San Roque del Acebal

San Roque del Acebal is a small locality in the municipality of Llanes, in Asturias. The name combines the dedication to Saint Roch, the medieval plague saint associated with pilgrimage and healing, with Acebal, meaning a place covered in holly trees. The combination suggests a votive chapel on a holly-covered ridge, a typical Camino wayside installation providing spiritual waymarking and shelter.

The locality sits on elevated terrain above the valley approaching Llanes, with the medieval town visible ahead and the Atlantic coast to the north. The holly woodland of the acebal gives the local environment an evergreen character even in winter.

For pilgrims on the Camino del Norte, San Roque del Acebal is effectively the final waypoint before the route descends into Llanes, with the chapel of Saint Roch providing a traditional pre-arrival spiritual pause.