Ojos Negros Greenway A rural route through Alto Palancia The Sierra Menera mining railway was never a very good idea: over 200 km of narrow gauge railway that ran practically parallel to another broad gauge line. In the 1960s the railway was closed down, and today the long furrow in which it ran provides a good opportunity to get to know the Alto Palancia, a rural area in the province of Castellón. TECHNICAL DATA CONDITIONED GREENWAY A rural route through Alto Palancia. LOCATION Between Algimia de Alfara (Valencia) and Barracas (Castellón). VALENCIA and CASTELLÓN Length: 67,7 km Users: * * Suitable, except for the occasional ramp off the original route Type of surface: Mixed: tarmac and compacted earth Natural landscape: Palancia Valley (between the natural parks of La Sierra Espadán and La Sierra Calderona), Altos de Ragudo, and Llano de Barracas. Cultural Heritage: Historic town centres of Segorbe and Jérica Infraestructure: 15 tunnels and 8 bridges. How to get there: Sagunto, Algimia, Soneja, Segorbe, Navajas, Jérica y Caudiel : suburban services Renfe (Valencia line C-5) Sagunto, Segorbe y Barracas: Regional services Renfe (except TRD-Rapid Diesel Trains) (*) Please ask the conditions of bike admittance in Renfe trains Connections: Valencia: 35 Km from Torres-Torres Castellón: 50 Km from Segorbe Teruel: 55 Km from Barracas Maps: Military map of spain.1:50.000 scale Hojas 614, 639, 640 y 668 Official road map of the Ministry of Public Works . Ministerio de Fomento This greenway connect in Barracas with Ojos Negros II Greenway More information in Guía de Vías Verdes volumen 1 DESCRIPTION Km. 0 / Km. 10 / Km. 20 / Km. 30 / Km 40 / Km 50 / Km 60 The section of the Ojos Negros Greenway through the Valencian Community runs from Barracas (Castellón) –on the border with Aragón- to Algimia de Alfara and Torres-Torres (Valencia), and was undertaken by the Generalitat Valenciana, the regional government. It should be noted that we have maintained the original kilometre post system for two reasons. Firstly, for the sake of historic authenticity and, more importantly, with the idea of there being a single kilometre post system for the entire 200 km plus length of the Greenway (including both the Valencian and Aragon sections) once all the work has been completed. Thus, in the near future, Km 0 will be at the mines of Ojos Negros (Teruel) and Km 203 at the Port of Sagunto. At present, in addition to the section described here there are further 92 km in the province of Teruel reaching as far as the town of Santa Eulalia, which makes this the longest Greenway in Spain, with 162 km of uninterrupted trail. This Greenway has an added advantage: the modern Valencia-Teruel railway line runs parallel for practically the entire route and there are a number of stations nearby providing easy access to it. The following stations may be used: Algimia, Soneja, Segorbe, Navajas, Jérica, and Caudiel. We suggest that cyclists consult www.renfe.es about possible restrictions on boarding trains with bicycles to avoid any last minute surprises. Km 0 Our route begins at Barracas railway station. To get to the start of the Greenway, we need to head towards the town and soon we will see some steps leading up to the El Toro road. We take this road and immediately cross a bridge over the railway lines before turning left onto a tarmacked country lane. Some 150m further along is the start of the Greenway. We can also go to Km 119.2 (according to original kilometre posts) and we will arrive at the old Barracas Station on the Greenway, very close to the border with the province of Teruel, and now converted into a hostel and a large recreational area by the Department of the Environment of the Generalitat Valenciana, We leave the village and head down a long straight section towards the plateau known as the Llano de Barracas. On the way we pass some ditches with stone walls arranged in the manner of a snow fence, a track off to the left village of El Toro, and a poplar grove between two embankments where there is a rest area (Km 2.8). On this small plateau, at Km 4.7 the Greenway is forced to temporarily abandon the route of the old railway line and instead we travel along a country lane with very little traffic. We pass under a bridge carrying the active railway line as the old mining railway used to do a few hundred metres further along. Once on the other side of the tracks we rejoin the Greenway proper (Km 6) which now runs in a dead straight line alongside the active railway lines. From this point the trail begins to descend the spectacular Ragudo Pass and a kilometre further on we join the Sendero de Gran Recorrido (Long Trail) GR- 7, which shares our route for a number of kilometres. The Greenway continues its path through a landscape of pine trees and at Km 8.7 we arrive at the two stations at Torás (Renfe and Sierra Menera), both disused. Km. 10 In amongst the pine trees, the GR-7 Long Trail veers off towards the village of Monleón. A kilometre and a half further on, a sign announces the presence of a water fountain. At Km 12.3 we reach the Mirador del Ragudo, a viewing point providing a magnificent opportunity to take in the Espadán mountains to the east and the Calderona mountains to the south. Once over a viaduct (Km 12.6) on our right we pass by a refuge to be used in the event of bad weather (cold, snow or rain) which is equipped with a fireplace and firewood. At Km 13 we arrive at the first tunnel along the way, the Ragudo tunnel, 237m in length. Shortly we pass through two more tunnels, neither of which are as long. Soon we reach the Masadas Blancas station (Km 15), and our trail crosses what used to be the old N-234 road. Here there is a rest area, and around 300 metres further on we come across a Spanish Civil War machine gun bunker. The surface is now compacted earth (for some 500m) due to work on the junction with the motorway, which we pass under via a pedestrian underpass. At Km 16.5 the Greenway enters an area dominated by pine trees. To our left the GR-7 Long Trail takes its definitive leave of our Greenway and continues along the old Camino Real de Aragón (Aragon Royal Way). Km. 20 La Fuensanta Viaduct. This great engineering work, nearly 150m long, is unusual in that it is built alongside and almost completely flush against its broad gauge twin. Here we recommend making a short diversion down to the bottom of the ravine via a path on the left of the viaduct to best appreciate the magnificent view of the two parallel and practically touching viaducts. These superb engineering works are a sight to behold and are well worth a stop. At the same time we can refresh ourselves with water from a spring at the side of the path down to the bottom of the ravine, which is easy to spot due to the greenness of the surrounding area. At Km 22.8 we arrive at Caudiel railway station. Though unused and out-of-the-way, it is nevertheless in good condition, and the water tanks that used to serve the powerful locomotives of the Sierra Menera railway are still intact. The station grounds are now the site of a rest area for our Greenway. Before reaching the Caudiel tunnel, at Km 23.4 a track to our right leads to the railway station some 500 metres away. At Km 24 we arrive at the mouth of the tunnel, lush with vegetation. Although it is 220 metres long the tunnel is easy to negotiate since it is equipped with automatic lighting and a hard paved surface. At the far side of this tunnel we come upon a washing place fed by a spring and the houses of a district of Caudiel known as “El Barrio”. At this point our Greenway is joined by two more trails for walkers and cyclists; the Short Train PR-CV63 and the “Camino del Cid” trail. These trails are signposted and there is an information board. From here we embark on a 6 kilometre stretch in which we can enjoy a rapidly changing landscape of contrasts and a succession of panoramic views. At first we pass through a rich vegetation of fruit orchards and trees such as acacias, walnut trees, and the occasional Aleppo pine. At Km 25.5 the Greenway climbs up to one of the highest points on the route, which affords us magnificent panoramic views of extensive fields of dryland crops with the mountains of Sierra Espadán Natural Park mountains in the background. A railway cutting (Km 27) allows us to appreciate the peculiar geomorphology of the area before we lose height down a long straight section towards the town of Jérica, with the mountains of the Sierra Calderona Natural Park to our front. The trail continues past another cutting (Km 29.5) which was used as a dumping ground when the tracks were taken up. Now some parts of the cutting walls still remain, giving us an idea of the scale of the earthworks required. Shortly afterwards we enter the longest tunnel on the route (520 m.), which is fitted with lighting and presents us with no problem. Km. 30 On the far side of this tunnel is the station that used to serve the town of Jérica.