Last Stage of the Camino Francés, from O Pedrouzo to the Obradoiro

The last stage of the Camino Francés leaves from O Pedrouzo, in the municipality of O Pino, and ends in Praza do Obradoiro after 20.2 kilometres. The Xunta estimates it at about five hours' walking: ten kilometres to A Lavacolla, beside the airport, another 5.6 to Monte do Gozo and a little over four on the descent through the city to the cathedral. If you don't have the whole day, start at Monte do Gozo and walk only the end, independently or with the guided departure from Galicia Experience.

The stage, stretch by stretch

From O Pedrouzo you rejoin the Camino at the petrol station at the village entrance and go along tracks among eucalyptus trees and hamlets: Santo Antón, where the climb towards Santiago begins, O Amenal, Cimadevila and San Paio. A Lavacolla marks the halfway point. Its name is linked to the stream where pilgrims used to wash before entering the city. Monte do Gozo, at 380 metres, is the hill from which you first see the cathedral's towers; there stands the large hostel built in 1993. From there the Camino descends through districts and streets to the Porta do Camiño and the old town.

To plan it, the Xunta's official Camino website offers the Camino Francés guide as a PDF and the route to download to your phone. To get to the starting point, look at the regional buses between Santiago and O Pedrouzo on the Galician Public Transport planner (bus.gal) or on its phone line, 981 546 100; you can also go by taxi from the centre.

With a guide: Pilgrim for a Day

Galicia Experience, a company of official tourist guides of Galicia with an office on Rúa de Tras Salomé, organises a short version for those who aren't coming as pilgrims. They take you about nine kilometres back from Santiago, the guide waits for you at Monte do Gozo and you walk down together to the Obradoiro. It lasts about three and a half hours and leaves on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10:00, from March to October. It costs €40 for adults and €25 for ages 6 to 15; under-6s don't pay. It includes walking poles and a cap, a gift and photos of the morning, and is held in Spanish or English. The listing speaks of hotel pickup and also gives its office as a meeting point, so confirm where you meet when booking. There is no departure on 1, 5 and 6 January, 25 July, or 24, 25 and 31 December.

The Compostela: what counts and what doesn't

The Compostela is free and is issued by the Pilgrim's Office, at Rúa Carretas, 33, every day from 10:00 to 19:00, except 25 December and 1 January. To request it you must have walked or ridden on horseback at least the last 100 kilometres continuously along a single route, or 200 by bicycle. Those who do only the minimum distance stamp their credential at the start and end of each stage, with the date. Walking only the last stage, or the stretch from Monte do Gozo, does not entitle you to it. On arrival you scan a QR code, fill in your details and they send you a code that you note on the credential; it is handed over in person and one at a time, never by phone or online.