STAGE: Alcaracejos - Hinojosa del Duque

We set off along a road with a stone fence that leads to Villanueva del Duque. A granite cross rises up shortly after leaving the road, and we now walk between country houses and farm and livestock buildings. Villanueva soon appears in front of us, between pastures and fields. We enter the town via the Cruz de la Fuente Vieja, a pedestal with a granite column crowned by a metal cross. Through streets with colourful linteled houses we reach the square of the 15th century church of San Mateo and the Town Hall. The Camino de Santiago street leads us to the exit of the town by the Calvario, where there is a pedestal similar to the one we saw at the entrance. Crossing a road that leads to Peñarroya, we continue straight on.

A few steps further on, Fuente la Lancha appears in the distance. Once again, we shall be marching between farms and small houses in pasture and sown fields, dotted here and there with the characteristic holm oaks of the Pedroches Valley with their wide crowns and thick, twisted trunks. We pass by an old oven and continue our walk straight ahead. After fording the Lanchar stream, in 3.5 km. We enter the village of Fuente la Lancha, to reach the Plaza de la Iglesia de Santa Catalina, a haven of peace for pilgrims. We leave next to a beautiful granite cross in the direction of the Guadamatilla river.

After 7 km you reach the Virgen de Guía recreational area. Passing behind some industrial warehouses, in 3.5 km. we reach the first houses of Hinojosa del Duque.