Day 20 Mansilla de las Mulas – Leon – 17km
The Camino leads out of Mansilla by way of a medieval bridge over the River Elsa and then leads onto a dirt track that once again runs alongside the N120. The route will hug the N120 until Leon. The walking today is easy with only one small rise and fall between Arcahueja and Leon.
As the day passes it will become obvious that you are closing on another major city, the last major city until Santiago, though Ponferrada is a very large town which you will pass through within the next few days.
There are plenty of villages and places to stop for food and coffee all day with some of the villages only 1km apart.
It is worth while getting into Leon early and leaving your rucksack in a hostel or Albergue and exploring. There is a major youth hostel beside the main pilgrim’s albergue. This is a better place to stay if you want time to get out and see Leon. The Convent Santa Maria, another albergue, closes at 10pm and will lock their doors and not allow pilgrims entry after that time. I had one pilgrim that could not gain entry to the albergue sleep on the floor in my room at the youth hostel.
Leon is one of Spain’s most beautiful cities and you could do a lot worse than taking a day off here and exploring all it has to offer.
What to see:
- Leon Cathedral
- Hostel de San Marcos – Leon