The Vía Verde del Plazaola reuses the route of a former railway line linking Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country, to Navarre, through a hilly forested region dotted with tunnels and viaducts.
A former railway between two regions
From Andoain, the path follows the disused line for about 40 km toward Leitza and then Irurtzun, in Navarre, crossing several tunnels cut through the ridge line that separates the two sides, some over a kilometre long. The scenery, dominated by beech and oak woods typical of the inland Basque Country, offers welcome shade over most of the route.
Getting the family ride right
The route, built on an old railway grade, has only a very gentle slope and suits kids pedalling on their own. The long tunnels, in near-total darkness for several hundred metres at a stretch, call for bike lights to ride safely and avoid startling younger riders.
When to go
April to October, as the cooler, damper climate of the inland Basque Country keeps the ride pleasant even in high summer, unlike some greenways in southern Spain. Autumn also brings attractive colour to the surrounding beech woods.
Good to know
Andoain, well served from San Sebastián, offers convenient train access to the start, with a wider choice of accommodation on the Basque side than in Navarre for organising a stay that combines this ride with the Gipuzkoa coast.
