The Northern Way 

The origin of the pilgrimage to Santiago along the coast of Asturias and Galicia can be traced back to the time when the tomb of St. James was discovered, around the year 820. The roads of the ancient Kingdom of Asturias were trend-setters in directing the flow of pilgrims to Santiago.

Previous to the decision adopted by the Spanish monarchs in the 11th-12th centuries to boost the so called French Way as the privileged Jacobean itinerary, thus organizing the Christian realms of the north of the peninsula, the route of the coast was as vibrant and active as the rest of the “primitive” Jacobean roads. However, this promotion of the French Way did not result in the declination of the Asturian and Galician routes, on the contrary, it strengthened the pilgrimage flocking from the area of León-Oviedo towards the end of the 11th century.

The Northern way is not just a simple road along the coast for the exclusive use of Asturian inhabitants and the shoreline communities. A medieval route becomes the corridor of an international Jacobean flow of pilgrims which is lead to the sanctuaries of Oviedo and Santiago de Compostela. Although it was not as massive as the French Way, it was until the 18th century the silent witness of an intense stream of pilgrims. These believers who made their journey by land came from France. Another way was by sea, stopping at the ports in the Basque country or Cantabria, which was the route followed by those pilgrims living in the Atlantic countries (England, Flanders, Germany and the Scandinavian countries). After their journey by sea, they walked towards the sanctuary of San Salvador de Oviedo and visited St James Cathedral.

After their arrival at Castropol, the pilgrims had to board a ship to cross the ria Ría de Ribadeo or otherwise they had to stroll along its right border towards the bridge of Santiago de Abres to be able to explore the Galician territory. Nowadays, the bridge of Os Santos, built between Asturias and Ribadeo, greatly simplifies this entrance. Once they had reached the Galician territory, the route is well documented: it departed from Ribadeo, a port where many pilgrims disembarked as well, and it went deep into the valleys of Vilanova de Lourenzá and Mondoñedo; the trail continued through the scenic highlands and lowlands of Vilalba and Guitriz, receiving the warm hospitality of the monastery of Sobrado dos Monxes, before linking in Arzúa with the French Way.

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Vegadeo - Santiago (10 stages)
Ribadeo - Santiago (10 stages)