La Robla (Olvidado)
Camino Olvidado
La Robla has a good pilgrim albergue, a pension, Meson La Bogadera (a good restaurant), stores, and cafes. It's a former mining town — large banners once flew from the ayuntamiento reading "Save Coal Mining!" — and the evidence of that struggle is still visible. The first thing you see leaving town is a mine.
La Robla has basic services — supermarket, cafes, and a pharmacy.
From La Robla to La Magdalena (16 km), the route passes through several small villages struggling with the collapse of the mining industry. The houses tell the story: some abandoned and in ruins, others beautifully renovated but locked up tight as holiday homes, and a few still inhabited by year-round residents. It's not a particularly remarkable stage for scenery, but the human dimension is compelling.
The last kilometers into La Magdalena have some pleasant walking. The mountain and flat routes converge at La Magdalena.
