Day 23 - Tower of Hercules to The Tower of Brantuas

very peaceful night with a few rain showers that have made the carpark wet but between showers the sun is shining and the clouds are great! A lot is said about the expense of parking here but the facilities are spotless, it’s super convenient and so quiet considering its proximity to the town centre, def one to use again. 

It’s less than ten minutes from the Marina to drive to the Tower of Hercules. Probably no more than it would take a fit person to walk it as we have to do some circles to get back on the main road. There’s no mistaking as we get near though, it’s a beast of a thing out on an outcrop of rock (as you’d expect). The car park is at the bottom of the hill and quite busy, it’s also where you buy the tickets though many don’t realise that until they climb up to the entrance!  

There are several sculptures and statues relating to a number of mythologies associated with this part of Galicia that are scattered across the headland. 

In the base of the Lighthouse there’s a museum with access to some of the original Roman foundations, and you can wind up through to the top of the tower if you can climb the 233 steps to the top. 

Whilst what you see on the outside is largely the 18th century restoration, theres a remarkable amount of the original Roman tower still inside, which was clad with the newer building. 

Graham gets the view from the top but I’m not able to do that many steps so make do with the view from the plinth which is still high if not so impressive.

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We are very short of fresh food so head to a convenience store I can see in the nearby residential area. On the way we pass a number of bars and decide to have a ‘menu’ lunch. Three courses with bread and beer/wine for €12 each! It involved a lot of salt and was pretty basic stuff but for not much more than the wine would have cost on its own at home it was a bargain! 

After eating and picking up the groceries we returned to the van. We decided that whilst we didn’t have time to try and walk the entire sculpture trail there were a couple we were keen to see and could get closer to them by driving just down the road. Unfortunately not close enough as the heavens opened and we were drowned, but we saw ‘Menhirs for Peace’ in a particularly moody sky!

Then back through the city in lots of traffic, needed a lot of focus ! We got on the slow road north-west, it wasn’t long before we were back in Galician countryside, green fields and pine slopes dotted with brightly coloured box houses and tall grain stores. But the towns and villages between rarely seemed appealing. 

Just short of Arteixo the road widened as lots of heavy industry became apparent alongside it with quarries alongside big factories. There was a town called A Laracha that seemed worth a stop another time perhaps, but I think it was the only one. 

As we turned onto smaller roads to the coast it was a bit reminiscent of some of the mid wales beach villages. Utility settlements trying to make something of their location.

 We did pull in as we passed a small castle but couldn’t see anywhere to stop so it was a snap from the van window! 

We passed through a couple of villages before turning to the mirador at Pontecesco. The road ran up between forestry plantation and there was no mistaking the fact that we’d arrived, The Tower of Brantuas with Christ on its top was a breathtaking surprise. A completely different scale than we’d anticipated. Bonus is that’s there’s a brilliant flat grass carpark under it that will be home for tonight! 

We have a walk around the viewpoint and it starts to rain again at which point we notice the open door in the bottom of the column. Inside there is spiral staircase so off he goes whilst I sit in the dry on the stairs.

It’s really narrow and the last bit is reached by a metal ladder with a small hole that brings you out under Christ’s feet. It’s incredibly high and very narrow! Even if my knee worked I would not up there! The view is spectacular though. 

Back at the van we park up and shelter from the rain, a couple of cars come and go after a quick walk round the buildings but looks like we’ll be alone tonight. Well except for the wild boar that Graham disturbed in the woods…. But hopefully he’ll keep his distance! 

Cumulative Mileage: 1022

Overnight: El Torre de Brantuas, Pontecesco (P4N 15114) , free

Spending: Lunch €24 , Shopping €21.40 Entrances fees at the Tower of Hercules €3