Source
• Igrexa Vella de Santa Mariña de Chantada Chantada · Source
• Igrexa de San Salvador de Asma Chantada · Source
• Museum Municipal do Concello de Rodeiro Rodeiro · Source

  Website reported by the source

• Castro de Toxais de Sabariz Rodeiro · Source
• O Castro Rodeiro · Source
• Castro de Botixo Rodeiro · Source
• Igrexa de San Miguel de Bendoiro A Laxe · Source
• Santiago Cathedral Museum Santiago de Compostela · Source

  Opening times reported by the source: Mo-Su 10:00-20:00 · Website reported by the source

• Museum das Peregrinacións e de Santiago Santiago de Compostela · Source

  Praza das Praterías 2 Santiago de Compostela · Opening times reported by the source: Tu-Fr 09:30-20:30; Sa 11:00-19:30; Su 10:15-14:45 · Contact reported by the source: +34 881 867 401 · Website reported by the source

• Afundación Santiago de Compostela · Source
• Casa da Troia Santiago de Compostela · Source

  Rúa da Troia 5 15704 Santiago de Compostela · Website reported by the source

• Las Médulas Las Médulas · Source

  Website reported by the source

• Iglesia de San Simón y San Judas Tadeo Las Médulas · Source
• Pico de los Gallegos Las Médulas · Source
• Pico de Gallegos Las Médulas · Source
• Igrexa de Santa Rita do Barco O Barco de Valdeorras · Source
• Igrexa de San Mauro do Barco O Barco de Valdeorras · Source
• Igrexa de San Tirso de Veigamuíños O Barco de Valdeorras · Source
• Igrexa de San Martiño de Viloira O Barco de Valdeorras · Source
• A Capela A Rúa · Source
• Igrexa de Santo Estevo da Rúa de Valdeorras A Rúa · Source
• Capela de San Roque A Rúa · Source
• Museum Municipal Ramón María Aller Ulloa Lalín · Source
• CastroDeza Lalín · Source

  Praza de Galicia 1 36500 Lalín · Opening times reported by the source: Tu-Sa 10:00-15:00 · Contact reported by the source: +34 986 781 608 · Website reported by the source

• Castro de Donramiro Lalín · Source
• Igrexa de Santa María das Dores de Lalín Lalín · Source
• Mámoa de Silleda Silleda · Source
• Castro de Toiriz Silleda · Source
• Igrexa de Santa Baia de Silleda Silleda · Source
• Antigo Mosteiro de San Xoán da Cova Ponte Ulla · Source
• Igrexa de Santa María Madalena da Ponte Ulla Ponte Ulla · Source
• Santuario da Virxe de Gundián Ponte Ulla · Source
• Pena Negra Ponte Ulla · Source
• Muíño de Aceite de Bendilló · Source
• Castro de San Fiz · Source
• Mámoa do Alto do Monte Faro 2 · Source
• Mámoa do Alto do Monte Faro 1 · Source
• Castelo dos Novais · Source
• Museum Casas de Muñecas · Source

  Opening times reported by the source: Tu-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-14:00 · Website reported by the source

• Castro da Lama · Source
• Centro de Interpretación Ambiental de Compostela · Source

  Camiño da Ameixaga Santiago de Compostela · Contact reported by the source: +34981543145

• Museum de Art Sacra da Colexiata de Santa María a Real de Sar · Source

  Rúa de Sar 15702 Santiago de Compostela · Contact reported by the source: +34 981562891 · Website reported by the source

• Castro da Portela · Source
• Castro de Casasoa · Source
• Castro de Lóbrigo · Source
• Castro de Angrois · Source
• Castro do Fabal · Source
• O Castrillón · Source
• A Cruz · Source
• Ruínas da Igrexa de San Pedro de Besteiros · Source
• Museum da Maxia de Galicia · Source

  Opening times reported by the source: Tu-Su 11:00-11:45,12:00-12:45,13:00-13:45,17:00-17:45,18:00-18:45,19:00-19:45,20:00-20:45 · Website reported by the source

• Os Castriños dos Novais · Source
• Castro de San Lourenzo · Source

  Contact reported by the source: +34 666435832 · Website reported by the source

• Centro de Interpretación do Pico Sacro · Source
• Museum Galego do Xoguete e a Marioneta · Source

  Website reported by the source

• Castro de Taboada · Source
• Castro de Vence · Source
• Castro do Coto · Source
• Castro de Chapa · Source
• Castro de Centulle · Source
• Castro de Castillón · Source
• Castro de Arxeriz · Source
• Ecomuseo de Arxeriz · Source

  Website reported by the source

• Holy Land Museum · Source

  Website reported by the source

• Museum Centro Gaiás · Source

  Website reported by the source

• Castro de San Pedro · Source
• Castro de Piñeiro · Source
• Castro de Orazo · Source
• Centro Galego de Art Contemporánea · Source

  Rúa Valle Inclán 2 15703 · Opening times reported by the source: Mo off; Tu-Su 11:00-20:00 · Contact reported by the source: +34 981 54 66 19 · Website reported by the source

• Castro de Moreda · Source
• Castro da Pena do Cervato · Source
• Museum do Pobo Galego · Source

  Opening times reported by the source: Mo off; Tu-Sa 11:00-18:00; Su,PH 11:00-14:00 · Contact reported by the source: +34 981 58 36 20 · Website reported by the source

• Castro de Xunqueiro · Source
• Castro de Santa Susana · Source
• A Eirexa · Source
• Xacemento Romano do Cemiterio · Source
• Museum de las Cofradías · Source
• Museum do Ferrocarril de Galicia · Source

  Contact reported by the source: +34 982 418 421 · Website reported by the source

• Castro de Corveixe · Source
• Casa Forte de San Salvador de Moreda · Source
• O Castrelo · Source
• O Castro do Coruto · Source
• O Castelo · Source
• Castro do Castelo · Source
• Túnel Romano de Montefurado · Source
• Castro de Borrés · Source
• Vila Romana de Castillón · Source
• O Castelo · Source
• Mina Romana da Cova dos Mouros · Source
• Mámoas da Fervenza · Source
• Natural History Museum · Source

  Parque de Vista Alegre, s/n 15782 Santiago de Compostela · Opening times reported by the source: Mo off; Tu-Sa 10:00-14:00,16:30-20:00; Su 11:00-14:00 · Contact reported by the source: +34 881 81 63 50 · Website reported by the source

• A Pena do Castrelo · Source
• O Castelo Grande · Source

GPS overview

GPS sections may include separate variants. Do not add them together as a single itinerary. This diagram shows the GPS track without a base map.

Recorded stages

Coverage and sources

Check accommodations and services carefully: in some sections they are more spaced than on the French route.

Source · www.caminodesantiago.gal

Source · www.caminosantiago.org

Source · www.caminosantiago.org

Source · www.caminodesantiago.gal

Luggage and practical services

Service on request from Ponferrada: confirm directly before booking.

Pilgrim credential

The credential records your stamps and journey. It does not reserve a bed or guarantee free accommodation. Check the current rules with the route operator or the Pilgrim Office before departure.

Open the route on SantiagoLand