Lane route. Greenway Olot - Girona - Sant Feliu de Guíxols
Today we cycle from the Pyrenees to the Costa Brava. From Olot to Sant Feliu de Guíxols, passing through Girona. The Carrilet Route of the Girona Greenways is perfect for discovering the landscapes of the province of Girona from a more natural and green perspective.
There are about 100 km of greenway that can be done on foot or by bicycle; You can choose to explore the route in sections or do it in one go in two or three days. If you are interested in this last option, check out the tourist packages offered by Grans Hotels de Catalunya.
But before we get on the bike, let's take a look at the history of the route we will go through. The path is the old Carrilet route that went from Olot to Girona, and then from Girona to Sant Feliu. In the 60s, the old Railway stopped operating due to its poor condition and difficult maintenance after the Civil War. The road was abandoned until the 1980s when it was decided to reopen it to create a greenway for cyclists and walkers.
In recent years, Girona's greenways have become more popular and today they are a common place for walks. It is a dirt road that is very well conditioned for cycling and with very little difficulty. If you want to do the complete railway route, it is important that you start in Olot so that the trip is downhill and, therefore, more pleasant and easier.
If you start in Olot, take a look at the Hotel – Apartament La Perla, a centrally located hotel perfectly located to leave the hotel by bicycle and make your way to Girona (located just 500m from the Greenway).
Let's now see in detail the two major stages of the Greenway Carrilet Route:
CARRILET ROUTE 1. FROM OLOT TO GIRONA. 57KM
We start the route at the Sant Roc Fountains in Olot, very close to the old train station. In this first section you will pass through leafy forests and cross the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone.
If you are not in a hurry, make a short visit to the Pedratosca Park and turn off in the town of Hostalets de Bas for a bucolic stop for coffee with milk and sugar “coca”.
Although the path from the Pyrenees to the Costa Brava is downhill, it is true that in this first section leaving Olot you will notice a gentle slope; You will have to cross the Bas neck (620m and a gradient of 1.5%) and then the path will be all downhill.
In Les Planes, and at the foot of the bike path, you will find the Can Garay hotel, a totally bike-friendly hotel where you can spend the night if you are tired or want to do a short stretch. In this lesser-known area of La Garrotxa, waterfalls and pools abound: if you want to take an excursion through the area, visit the Molí d'en Murris and the Gorg de la Plana.
The next notable stop is Amer. There you will see the old train station and very close you will find the Font Picant, a fountain where the water comes out carbonated naturally. An ideal stop to regain strength! Very close you have the Fonter factory, famous for its sparkling water.
The section of greenway continues next to the Brugent and Ter rivers, towards Girona city. A peaceful path through the Ter valley where you will continue towards Anglès, Bescanó and finally enter Girona, following the good indications of the bike path; First you will pass through the orchards of Girona and finally you will enter the city.
In Girona spend the night to rest and regain strength. You will need them to continue the next day towards Sant Feliu de Guíxols. You have two great hotels where you can spend the night, both located in the historic center of Girona:
• L’Hotel Peninsular, a 3-star hotel, modern, very central and with the essential amenities to spend a few days in Girona. Best of all, its location: right in front of the Stone Bridge.
• L’Hotel Carlemany, one of the most renowned hotels in the city of Girona with a very modern design. Charm, art, comfort and exclusivity add up to an excellent culinary proposal by chef Xavi Arrey.
CARRILET ROUTE 2. GIRONA - SANT FELIU. 40KM
This second section is almost flat and shorter than the previous one. From Girona to Sant Feliu you will find numerous references to the old train track, today recovered to make a very busy greenway. Decades after being abandoned, the train line once again communicates and links the towns of Catalonia.
Leaving Girona, the route crosses the Selva depression, characterized by a mosaic landscape with alternating crops and forests. On the clearest days you will have an extraordinary panoramic view of the Pyrenees to Montseny, passing through the coastal reliefs of the Transversal Mountain Range (El Far, Sant Roc, Rocacorba).
On the Vies Verdes website they already warn us: "The route is formed by a sinuous line mathematically drawn over the territory." Indeed, the itinerary shows a unique route, full of curves during the first kilometers and very gentle ups and downs.
Next, you will cross the Ridaura valley, which separates the Cadiretes massif, to the south, from the Gavarres massif, and which, with a gentle slope, makes it easier for us to reach the sea right in Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Once there, soaking your feet on the beaches of Sant Feliu will be a brilliant idea.
Along the way, it is highly recommended that you stop (at least to stretch your legs) in various notable towns that you will find along the way. The first stop: in Quart, famous for its ceramics.
In Llagostera you will discover a very beautiful historic center and in Castell d'Aro you can visit its medieval center.
Have a good trip!
