From Soraluze to Osintxu

A good reference point to find the start of the route in Soraluze is Olea Kalea. It should be noted that the first 400 meters are a shared section. You leave the schools on the left, go along an overpass and, when the road starts descending, you will see on the left the beginning of the greenway next to a small park with a fountain and a few parking lots. We will see and go through the route’s first tunnel and, from here ,we enter a very wild section next to the Deba River through a forest of pines and deciduous trees. We go along an asphalt surface, on a splendid bidegorri (bike path) until we go through an underpass. Starting from this underpass, you advance alongside the road, coming immediately to the Osintxu neighbourhood (km 2.8).

The views of the town are magnificent, featuring the river and its beautiful stone bridge with 4 spans that enable you to cross into the town. It is worth stopping here if necessary. Osintxu, if you prefer, is also a good place to start the route. A little further on, a fountain with benches offers us a stopping point before entering, at km 3.5, a more industrial area. Here there is also access to the greenway from the GI-627 road, with the entrance to the industrial estate being the entrance to our route.

On our way to Mekolalde

After another underpass, we continue enjoying the tranquillity that comes with the bike lane until we reach the centre of Mekolalde without further complications. Here we have the possibility of connecting with the Vasco-Navarro Railway Greenway in its section running through the province of Gipuzkoa –so this excursion opens up many options!

But if we continue along our old Vascongados Railway, please note that the itinerary to follow at the fork or junction between the two greenways is the left branch. We will see a change of road surface (km 5), with the start of a compacted gravel section that advances between meadows and farmhouses.

We continue pedalling or walking. At km 5.85 there is a level crossing with an asphalt track, there is a welcome fountain with a bench right where the greenway turns at an angle of almost 180 degrees. There now begins a section with patches of somewhat degraded concrete, but we can still cycle without problems through a very cool forest, which will let us enjoy another very wild section.

Bergara

This section features the old station in ruins located at km 7.24, where there is now a rest area with benches and tables, a picnic area and shade. Without a doubt, the place is worth a stop as it is a magnificent viewpoint overlooking Bergara. The greenway here borders and marks the urban limit of Bergara along a railway line that features a very sinuous route.

At km 8.5 there is a level crossing with a road and the greenway surface has been upgraded here with compacted gravel. Attention! We are now entering the area with tunnels. We go through the first tunnel, which is short but without lighting –no problem! On coming out of the tunnel, we can continue to enjoy this fantastic balcony overlooking the houses of Bergara. T photos of this characteristic railway viewpoint are guaranteed.

The second tunnel (km 10.2), dug out of rock and also without lighting, makes us say goodbye (or agur, in the Basque language) to the views over the town, as we start another very pleasant, wooded section until tunnel 3. As you can already guess, this is the most rugged and perhaps the most attractive area of the entire route, where the greenway can become a little narrower, but without hindering our ability to cycle along it. We will come across a cut-and-cover tunnel (and this is now the fourth one) with a bend and lined walls (km 11.5). It is also unlit and at its midpoint it can be somewhat dark, so it is a good idea –as in all greenways– to bring along a flashlight or lights on your bike.

We finish in Antzuola

We are now close to the end. At km 13.1 we come across another rest area, which is the end point of the route. From here you can connect with a track that goes down alongside hamlets as far as Antzuola. And if you want, you can continue for about 600 metres to the entrance of tunnel 5, which, since it is closed and there is alternative route, really is the end of our trip.