A pleasant Sunday stroll....

.....along the Via Verde this morning, taking advantage of the cool temperatures we are having at the moment.

The bicycles at the rental kiosk getting a good clean before being available for hire. Rentals can be arranged here online or presumably by just turning up and taking your chance on availability.

If you so desire, you can warm up with a few turns on the free exercise machines. We didn't.

 The Via Verde is a 38 kilometre long disused railway track now converted into a leisure amenity for the enjoyment of walkers, horse riders, cyclists and nature lovers.

Lots of stunning vistas and varieties of plants and wild flowers along the way.

The buds of wild figs are starting to appear.

 Most of the tunnels are illuminated but sadly it appears the solar batteries used for the lighting are an easy target for thieves. 

 After a very pleasant 6 or 7 km walk we returned to the "Estación de Olvera" to see the cycle rental kiosk doing brisk business. 

 Looking up to Olvera from the Estación.

A stroll along the Green Way

Another lovely day with a temperature of about 17°C, perfect for a stroll along the Via Verde, a leisure area for walkers, cyclists and horse riders using a disused railway track near to Olvera.

Before starting our stroll, we stopped on the Olvera to Pruna road to take a few pictures overlooking the old railway station site at the Olvera end of the Via Verde that offers a restaurant, accommodation, cycle hire and facilities for motorhomes. The nearby equestrian centre "Centro Ecuestre Platero" also offers horse trekking expeditions along the Green Way.

The "Estacion de Olvera".

The view of Olvera from the Via Verde. 

Today we had the route more or less to ourselves.

Two of the thirty tunnels along the 38km route.

We made a couple of new friends along the way.

The views of the surrounding countryside are stunning.

Smoke rises from one of many fires burning leaves and old olive wood. 

Pedal power

Here's a fun way for families and groups of friends to enjoy the delights of the Via Verde, a 36 kilometre length of disused railway line running through stunning scenery from Olvera to Puerto Serrano. Why not hire a "Cuatricicleta", which is what we did this morning in the company of our good friends Dan and Alison.

The four wheeled, five seat cycles are available for hire at the Estación de Coripe and can be pre-booked by email or ringing the numbers on the above advertisement. This terrific enterprise is run by Adrián Casanueva Castro and Tifanis Bermejo Castro, pictured above wheeling out our trusty steed.There is also a link here to their Facebook page.

Ready for the off.

By the toss of a coin, it was decided that we head from the Estación in the direction of Olvera.

According to Adrián, it was slightly more uphill in this direction which in a few places proved to be right. We put our inability to pedal up the inclines down to the gearing ratio on the cycle.....absolutely nothing at all to do with running out of puff and leg strength!!.

Several shady spots along the route provided welcome relief from the ever warming sun and an opportunity for cool refreshments.

Map-nav.

Several cyclists passed us along the route, smiling and slightly amused at our mode of transport.

After about an hour, we reached the information centre at the Peñón de Zaframagón, which was unfortunately closed. The centre is also an observatory for viewing one of the largest colonies of Griffon Vultures in Europe.

We headed back to the Estación de Coripe, enjoying the now downhill slopes on the return journey. A brilliant couple of hours, good fun and great value for money. Well done to Adrián and Tifanis and best wishes for the future. Go on, give it a try.

A short video of a fun morning below.