The stage, step by step
Leaving A Fonsagrada and reaching O Padrón
Make the most of A Fonsagrada to have breakfast, shop and check your pack. At the beginning, you can pass through Albergue do Padrón in O Padrón and Fonte do Pastizal before entering the more open stretch.
Gentle climbs before the main descent
The profile gains height between km 3.8 and km 5, with 69 m of elevation gain, and climbs again between km 5.5 and km 8.3. These are not extreme ramps, but they build up effort before the main descent.
Descending towards the lower ground
Between km 8.3 and km 12, you lose 317 m at an average gradient of 8.5%. Casa Villar and Casa García are in this section and can serve as passing landmarks, but do not assume they will be open for a stop.
Final undulations and arrival
After the descent, there are still two significant climbs: between km 15.3 and km 16.8, and between km 17 and km 18.8. Nacemento Río Neira and Fonte do Crego are water landmarks along this section; towards the end, O Cádavo's services and accommodation come into view.
What to see on stage 8
A Fonsagrada
This is the starting point and one of the highest settlements on the Camino Primitivo, at 952 m. It is also the last place with a wide range of services before you enter the stage's more sparsely populated section.
O Padrón
O Padrón is the clearest intermediate settlement of the day and still appears close to the start. If you need to adjust your pace or check your pack, it is the last inhabited place to keep firmly in mind before continuing.
Nacemento Río Neira
The source of the Neira river appears well into the route, in an area where the landscape has already descended from the hills towards the meadows and woodland of eastern Galicia. It is a useful landmark for organising the second half of the stage.
Where to sleep in O Cádavo
A Fonsagrada offers several places to stay, including Albergue Casa Cuartel, Albergue Os Chaos, Albergue Pensión Cantábrico, Albergue de Peregrinos Ramón Rodríguez and Albergue Casa De Pasarín. If you want to split the stage, O Padrón has Albergue do Padrón, and Complejo Rural O Piñeiral is also nearby. On reaching O Cádavo, you can choose between Albergue de Peregrinos do Cádavo (Baleira), Albergue San Mateo and Albergue Porta Santa.
Where to eat and refuel
In A Fonsagrada, you can set off well supplied: Restaurante Cantábrico, A Parrilla, Pulpería Caldeira, Pulpería O Candal, O Bodegón, Café-Bar Demetrio, Onde Leo, Dia and Covirán. Along the way, options are limited, with Casa Villar, Casa García and Casa Bortelón as isolated reference points. In O Cádavo, the options return: Restaurante Neireo, Moneda, Eligio, A' Plaza, O Recuncho d' Vane, Claudio, Casa Ría and Alpi.
Practical tips for this stage
Shop before setting off
Services are scarce between A Fonsagrada and O Cádavo. Do your shopping in A Fonsagrada and carry enough food so that you are not dependent on Casa Villar, Casa García or Casa Bortelón.
Use the marked springs
Fonte do Pastizal is near the beginning, Nacemento Río Neira appears in the second half and Fonte do Crego is closer to the finish. Set off with a full bottle and use these landmarks to plan your water.
Take the descent steadily
The descent between km 8.3 and km 12 loses 317 m at an average gradient of 8.5%. It is long and can put strain on your quads and knees, especially in hot weather.
Book ahead if you want to sleep in O Cádavo
Accommodation is concentrated in A Fonsagrada and at the end of the stage. If you expect to arrive late, book before setting off so that the final kilometres do not turn into a search for a bed.
Frequently asked questions about stage 8
Is it easier than the previous stage?
It is shorter, at 22.8 km and an average of 6.5 hours, but still includes 514 m of ascent and 752 m of descent. The effort is spread across several climbs and descents.
Where is the steepest descent?
The main descent runs between km 8.3 and km 12. It loses 317 m over 3.8 km, at an average gradient of 8.5%, so take it steadily.
Can I find food halfway through the stage?
There are isolated stops such as Casa Villar, Casa García and Casa Bortelón, but no continuous range of options. The sensible approach is to shop in A Fonsagrada and treat O Cádavo as the next reliable place to eat and restock.
