Cabanas

Cabanas faces Pontedeume across the mouth of the Eume, the two towns joined by the river crossing that gives its neighbour a name. It's a relaxed place built around the estuary, with the Fragas do Eume natural park, one of the best-preserved Atlantic riverside forests in Europe, rising inland.

The star attraction is Praia da Magdalena, a sheltered beach of fine white sand about a kilometre long, backed by a large pine grove and washed by calm estuary water. The Camino used to pass right beside it, and today it's only a few hundred metres off route, a lovely spot to kick off your boots near the end of a long first day.

From the upper edge of town the route drops steeply toward the centre, then follows the main avenue to a roundabout where the long stone bridge carries you over the Eume into Pontedeume. The Torreón dos Andrade, where you can stamp your credential, rises on the far bank.