| Cycling in Spain is a wonderful pastime as the country | | | | other! |
| is vast and beautifulwith many extremely quiet and | | | | However there are switches at intervals along the wall |
| relatively traffic and pollution free roads. | | | | but they are notalways easy to find in the dark! |
| However in addition to the normal highways and | | | | The route passes through some stunning scenery and |
| byways Spain also has a wonderful systemof Via | | | | alongside numerous rivers. |
| Verdes, or Greenways, which are disused railway | | | | It is so peaceful and quiet away from all the traffic, and |
| tracks that have been renovated and turned | | | | the bird and wild flowersare magnificent, particularly if |
| intocycling and walking tracks. There are around 1,500 | | | | you go in the spring which really is the best timeas it is |
| kilometres of Greenways throughout Spain (more than | | | | too hot for such energetic activity in the summer.It also |
| 58 tracks),of varying length. They have all been | | | | goes pastel Peñón de |
| carefully prepared to provide anexcellent surface for | | | | Zaframagón which is a spectacular |
| cyclists, walkers, horse riders, elderly people and | | | | mountainousarea with the largest breeding colony of |
| childrenand even mobility impaired people. They allow | | | | vultures in Andalucia. |
| you to explore some wonderfulhidden corners of | | | | So having arrived at Olvera station, still just about in |
| Spain far away from traffic, noise and pollution. | | | | one piece, werepaired to our room and collapsed! |
| Passing through diverse scenery, depending on the via | | | | Then having showered and changedwe had a |
| Verde in question, you willdiscover amazing valleys and | | | | surprisingly good meal in the restaurant, a drink in the |
| mountains, impressive bridges and viaductsmore than | | | | bar,and then a much needed nights rest. |
| one hundred years old and pass through some | | | | After breakfast the following day we collected our |
| mysterious tunnelsthat once let the trains through. Be | | | | bicycles, I expectyou were wondering when I was |
| careful in these however as some of themcan be a | | | | going to come to them, which we hiredfrom the |
| kilometre long and pitch black in the middle if the lights | | | | station, and then set off for the return journey to Punto |
| goout when you are half way through!! | | | | Serrano. |
| Don't worry if you don't own a cycle, or at least don't | | | | This was great fun, neither myself nor my husband |
| have it in Spain with you,because at many of the | | | | had cycled for yearsand we thoroughly enjoyed it,it |
| stations you can hire bicycles. | | | | certainly beats walking! For the most thesurface of the |
| We did the Via Verde that runs from Puerto Serrania | | | | track is very good and of course being an old railway |
| to Olvera in the | | | | linebasically pretty level. The cycle ride was a fraction |
| Provinces of Cadiz and Sevilla, Andalucia. It is a total of | | | | of the walking timebut we still didn't mange to get |
| 36 kms. longand passes through 30 tunnels and over 4 | | | | through the longest tunnel without the lightsgoing out |
| viaducts.The stations at either end and oneen-route | | | | and it is virtually impossible to cycle in the pitch dark. |
| have been renovated and provide bar and restaurant | | | | If you are already cycling in Spain on your own bike |
| facilitiesplus hotel accommodation for the weary | | | | then it would bea good idea to have it fitted with a light. |
| traveller, or in our case thetotally and utterly exhausted | | | | A torch would be handy in any case. |
| traveller!! | | | | Also be sure to carry water as there is nowhere to |
| We set out from Puerto Serrano and walked to | | | | get any between stationsand even in the spring it can |
| Coripe, the first stationdown the line, about 15 kms.Here | | | | get pretty hot. |
| we had a very pleasant lunch and generallyrecharged | | | | So if you are new to cycling in Spain you are in for a |
| our batteries before completing the next and final | | | | real treatwith so many via verdes to explore. In many |
| stage to | | | | cases there is a functioning stationnearby which |
| Olvera. The scenery was magnificent and the tunnels | | | | makes it easier for you to arrive at the greenway of |
| great fun althoughrather frightening when the lights go | | | | your choice and RENFE,the Spanish railway network, |
| out as they are all on time switchesbut don't seem to | | | | offer some good deals on taking your bike by train. |
| give you long enough to get from one end to the | | | | |