(S) From the Albergue Lavacolla, cross the N-634 and take the local road towards Vilamaior. Almost immediately the route crosses the Sionlla river over a footbridge (indicated by a wooden footpath sign just after an horreo) and then continues up the tarmacked road towards the trees. Once into the woods keep on the tarmac, bearing left at a bend and continuing up the gentle slope to cross another stream. This local road will then take you into Vilamaior, a cluster of farm buildings, where we chalk up 300 km since we left Oviedo.
(1) The way through the village is clearly marked and it's worth stopping for a coffee at Casa de Amancio before heading on. Bear left at the bus-stop and continue straight on past a number of houses before entering another wood. There's a good dirt path on the left-hand side of the road and the trees give good shade (or protection from the rain). There are no detours along the route, go past a garden centre (Galicia Garden) on the left and TVG (Television Galicia) on the right. Go past the timber merchants (Maderas Ramos Moreira) on the left, then turn left at the entrance to the campsite San Marcos.
(2) Go down by the side of the campsite, with a TVE (Television Española) building on the right. Turn right at a pylon to keep going around the TVE building. There's nowhere else to go, so keep plodding along this straight road into San Marcos. Just after a kink in the road (bend left then right) we come up to a T-junction. Turn right along Rúa do Coto dos Olmos, then left along Calle de San Marcos. Go through the village, until the house end and the Monte do Gozo opens out to the left. Continue along the cobbled path a little further, past a tap for filling your water bottle and up to a chapel surrounded by trees. From here, a visit to the Pilgrim's Monument is almost obligatory, and a little further on (heading south) is the famous Monumento al peregrino with the two figures pointing the way (not shown on the map as both monuments are off the route).
(3) Go back to the chapel and continue along the Rúa do Gozo. This will take you down, alongside a housing estate (Ciudad de Monte de Gozo) and a bright blue house. When the Rúa does Gozo bends sharply to the right, the route continues straight ahead down some concrete steps to the main N-634 road. Stay on the path as this Rúa da Ponte de San Lázaro road crosses the busy AP-9 motorway and the (A Coruña - Vigo) railway. Go past the Xardin do Pallote on the left, with its statue, and straight on across the roundabout that crosses the SC-20 dual carriageway and into Santiago de Compostela.
(4) Take time for the photo in front of the bush and sign with all the stickers, then carry on along Av. de San Lázaro leaving the park on the left to head into town. Count the blocks of flats to the left as you go past (eight in total) to go straight across another roundabout. Continue along Av. de San Lázaro, past the church of the same name, until you reach a road peeling off to the left, Rúa do Valiño. Head down this road, keeping the park Xardin de Fontiñas on your left. The road bends gently left and continues heading down into town. At the end of the park, the road bears right along Calle Fontiñas then bears right again at the Bar Londres and becomes Rúa da Fonte dos Concheiros. This bends left to meet a number of crossing roads. Head diagonally across to the cobbled Rúa dos Concheiros and continue further into the city centre. Follow this street as it bends gently upwards to the right and becomes Rúa de San Pedro. Cross over the Rúa das Rodas (N-550). Go straight up Rúa das Casas Reais. Turn left along Rúa da Algalia de Arriba to enter the Praza de Cervantes. Turn right along Rúa da Acibechería and into the Praza da Inmaculada. Head straight on to an archway and tunnel under a white coloured building. This opens out onto the Praza do Obradoiro and the Cathedral is on the left. Mission accomplished!(E)
