Vias
Verdes, Spain (continued). This selection of photographs
continues our exploration of Spain's new greenways, which are based
on the trackbeds of the country's abandoned railways. At a time
(December 2015) when the UK government is poised to impose a huge
reduction in the funding for such projects at home, it is instructive
to note that the Vias Verdes network is still being expanded. Presumably,
Spain's national government and local authorities see economic benefit
in the tourist revenue to be gained from such investment.
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Above:
The next line explored was the Plazaola
Greenway between Andoian (15 minutes from San Sebastian) and
Pamplona. The Via Verde here is currently about 50 km long and runs
up the heavily wooded, and deserted, Leitzaran Valley before entering
Navarra and passing through the Uitzi Tunnel, which is 2.7 km long
(over 1¾ miles). In this picture 11 km into the trail, the
via verde passes the mouth of a tunnel on the original mineral line
(iron ore) near Olloki station. 7th July 2015. (Tim Schofield)
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Above:
A viaduct over the River Leitzaran (one of 12) shortly after
Olloki. The pure waters of this river contain large trout and crayfish.
7th July 2015. (Tim Schofield) |
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Above:
A bridge shortly after the viaduct above. The valley is narrow
and heavily wooded, and was dripping with moisture when our party
cycled along it. 7th July 2015. (Tim Schofield) |
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Left:
18 km into the trail, this impressive viaduct is
actually an aqueduct – Mustar Aqueduct, which took
water to the Ameraun hydro electric plant. The railway passed
underneath, as the next photograph reveals. 7th July 2015.
(Tim Schofield) |
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Above:
The railway passes beneath the aqueduct. 7th July 2015. (Tim
Schofield) |
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Above:
The contorted course of the original mineral line was straightened
when the line was extended for passengers to Pamplona. The unlined
tunnel on the right was for the mineral line, whilst the via verde
takes the lined and arched tunnel to the left. Altogether, this via
verde contains over 40 tunnels. 7th July 2015. (Tim Schofield) |
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Above:
The original terminus of the line was in Guizpuzcoa (one
of the three regions of the Basque country). As you pass into Navarra
for the extention to Pamplona, the landscape changes and becomes greener,
and the views wider. The meadow on the left was being scythed by hand.
7th July 2015. (Tim Schofield) |
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Above:
A rock cutting nr Leitza, where there is an 800m tunnel.
This view is highly reminiscent of Devil's Gulch on the Elan Valley
Railway in Wales, which was used in the early years of the 20th century
to construct four large dams in the Elan Valley for Birmingham's public
water supply. 7th July 2015. (Tim Schofield) |
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Above:
Having passed through the 2½ km Uitzi Tunnel, our
group descended on a ledge to the end of their ride in Lukenberri
where the far building is a restaurant, noisy with Spanish families
eating lunch at 3.30pm. The signs on the route showed that the via
verde has now been constructed as far as Exteberri (close the the
existing Pamplona line). Taking the train or coach here would permit
cycling the entire trail in one direction only, back to San Sebastian
– but our group did it both ways. 7th July 2015. (Tim Schofield) |