Camino Sanabrés: Stage 2

From Tábara we continue in search of the ZA-121 road, taking it in the direction of Pueblica de Valverde. Shortly after, we will have to leave it to take a path on the left hand side, considerably shortening the alternative that leaves the church of Santa María. This other route continues straight ahead along a path besieged by windmills to a crossroads, where you must turn left and reconnect with the other route on the same road.

Following the previous path, we will continue a good distance until we see that the path begins to narrow and becomes a track. Following it, you will reach a stream, which you cross and follow along the same path, where you will come to several crossroads, where you will first have to turn to the right, then to the left, and just as you pass by a house, you will have to turn to the right. Right at this point, the road forks into two slopes:

• If we decide to follow the traditional variant we must continue towards Bercianos. There will be no problem, because a vertical signposting will confirm that we are on the right track. We crossed the local road and after a while we arrived at this town, protected by the Valverde valley. From here we continue to Santa Croya de Tera, leaving from Las Eras Street and crossing over a tributary of the Tera. A few metres further on, turn left and then right, and you will see a cellar carved out of the same soil. We will have to make a few more detours, but as we are all well signposted, we will continue along parcel tracks until we come across an irrigation canal. After it, we leave in search of the road and access to the nucleus of Santa Croya de Tera, where we will find some other service.
• On the other hand, if we choose to head towards Villanueva de las Peras, we must continue straight ahead. A couple of kilometres later, we cross a road and continue straight ahead, reaching in just one and a half kilometres Villanueva de las Peras. From here, we take the road along the Calle de Abajo and, one kilometre further on, turn left first and then right to meet the rest of the pilgrims who chose to go to Bercianos before Santa Croya de Tera. Unlike the previous alternative, in Villanueva de las Peras we will find a few services.

Once we have reconnected, we continue along the same road, crossing the river Tera by a bridge and quickly get to Santa Marta de Tera, end of stage and where we can visit the church of Santa Marta, one of the oldest Romanesque temples in Spain and which offers a light show twice a year, coinciding with the equinoxes of spring and autumn. It also houses the oldest known carving of Santiago Apóstol Peregrino, located at its southern entrance.

Bear in mind

Despite having quite a few slopes, most of them are soft and will not put too much stress on our legs. In the case of choosing the first variant, it should be noted that in Bercianos de Valverde we will not find any service. This stage does not pose any additional difficulties for cyclists or people with reduced mobility.