Practical
Waymarking on the Ruta de la Lana: How Not to Get Lost
The Lana is, on the whole, well waymarked — thanks to local associations and volunteers — but it sits just beyond the comfort of the Francés, and there are a few places where you need your wits.
Where the arrows fade
On three or four stages you can go two or three kilometres without a reassuring yellow arrow, and feel a flicker of doubt. Don't panic. Where the route doesn't branch, it simply isn't marked as often: keep straight, eyes open, and a stone with your yellow arrow will appear to confirm the way. Just after Cuenca is a classic stretch like this.
Watch the overlaps
In places the Lana shares ground with other caminos, and it's easy to follow the wrong arrows. We did exactly that once, adding a few needless kilometres and ending up precisely where we'd foolishly turned off. When two routes cross, slow down and check.
Carry a backstop
The Soria federation publishes GPX tracks, including gentler variants that avoid dangerous stretches of road near Retortillo and the Caracena canyon. Load them on your phone as a backstop — not to stare at all day, but for the moment the arrows go quiet and you'd rather be sure.
“Always straight, eyes open — a stone with your yellow arrow will appear.”