Today, finally the Camino de Santiago offers us a relaxing afternoon in Muros de Nalón. After the intense stage endings during previous days, it is appreciated.
Let’s continue on the Camino del Norte!
Today we face a fairly short stage that runs mostly along asphalt tracks, facing continuous slopes. The itinerary runs mostly inland, having the opportunity to come into contact with the sea, exclusively in Salinas.
If you are thinking about walking the Camino de Santiago from Ribadesella tell us what your plans are for the Camino de Santiago and we will contact you to advise you on everything you need.
Today’s route is 23.2 kilometres long. Along it, we will face continuous ups and downs to cross rivers, aqueducts and pass through many hamlets and neighbourhoods.
Avilés (km. 0). Beginning of stage
Practical tips for this section: Today you can have breakfast in front of the sea in Avilés or advance to Salinas, just over an hour away, and enjoy your breakfast there by the coast. Buen Camino!
Today’s day begins at Plaza España, from where we follow Calle Ferrería to Parque del Muelle, which we pass on the left. We find a roundabout with una fuente de agua, behind this, we continue along Calle Estación, towards of the old church of Sabugo.
In Plaza Carbayo, on the left, we pass in front of the similarly-named church, and at the end of the street we turn to take Avenida Alemania, along which we leave the city. The avenue is transformed into a local road that runs uphill.
At a small square with a bar, in the Campo del Conde area, we find a fork in the road. We continue right down the road to the village of Salinas, characteristic for its five huge blocks of flats on the beachfront.
We continue down a dirt track that starts on the left. The national N-632 road stops our advance and we are forced to cross over, and continue along Avenida Raíces.
We cross the river that bears the same name and turn on the left by Calle Doctor Fleming until the end, to enter the town of Salinas (km. 5,4).
Salinas (km. 5,4).
Practical tips for this section: The official route crosses Salinas through Calle Doctor Fleming and Calle Ramón y Cajal. However, if you want to get close to the sea, you can cross it along its beautiful promenade.
The detour is an extra kilometre of travel, but it will be the only opportunity you have at this stage of approaching the sea. Buen Camino!
We walk along Calle Niconar Piñola, which also functions as a main road, and continue, without changing direction, along Calle Ramón y Cajal. At the end, we turn left, on Calle Príncipe de Asturias.
We go forward for 70 metres and turn right, more than 90 degrees, to walk along Calle Torner, which extends, ascending, along Avenida San Martín.
Later, we turn left by a dirt track and cross the streets in the hamlet of El Cueto. The Church of San Martín de Laspra crosses our path, located 50 metres from the road (km. 6.9).
We then cross the neighbourhood of Castañalona descending strongly. Shortly afterwards we stumble upon the road to Piedras Blancas, a place on our left, then we cross the road and continue straight ahead, through the scattered village of El Villar, where we turn right down a rising asphalt track.
In the village of El Muro, the track leads to a local road, which we advance along its path, to the left. We travel a long journey, flat, across asphalt and dirt tracks, which run through a pleasant rural and wooded environment, finally, downhill, reaching Santiago del Monte (km. 12,7).
Santiago del Monte (km. 12,7).
Practical tips for this section: In this section, we cross the bridge over the national N-632 road that crosses the Nalón Estuary, the crossing is completed along a narrow passage between the guardrail and the railing that protects us from falling into the estuary, pay special attention in that passage, because it’s quite uncomfortable. Buen Camino!
Following the CT-1 road, uphill, we pass next to the parish church of the town. Shortly after, we cross the national N-643 road and continue straight on the local road AS-328 that goes to La Arena and Ramón.
Following the road, we cross under the A-81 motorway, which gives access to Asturias Airport. Half a kilometre later we leave the asphalt along a forest path.
Through a wooded environment, full of eucalyptus, we continue first on the ascent and then descending, to the AS-318 road. We cross it and start the ascent to El Castillo (km. 18), where on a hill, next to the Nalón Estuary, we see the grandiose Castillo de San Martín, which unfortunately we cannot visit, as it is the real gem of this day.
On a paved promenade, with pleasant views over the castle and the estuary, we arrive at the large roundabout that indicates the entrance to Soto del Barco (km. 19).
From here, we continue on the right, along Calle de la Magdalena, passing in front of the Palacio de la Magdalena Hotel. Pay attention on this detour because many pilgrims continue along the new N-632 road and in this section there is a lot of traffic.
Following the street, which is, in fact, the old national road, we go down to the bridge over the estuary, the new national road, the N-632. We cross the Nalón Estuary through the narrow space between the guardrail of the national road and the bridge railing.
Behind this awkward bridge, we continue along the hard shoulder of the national road, leaving on the right the road that goes to San Esteban de Pravia. A few hundred metres later, we leave the asphalt on the left and start a steep climb up a dirt track.
Then we end up in a street, through which we go through the Era neighbourhood, and then return to the national N-632 road. We follow it for 70 metres and turn right on a grassy track, which leads us to cross Avenida de Toledo, a small road.
Then we continue up small streets to the urban centre of Muros de Nalón (km. 23,2), where we find the Plaza Marqués de Muros, with the parish church and the headquarters of the Town Hall.
Muros de Nalón (km. 23,2). End of stage
Practical tips for this section: Muros de Nalón is a quiet town where you can relax, since most of the buildings of interest are located in the Plaza Marqués de Muros, which is where the stage ends. See you tomorrow!
In Muros de Nalón you will find some services that will respond to your needs. This quiet town does not offer a large list of places to visit, but it is worth stopping in the central Plaza del Marqués de Muros and visiting the Town Hall building and the Church of Santa Maria.
Also of interest is the Casa de Altamira and the Puerto Carbonero Open-air Museum. If you want to relax on the beach, you will have to go far away from the town, to Playa de Aguilar.
Comments stage Avilés – Muros de Nalón
Here you find some advice about today’s stage.
Precautions stage Avilés – Muros de Nalón
Frequent sections along the road and some uncomfortable passages, such as the bridge over the Nalón Estuary, force cyclists and people with reduced mobility to take extreme precautions at this stage.
Food stage Avilés – Muros de Nalón
In today’s stage we remind you of some dishes that you should have tried in previous stages, if you have not, you are still on time.
- Fish from the Cantabrian Sea
- Shellfish from the Cantabrian
- Asturian cheeses; on this stage look out for “Afuega’l pitu”, considered as one of the oldest Asturian varieties.
- Cachopos (Fried veal fillets filled with ham and cheese)
- Asturian Cider
Services stage Avilés – Muros de Nalón
Meet the main health care services, cafes, ATMs, restaurants and are in this stage of the Camino del Norte.
Map stage Avilés – Muros de Nalón
Consult the map with the route, points and towns along the stage.
Profile stage Avilés – Muros de Nalón
Consult the profile of the stage: altitude and degree of difficulty of each section.
What to do stage Avilés – Muros de Nalón
Here’s some information on places of interest that you can visit today.
Muros de Nalón
Muros de Nalón, as the name suggests, is located on the banks of the River Nalón. In the middle of the 20th century, given its strategic location, the town became an important seaport. Today, the quiet town has just under 1,900 inhabitants.
In its streets you can visit the central Plaza del Marqués de Muros, where much of the buildings of interest of the town are located, such as the Town Hall and the Church of Santa Maria.
Also of interest are the visit to the Casa de Altamira and the open-air Museum of Puerto Carbonero. If you would to relax on the beach, you will have to get away from the town to Playa de Aguilar.
Plaza de Marqués de Muros
The Plaza de Marqués de Muros is located in the centre of the town, it is very likely that the pilgrim has ended up reaching it at the end of this stage. Its construction dates from the 16th century and has an irregular and elongated structure.
In the surroundings of the square are located some of the most outstanding buildings in the town, such as the Town Hall, the Church of Santa Maria and different buildings characteristic of the architecture of the area. The site has been declared a Place of Artistic Interest.
Casa de Altamira
The Casa de Altamira is located in the town of Muros de Nalón, where Rafael Altamira y Crevea, an important Spanish critic and writer, lived. The house, in Indian style, consists of three floors and covered by a gabled roof.
The building is accessed after crossing a large garden, climbing a staircase leading to the entrance door. Its main façade stands out, finished in a gabled decoration that is found on a large terrace.
Iglesia de Santa María
The Church of Santa Maria is located in the central square of the Marques de Muros. The temple dates back to the Middle Ages, to the time when King Alfonso III donated several churches to various Asturian town halls.
The church consists of a single nave. Of its exterior structure, the façade stands out, on which you can appreciate a bell tower, ornamented with a capital.
Practical information:
Mass times: Summer, holidays at 12:00. Winter, holidays at 12:30.
Museo al aire libre de Puerto Carbonero
The Puerto Carbonero Open-air Museum is located in the town of Muros de Nalón. The space captures the legacy of the only coal port in Spain, so it has been declared as a Site of Historical Interest.
It was built in the early 20th century. From its original construction, the cranes and cargo docks used to unload the ore are kept in good condition.
Playa de Aguilar
The beach of Aguilar is located on the outskirts of the Muros de Nalón council area, in an environment of rolling cliffs and forests. The golden sandy beach is 650 metres long.
