Cycling tourism route. Eo Greenway

The Eo Greenway follows the old railway line that once carried iron along the border between Asturias and Galicia to the Cantabrian Sea. The route is situated in one of the Principality’s least well-known nature reserves, the Eo River, Oscos and Terras de Burón Biosphere Reserve. From San Tiso to A Pontenova, we’ll cycle through a lush riverside forest surrounded by mountains.

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Address O Chao, A Pontenova

Distance Distance: 12 kms
Difficulty Difficulty: Very easy
Total ascent Total ascent: 210 m
Maximum altitude Maximum altitude: 96 m
Minimum altitude Minimum altitude: 33 m
IBP index IBP index: 4

Route Family routes
Type of bicycle Type of bicycle: Gravel,MTB
Type of route Type of route: Linear
Return by Train Return by Train: No

Starting point Starting point: O Chao (San Tiso)
Ending point Ending point: To Pontenova (Lugo)
Estimated duration Estimated duration: Half day

The Eo Greenway is a linear route (there and back). With virtually no elevation gain, it is an ideal route for cyclists of all abilities, including children. Its surface makes it accessible even to people with reduced mobility.

In San Tiso, before crossing the bridge over the River Eo, we come to the starting point of this route, which is signposted throughout. Three hundred metres on, we come to the first of the six tunnels that connect this cycle route and set it apart from the rest. These tunnels, ranging from 65 to 173 metres in length, demonstrate the dominance of industrial architecture over this rugged landscape.

The cycle path continues alongside the River Eo, meandering along, passing a number of waterfalls and occasionally disappearing into the thicket of alders, willows, ash trees and chestnut trees. Before emerging from the hillside, the path crosses the N-640 main road. The Greenway leads us to the power station, now in ruins, before entering another of the tunnels carved into the rock. We reach the metal footbridge connecting both banks, where we discover the ‘casetos’ – small slate-walled structures that were used to store the coal that fuelled the mining railway.

We can also take a short detour along the route to leave our bikes and walk down to the Piago Mayor suspension bridge, or the salmon ladder a little further on, or even head down to the banks of this river, where trout, salmon and lamprey are still plentiful.

We arrive at the point where Galicia and Asturias meet. The O Cairo stream acts as a natural border – as indicated by the change to a tarmac surface – and marks the point where we can choose to turn back or carry on, as suggested in the track, for six kilometres to the village of A Pontenova, now entering the province of Lugo, where it is well worth taking a look at the old battery of lime kilns.