Day 23 Astorga – Rabanal del Camino – 19.5km
Take food and fill your water bottle before leaving Astorga. It is only 19.5km to Rabanal; however it is 19.5km uphill all day. Make sure you have money to last two days until Ponferrada. There are a few villages where you will certainly get water, but food cannot be guaranteed until Rabanal.
Underfoot the route is easy walking mostly along an old rarely used asphalt road. There is lots of tree cover during the day as you walk up into the Leon Mountains.
There are many grass fields where it is pleasant to stop for lunch and rest if you are walking through the mid day sun.
The route rises by 250 meters during this day, however by the end it feels like much more. The only problem with dogs was encountered along this part of the route in the village of El Ganso. To avoid them walk along the road rather than the path that goes through the centre of the village.
In Rabanal you will have the choice to two great Albergues. One is private at the bottom of the village and the other is run the UK Confraternity of St James. I have stayed in the latter twice and highly recommend it.
Click to read a post of one of the wardens at Rabanal del Camino