What about going on a hiking route, on foot or on a bike, through old rehabilitated train tracks and in the middle of nature? In Spain, you can find more than 3,400 kilometres of these routes. You can tour these Greenways throughout the year, although spring is the best time to explore these easy, perfectly signposted paths.For the plan to be completely sustainable, it is best to forget about your car and travel by train to reach any of these Greenways. Below, you will find some examples of itineraries, as well as the railway station where you should get off to start the journey. Let's go!
Travel through one of the greenest areas in Spain following the route of an old mining train. This 36-kilometre-long Greenway offers two alternatives: from Tuñón to Cueva Huerta (Teverga) and from Tuñón to Ricao (Quirós).You should come off the train at Trubia. Once there, you will be able to cross the Valles del Oso, thus known for sheltering one of the last populations of the Cantabrian brown bear. As you go, you can immerse yourself in the landscapes of the Las Ubiñas – La Mesa Nature Reserve and visit the Quirós Ethnographic Museum, the Casa del Oso and the Teverga Prehistory Park. You will also find pre-Romanesque churches such as Tuñón's, and medieval villages, such as Bandujo.
To travel this Greenway that runs from Obregón to Puente Viesgo, stop at the Astillero railway station. 34 kilometres in length, this route is recommended for cycling, albeit doing it on foot can also be a good plan. You will be able to discover some of the wonders of Cantabrian nature: pas meadows, deciduous forests and beautiful spaces such as the Peña Cabarga Nature Reserve.Along the way, you will find the prehistoric caves of Puente Viesgo and the Palace of Gándara. And if you want to rest and take care of yourself, in the area you will find one of the most famous spas in Spain: Puente Viesgo.
Tren Burra, Castile and Leon
To explore special landscape in inland Spain, like the plains of cereal fields, you can travel the Tren Burra Greenway, almost 30 kilometres long. Simply get off Palencia railway station and begin the journey from the Canal de Castilla-Palencia dock. Did you know that the Canal of Castile is an 18th-century man-made body of water for tourist boats?Between the towns of Palencia and Castromocho, you can discover natural spaces such as the Laguna de la Nava and its multitude of bird species. And you will surely like to visit the Palencia Water Museum or stop at the countless churches and viewpoints. By bike or on foot, let Castile and Leon and its landscapes surprise you!
Between Calahorra and Arnedillo, this Greenway unfolds along the route taken long by trains carrying goods and passengers to the north of Spain. This 34-kilometre-long route crosses the Cidacos Valley. You can discover the Vico Monastery, the Quel Castle or ichnites sites (real footprints of Jurassic dinosaurs that lived here). The route begins in the Cidacos Park, in the town of Calahorra, where you need to get off to start your journey. When you reach the end, in Arnedillo, you can enjoy its thermal water pools and its famous spa.
The south of Spain also features Greenways that any fan of outdoor adventures will enjoy. Specifically, this is located in Huelva, between San Juan del Puerto (railway station where you will have to get off) and Valverde del Camino. For around 33 kilometres, you will travel through pine forests, cork oak meadows and eucalyptus trees. You will also discover the ethnographic complex of the Water Mills in Beas, mines and remains of Roman roads in Valverde del Camino and impressive examples of megalithic culture such as the Dolmen of Soto.
This Greenway runs along the old train tracks between Girona and Olot. In fact, this route was the main artery of the regions of La Garrotxa, La Selva and El Gironés and ran alongside the rivers Ter, Bruguent and Fluvià. This modest narrow-gauge railway (“carrilet” in Catalan) ran along what is now a 54-kilometre stretch, accessible to anyone. During the trip, you will be able to discover cultural heritage made up of Romanesque hermitages and the Castle of Hostoles, as well as urban complexes such as Anglès, Sant Feliu de Pallerols and the beautiful city of Girona. You will also go through landscapes as special as the Garrotxa volcanic area, the valley of the river Ter and the meadows of Salt and Girona. Fancy venturing on this journey among volcanoes?
