This is one the best greenways in Spain. This lineal route has 54 kilometers and links the town of Aralanzon and Monterrubio de la Demanada, both in the province of Burgos.

 

The greenway runs at the shadows of the beechs, oaks and pine trees.

 

It follows the route of an old mining railway from the early 20th century. It intended to communicate the mines of the Demanda Mountains with Burgos, from where the iron could be transported to the metallurgical industry of Bilbao. The railway was completed in 1901 and closed in 1910 becuase it could not give any profits.

 

Click on the map to see the route in Google Earth.

 

It only has an open tunnel that is iluminated, and at least two more that are closed and you must walkarround. In both cases you will find a few meters of steep slopes in which you will have to get off the bike. All the rest of the greenway is suitable for everybody despite age and fit. Path is made of compacted ground, and it is in a good condition and it is well signposted.

 

... but in a couple of spots we found broken balustrades that have not been repaired, what indicates that maintenance is being neglected ...

 

In any case, this greenway is ideal to "freshers" in travelling by bike. Our proposal to avoid using painers (not everybody have ones) is to use as base camp the beautifull town of Pineda de la Sierra. From there you can make two two-way stages, one to Monterrubio and the other to Arlanzon.

There are two nice days of easy riding without driving the car at all.

 

 

 

 

Stage 1 - from Pineda de la Sierra to Monterrubio de la Demanda (about 62km two ways)

 

From Pineda the route goes up to the Manquillo pass. Most of the time you will ride between trees.

Before reaching the pass, at your right you can see the old railway tunnel now closed that was used to cross the mountain ... but your path is on your left, and a very steep slope will take you to the 1412m of height of "El Manquillo".

From the pass the route quickly looses altitute to the other end of the tunnel, and once in the railway track again, you just have to let you go easilly to "Barbadillo de los Herreros". Before the town there is a iluminated tunnel of a few hundred meters. It use to be full of cattle, so you have to walk slowly and wait until the cows stand up and move away of your way. Pay attention to where you steep - the ground is full of cowpats ...

 

 

Sergio, Raul y Bea going up to Manquillo pass		Descent to Barbadillo

 

Barbadillo is a town with no much to do, and the two times we have been there, locals we not friendly at all.

From Barbadillo to Monterrubio, the path goes flat. Before arriving to Monterrubio you will find a nice picnic area where you can stop for launch.

 

In the way back, about 3km before the Manquillo pass, you have the alternative to take the paved road to avoid the steep sloops of the original route.

 

 

Stage 2 - from Pineda de la Sierra to Arlanzon (about 48km 2-way)

 

From Pineda to Arlanzon the route is mostly going down. First you will go round the Arlanzon reservoir, then you will cross a woodland, and last, arriving to Arlanzon in open land as you leave the mountain range.

 

Pineda de la Sierra from the greenway.

 

The way back to Pineda is not hard, but it is always going up.

Remember to refill water in Arlanzon, because you will not have any town or fountain until you reach Pineda again.