This 15 km route developed by the Provincial Government of Alicante as the Xixarra Greenway starts at the shelter of the Apeadero de Las Virtudes, from where we can see the Santuario de las Virtudes.

The actual railway begins at the town of Yecla (Murcia), 14 km away, but this first part of the route is not yet developed (Xixarra Greenway 1)

Km 0

As is the case of all developed Greenways, the surface is good, the signposting is informative, motor traffic is restricted, and trees have been planted which, when grown, will not only provide welcome shade, but will also add a touch of elegance to our route into the streets of Villena. Two kilometres after leaving the Apeadero de Las Virtudes we arrive at the Las Virtudes station building. From here our Greenway runs parallel to the road that goes from the Santuario de las Virtudes to Villena. At km 3 we arrive at Salinas de Peñalva where there used to be a spur line to the loading facility of the salt works, of which now there is no trace. As we enter the area of the salt works there are two bridges (one for the old railway line and one for the road) across the Acequia del Rey, which is a dead straight canal running between these salt marshes and those of La Fortuna and La Redonda, 4 km to the north.

Km 5

Just after passing the San Bartolomé hermitage (km 5) and still following the old railway line, the Greenway crosses the road and heads through vineyards on a shortcut to Villena. Once in Villena the old rail bed has been occupied by a new ring road, so our Greenway makes a detour and runs parallel to the active railway line until, at Km 8, we arrive at Villena railway station, the most important on our line. Opposite the active Renfe station we can still see the old station building, the goods platforms, and the workshops of the Xixarra line. We need to cross the lines and, once on the opposite side to the station, we turn right onto a street running parallel to the active railway lines. This street, which curves to the left, now occupies the rail bed of the old narrow gauge railway. As proof of the railway origins of this street we pass by a small, disused railway bridge.

Km 10

This street takes us to where the Biar road crosses under the Levante motorway via an underpass. Here we share the road with the cars (watch out – they drive like maniacs!) until we arrive at the municipal sports centre at the foot of the Sierra de la Villa (Km 10). Here we leave the cars to their fate and continue along the old railway line, now a quiet track between crop fields. We gradually get nearer to the spectacular ravine that the river Vinalopó, now almost always dry, has cut into the soft terrain. After a sharp bend we arrive at a bridge that was rebuilt, to its original design, by the Community of Valencia late in 2005, 33 years after it was dismantled (Km 13). It is not the only bridge on this Greenway that has been rebuilt, a sure sign of the importance being given to the development of disused railway lines in Spain.

Km 15

We continue along the trail to Biar which is an excellent state of repair. One kilometre further on the Greenway has been tarmacked to improve the surface for use by farm and other vehicles. At Km 15 we arrive at Biar railway station, now refurbished as a private house, from where we have a splendid view of the town overlooked by its impressive Templar castle. To round of this route we suggest you make your way to Biar’s magnificent town centre, just over one kilometre away from the station. If the Greenway has left you wanting more, from here you can link up with the Camino de Santiago del Sureste and cycle from one end of Spain to the other.

After Biar the disused railway line continues on in the direction of Alcoy. However this section has not been developed and surfaces, signposting and the like are not always ideal, so we would advise prospective users to look into the conditions prevailing before embarking on this Greenway (Xixarra Greenway 3).