Ruta de cicloturismo. Vía verde del Eo

The Eo Greenway recovers the old route of the train that transported iron across the border of Asturias and Galicia to the Cantabrian Sea. The route is located in one of the most unknown natural reserves of the Principality, the Biosphere Reserve of the Eo River, Oscos and Terras de Burón. From San Tiso to A Pontenova we will 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: A Pontenova (Lugo)
Estimated duration Estimated duration: Half day

The Eo Greenway is a linear route (outward and return). With hardly any gradient, it is an ideal route for any type of cyclist, even children. Its pavement makes it accessible even for people with reduced mobility.

In San Tiso, before crossing the bridge over the river Eo, we find the starting point of this route, which is signposted at all times. After three hundred metres we discover the first of the six tunnels that connect and differentiate this cycling route from the rest. Tunnels ranging in length from 65 to 173 metres show the dominance of industrial architecture in this rugged area.

The cycle path continues along the Eo, meander after meander, leaving behind some waterfalls and sometimes hiding in the thicket of alder, willow, ash and chestnut trees. Before emerging from the hillside, the path crosses the N-640 main road. The Vía Verde leads us to the power station, now in ruins, before entering another of the tunnels dug into the rock. We reach the metal footbridge that connects both banks to discover the casetos, small slate masonry constructions that were used to store the coal that fed the mining train.

We can also take a small detour on the route to leave the bike and go down to the Piago Mayor suspension bridge, or the salmon ladder a little further on, or even go to the banks of this river, where trout, salmon and lamprey still abound.

We arrive at the place where Galicia and Asturias meet. The O Cairo stream acts as a natural border, which the change to a tarmac road marks the point where we can choose to take the return route or continue, as we suggest in the track, for six kilometres to the village of A Pontenova, now entering the province of Lugo, and where it is worth seeing the old battery of calcination furnaces.