Ride, Walk or Wine Your Way Along Old Tracks
Across Andalucia, former railway lines once used to transport olives, minerals and passengers have been quietly repurposed into scenic walking and cycling routes. These vías verdes, or greenways, aren’t just old paths made pretty.
The vias verdes are doorways into Andalucia’s rural heart, connecting small communities, displaying dramatic landscapes, and offering the kind of immersive travel that doesn’t rely on schedules.
At TOMA & COE, we’re always looking for ways to connect people to Spain beyond the obvious. These forgotten railways do just that. They offer a slower, more grounded experience of the region, with time to absorb the local pace, meet the people who live along the tracks, and see the countryside without a tour bus in sight.
Here are a few of our favourite routes to explore on foot, by bike. You may even find us somewhere along the way with a glass of wine or bite of cheese!
Via Verde de la Sierra (Cádiz and Seville provinces)
Length: 36km
Surface: Compact gravel & paved stretches
Best for: Day trippers, bird lovers, and easy-going cyclists
This disused railway line runs through one of the most visually striking corners of inland Andalucia. Beginning in the hilltop town of Olvera and ending in Puerto Serrano, it crosses 30 tunnels and four viaducts, winding past limestone cliffs, olive groves, and wide skies.
It’s peaceful, but far from uneventful. You’ll pass through the Zaframagón Nature Reserve, home to a huge colony of griffon vultures. The track follows the old rail alignment almost perfectly, meaning it’s flat and manageable for walkers of most levels and ideal for bikes, no steep climbs or tricky sections.
What we love most is the attention to local flavour. Old stations have been converted into cafés or small museums, where you can pause for a cold drink and learn a little about the region’s rail history.
TOMA & COE Tip: We can arrange a local guide to take you off the path and explore some of the scenery perhaps with a pitstop at a local cheese producer!
Via Verde del Aceite (Jaén and Córdoba provinces)
Length: 128km
Surface: Varied
Best for: Long-distance walkers, weekend breaks, and olive oil obsessives
This route once carried olive oil from Jaén, the olive oil capital of Spain, down to the Guadalquivir valley. Today, it offers a longer, more contemplative way to explore the landscape that fuels one of Andalucia’s most important exports.
Expect a peaceful, rolling route through countryside that changes with the seasons. Yellow and green in spring, dusty and golden in summer, and silver with olive harvest in autumn, it’s a painter’s dream! The viaducts and old bridges provide sweeping views, especially near the towns of Alcaudete and Luque.
It’s not a short stroll, but it doesn’t need to be tackled all in one go. TOMA & COE can help you break it into manageable sections, whether you want to hike a scenic 10km stretch or spend three days exploring it in full, with nights in country inns and meals prepared using regional produce.
TOMA & COE Tip: Visit in late October or November to witness the olive harvest. We can arrange a visit to a traditional almazara, where you’ll see the pressing process and enjoy a private tasting led by a local producer.
Wine & Rails A Ronda Ramble
Route: Custom
Best for: Foodies, walkers, and seekers of vineyard views
The landscape around Ronda is rich with possibilities. Although not officially part of a vía verde, the region contains disused rail lines, trails, and old smuggling paths that weave through the Sierra de Grazalema and down into the vineyards of Arriate and Setenil.
This is a totally bespoke experience. We blend walking with wine, culture with countryside. You might start your day with a relaxed hike through pine forest or open scrubland, followed by a private wine tasting in a boutique bodega where the vines stretch out just metres from your table.
Most of the winemakers here are family-run and fiercely proud of their terroir. You’ll hear stories of harvests past and the hard-earned comeback of small-scale wine production in the area.
TOMA & COE Tip: For something special, finish the day on horseback, riding back into Ronda as the sun dips behind the cliffs. Alternatively, take a 4×4 route through the valleys for incredible sunset photo stops.
Why These Routes Matter
What makes these old railways worth exploring isn’t just the quiet or the scenery; it’s the feeling of stepping into another rhythm entirely. They connect places that never sought the spotlight – market towns with sleepy squares, villages where the bar still doubles as the post office, and valleys where you’re more likely to meet a goat than another tourist.
For us at TOMA & COE, these aren’t just hiking or cycling routes. They’re experiences designed around discovery, storytelling, and genuine connection with the land and people of Andalucia. We can adapt any journey to suit your interests, whether that means historic insights, wild nature, or exceptional local wine.
Interested in a tailor-made journey along one of Andalucia’s forgotten railways?
We’ll build the route, handle the logistics, and introduce you to the characters who bring these landscapes to life.
