Day 4 of our Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage. Only 24km today but mostly uphill. Walked from Belorado to San Juan de Ortega.

Lots of beautiful villages to see. This is a lovely stretch with a village about every 4km except for the last 12km.

First stop at Tosantos, Camino del Meson. Unfortunately no breakfast. It was Sunday and everything was closed. On our way out we saw the 12th century Ermita de Nuestra Senora de Pena; a Church dug out of the mountain.

Next stop Villambistia, our breakfast stop. We saw the Villambistia Fountain where Pilgrims immerse their heads to wash away all tiredness. We did not partake in the ritual.

We continued our journey up the mountain, Villafranca Montes de Oca to the top of Montes de Oca, to Arraya de Oca where we found an Oasis after the top of the hill climb. A family had set up an alfresco in the woods with refreshments for a donation. We had watermelon, mineral water and Fanta for 3 Euros.

The final stretch of woodlands to San Juan de Ortega and our overnight stop, the Hotel Rural La Henera. We were both bitten by March Flies on this last stretch.

We had dinner with the other pilgrims from the hotel in the bar. The pilgrims in the monastery albergue ate in the monastery.

It was quite cold in the rooms. I grabbed a blanket from the wardrobe and wrapped myself in it and also had a sheet and blanket over me in the bed. Ron and I both awoke with bites. Not sure if it was just March flies or also some bed bugs.