Stage 09 Santo Domingo de la Calzada-Belorado

Description of stage 9 of the French Way

From Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Grañón 6,7 Km

This stage begins next to the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada (0h 00min), going straight on along the Calle Mayor until you leave the old part of the town, where you will find a road that you will cross to continue along the street that begins, a little to the left, in front of you.

This street takes us to the old national N-120 where we will continue passing by the Virgen del Puente hermitage, located just at the beginning of the long bridge over the river Oja.

As soon as this bridge is finished, on the right hand side, there is a path that avoids us to follow the shoulder of the road, immediately this forks in two, one follows the descending course of the river and the other, where we continue, turns to the left to continue close to the road.

Our walk separates us little by little from the national one until we reach the height of another road, where, leaving on our right the dirt track we brought, we cross to the other side in search of the entrance to the path that, a few meters ahead, will take us to pass next to the pavilions of the ITV of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. We continue along this dirt track that runs parallel to the national one until we reach the moment when we are forced to cross it again, leaving behind us the track that turns to the right, to continue along the path that runs parallel to the national one on the other side of the road.

The itinerary along this path, among cereal farms, takes us to a crossroads, just before the climb to the Cruz de los Valientes (Cross of the Brave), which can already be felt in front of us, where we leave the path where we came from and take the one on the right, which is soon forced by the road to turn left, continue close to the limits of the Camino dual carriageway.

After the short, gentle climb up to the Cruz de los Valientes we continue to be permanently escorted along the dual carriageway around the bed of a stream, thanks to a bridge that goes under the road, where we find a path that crosses the other side of the dual carriageway and which we must ignore and continue on the left side of it, from where we can already see the silhouette of Grañón.

Before reaching the locality, the path meets another crossroads where we must go straight on along the asphalt track that passes by agricultural pavilions and takes us to the entrance of the town. At the end of this asphalted track and in front of us we will see a stone wall and stairs to climb a small park and the main street, where the way continues through the town of Grañón (1h 40min).

From Grañón to Redecilla del Camino 3,9 Km

We cross straight by this street all the population until arriving at the viewpoint of the Way, another small park from where we can contemplate the passing of the Way in its last section by lands riojanas.

Continue down the asphalted road that skirts the viewpoint until you reach a crossroads where you turn right and, shortly afterwards, turn left onto the dirt road that passes by some pavilions and a wooded area. Continue along this road for a short time as, after continuing straight ahead, leaving behind a first crossroads, you must turn left at the second one you come across.

This track that goes up little by little the back of the hill takes us to the limits between La Rioja and Castilla y León, more concretely with the province of Burgos, from this point we can contemplate our next objective Redecilla del Camino.

The itinerary begins a gentle descent that brings us closer to the vicinity of the town, where it turns right to cross the national road, pass next to the pilgrim information office and enter the main street in Redecilla del Camino (2h 40min).​

From Redecilla del Camino to Castildelgado 1,6 Km

This street crosses the whole town until it meets the national road again, and we are forced to cross it again, as the route continues along the path that starts between the road and the house on the other side.​

The andadero continues next to the national one, passing by a short section in disuse of the old road, continuing the track and leaving behind us the option to leave to the national one, we will enter in the following population of the day, to which we arrive after crossing another road that interposes in our route, once saved this reef we arrive at Castildelgado (3h 00min).​

From Castildelgado to Viloria de Rioja 2 Km

The main street takes us past the church and the hermitage and, going straight on, we leave Castildelgado and take the twisted descent path that will join us again with the andadero next to the road, continuing along this one a little further on we will find the crossroads where the section of andadero ends and on the left begins the access road towards Viloria de Rioja.

We have to continue along this road that will guide us until we reach the municipality, continue the course of the road, now converted into Bajera street, it will take us to cross Viloria de Rioja (3h 30min).​

From Viloria de Rioja to Villamayor del Río 3,3 Km

Once we have said goodbye to the locality, we must continue, without deviating, the layout of the road that descends windingly in search of the national road and the new stretch of track that starts on the left, just at the crossroads between the two roads.

After continuing a good stretch parallel to the national one and going up another small hill, which reminds us of the slides of the previous stage, leaving behind us all the paths we find, we are forced to cross another regional road, at which point the path starts a gentle descent in which we will pass by a salt deposit, and which will join us a few meters later with the national one. Precisely at the entrance to the penultimate locality of the day, which we will reach by turning to the left in the first street that we find, thus avoiding us to continue along the shoulder of the road.

This street enters Villamayor del Río (4h 20min) until a park where we must turn right, either in it or in the previous street that will take us to pass next to church to return, something later, to find us with the national road and with the dirt track next to it.

From Villamayor del Río to Belorado 4,9 Km

The last kilometres of the route continue along this track next to the road, leaving behind us the various detours that meet us and crossing another road for the penultimate time, gradually descending towards our destination today.

The track ends just before reaching Belorado, having to cross the national again, as our journey continues along the track that turns left just past the other side of the national.

The way will introduce us almost without us realizing between orchards and pavilions that give way to the first streets of the locality for where we will continue straight the few meters that separates us already from arriving at the church of Santa Maria, in Belorado (5h 25min).​

Technical details of the stage

Distance. 22.4Km

Work on the nearby dual carriageway may change this figure.

Time. 5:25h

It is what takes us to make today's stage, we can shorten something if instead of going up to Viloria de Rioja and then down, we continue on the national, but this option is not recommended at all as it forces us to go along the shoulder of the road, with the danger that this represents to save a few minutes.

Time of year

In summer the zone registers high temperatures, without shaded zones it forces us to be attentive with the water that we take, practically all the localities by where we pass has sources of potable water and we do not have great distances between them, coincides that they are in the last localities, before Belorado, those that their sources are not potables.

Required equipment

Clothes and sports footwear according to the time of the year and to the meteorology, backpack, canteen, canes and sun cream. The good condition of most of the route allows the stage to be carried out with the most comfortable footwear, except during rainy periods. Consult our list of material and equipment to make the Way. Read more

Difficulty. Medium

Physical

A constant and smooth undulation of the terrain is the habitual tonic of the stage, not finding us with great difficulties that we have to face.

Caution

The Way travels to arrive and leave Viloria de Rioja by the access road to the locality, being the section that descends towards the andadero and the national one where, by its somewhat sinuous initial layout, it has worse visibility for pilgrims and drivers so we will have to take extreme precautions. Unfortunately we will have to cross several times, coinciding with the accesses to the towns, the national road N-120, which supports a great volume of traffic, in addition to local roads, by places with relatively good visibility. A large part of the way runs close to the national road, and unfortunately some of the exits of vehicles that used to travel on the road have had a high cost for some pilgrims, so it is advisable not to lower your guard on these stretches.

Orientation

As for the rest, the route runs along tracks in good condition, in a short section by road and with good signposting, except for the surroundings of Viloria de Rioja, where, although not very complicated, they are less visible.

Coordinates UTM Datum WGS84

Stage Profile

Cartography, maps and tracks

This sketch of the route is not made to scale nor does it contain all the information relating to the area, it is merely indicative.

This schematic with the path is approximate and has been created from the derived cartographic base © Instituto Geográfico Nacional "Cuadrantes 201 y 202, 1:50.000".

Senditur has manipulated the tracks to correct the aberrant points that may exist, caused by problems with the reception of the GPS signal. In any case the tracks are always approximate. SENDITUR encourages you to use the new technologies within your reach, using them as support and consultation in your activity, not basing the realization and orientation of the same only and exclusively on them, since they may see their functioning altered by very diverse causes, not functioning correctly and their indications may not be precise.