The Railway Route, along the Eo Green Way

The Railway route runs through the council of San Tirso de Abres, in the westernmost part of Asturias. These lands are bathed by the river Eo, which in 2007 was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO as Río Eo, Oscos, and Terras de Burón.

The greatest charm of this Greenway lies in its historical and cultural value, as it runs along what was once the mining railway that linked A Pontenova, in Galicia, with San Tirso de Abres, in Asturias.

Numerous examples of its industrial heritage are still preserved, such as a hydroelectric power station, or the six tunnels along the route, which are one of its most characteristic features.

So, if you feel like it, we can do a bit of industrial tourism while hiking in a natural environment of great beauty, a fantastic option!

The Railway Route or Eo Greenway (PR. AS-300) is one of the easiest routes you can do in Asturias.

It is13 kilometres long (outward and return), in a linear itinerary that lasts approximately 3 hours and a half (in total) with hardly any gradient, with only 45 metres of elevation gain.

All this makes it a perfect route to do with children (always adapting the distance to their abilities), even with a pushchair that can withstand some bumps. Of course, it can also be done with a pushchair without any problem.

The road surface is quite good, so if you wear a pair of hiking shoes it will be enough. In fact, in general, it is also suitable for people with reduced mobility who use wheelchairs or other aids.

Due to its low gradient and the few obstacles along the way, another good alternative would be to do it by bicycle. And don't worry if you don't have one, because in San Tirso de Abres there are several companies that rent them.

Whichever option you choose , don't forget to take a torch or headlamp with you (your mobile phone's torch could be useful), as you will go through many tunnels that may not always be illuminated.

If you want to bring your dog along, we're sure he'll have a great time! There is fresh water in the form of streams all along the route, so you can drink as much as you like. There is also some access to the river for him to splash around in.

The Railway route runs through the area occupied by the old mining railway that ran along the Villaodrid-Ribadeo line in Galicia during the first half of the 20th century.

It runs between the Neira mountain range and the Lorenzana valley, an area that years ago was home to several iron deposits, the extraction of which was carried out by the company Sociedad Minera de Villaodrid (SMV).

However, part of the 33 kilometres of its route crossed the Asturian council of San Tirso de Abres, where 13 of them were reconverted by the Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles into a Greenway, within its project for the recovery of disused railway routes.

This train operated from 1903 to 1964, and after its transport by rail, the iron left by ship from the Ribadeo loading dock (which can still be seen next to the bridge of Los Santos) to Vizcaya and other European ports.

The Railway route starts in San Tirso de Abres (Exemplary Town of Asturias in 2011), and goes as far as the O Cairo stream, right on the border between Asturias and Galicia, although it can be extended 6 kilometres further on tarmac to A Pontenova (Galicia).

But let's take it one step at a time...

You can park your vehicle anywhere in the village, and one place where there is plenty of parking is near the bridge, next to the recreational area along the river.

The route begins on one side of the access road to San Tirso, very close to the bend before the bridge, and in its first metres it passes next to the old train station, which is now a private house.

Right there you will also see a cylindrical building, which seems to have been a deposit, probably for coal.

One of the most striking aspects of the route are its six tunnels. The first, the San Tirso tunnel (90 metres long), is found shortly after you start walking, some 300 metres from the start.

Then come the Volta tunnel (90 metres and curved), the central tunnel (65 metres, the shortest), the Pedrido tunnel (100 metres), the Carriceiro tunnel (130 metres), and the Asela tunnel (the longest at 173 metres).

All of them are properly lit with lights supplied by solar panels, but some of them may fail to light up when you pass through, so don't forget to turn on your headlamp or torch to be on the safe side and avoid stumbling or splashing, as there are numerous leaks and puddles.

The Eo Greenway has four Protected Natural Spaces in less than 5 kilometres around: the Biosphere Reserve Río Eo, Oscos, and Terras de Burón, as well as the SCI (Site of Community Importance) Río Eo, the Special Protection Area of Natural Values Carballido, and the Special Protection Area of Natural Values Río Eo (belonging to the Natura 2000 Network).

The path is easy to follow, so you can relax and let yourself be carried away while you listen to the sound of the river Eo, another of the protagonists of this route, which is home to animals such as trout, sea trout and salmon.

The riverbed of the Eo is also surrounded by a dense riverside forest, dominated by alders, willows, ash trees and even chestnut trees, but we can also see several eucalyptus plantations, an abundant species in this area.

The only tricky part of the route is the point where you have to cross the three lanes of the N-640 road in the middle of a bend, at around kilometre 1.5 of the route. There are not too many cars passing, but you should take extreme caution, especially if you are travelling with children or dogs. And remember that if you are on a bicycle, the most prudent thing to do is to get off and cross on foot.

Shortly after this crossing we will find two picnic tables, the only ones on the entire route, and very close to them the access (a little closed) to the old hydroelectric power station, the central do Louredal, which dates back to 1932.

Further on, on the right hand side, there is a power station that is in operation and to which access is forbidden, and next to it a metal footbridge that crosses the river at quite a height.

If you feel like it and you don't have vertigo, following the route you can also take a detour on the right hand side, going down to the Piago Mayor suspension bridge, one of the most beautiful and bucolic points of the route.

Returning to the path, a few metres further on (also on the right) you will find the descent to the salmon ladder, a curious invention that prevents salmon from getting trapped in the dams and allows them to continue their journey upstream.

This is another of the most picturesque spots on the route, which also has a deafening, abundant and photogenic waterfall.

Returning to the path, in the leafiest part of this green riverside forest, we must be careful not to overlook another interesting spot, the spillway, which was built to provide an outlet for a small stream under the tracks.

It is on the left hand side and you have to go down a short but fairly steep path, which is indicated by a discreet arrow on the main path.

The last representative element of the old mining railway we will come across is a "caseto", a small masonry building with slate roofs, which was used to store the coal that was used as fuel for the railway.

We will soon reach the end of the route, marked by the O Cairo stream, the natural border between Asturias and Galicia. At this point you can choose to turn back or continue another 6 kilometres on tarmac to A Pontenova, where the calcining furnaces are located, where the ore that was later transported by train was transformed.

The Railway Route is a great example of the conservation of Asturian industrial heritage, designed to promote ecotourism based on respect for nature, sport and, above all, learning about the history of Asturias.

But wait! Don't leave without visiting El Llano, capital of the council. You can stroll through its streets, visit the parish church of San Salvador, the chapel of San Juan, the Town Hall square or the old palace of Condado de Altamira ("O Pacio"), which dates back to the 16th century.

If you prefer, you can rest in the recreational area or, if you still have enough energy left, discover the river Eo on board a canoe, a great plan!