Km 0

The route following the former Sant Feliu narrow gauge railway starts at the heart of the capital of the province of the same name, Girona, in Emili Grahit street, next to the Països Catalans square. From here we leave the city along the banks of the river Onyar.

After 1.5 km we arrive at Barrio de la Creueta where the railway also used to serve a flour mill. From here the Greenway runs along a straight embankment through a pretty meadow on the banks of the river Onyar. We arrive at the river itself after a brief diversion to avoid the Girona bypass. The Greenway crosses the river by a new pedestrian and cycle bridge that has replaced the old railway bridge which was dismantled when the railway line was closed.

On the other side of the Onyar, a 1.5 km long straight section, lined with some magnificent examples of stone pines, takes us through some crop fields. The first village on our route is Quart.

Km 6

The former railway line enters the village via the appropriately named street, Carrer del Tren. Quart station is the first example of the superb state of repair of most of the stations along this route. The station is now home to a municipal exhibition hall. There is a mountain bike centre very close to the station that may be useful for those of you who have chosen that form of transport. In addition to being on our Greenway, Quart is also the starting point for a number of circular routes that may interest those who wish to extend their journey.

The route continues through Quart for about 500m before arriving at a crossroads. Here the Greenway is forced to make a short detour onto a purpose-built section since the road has invaded the original route of the railway line. After crossing under the road and then running parallel to it for a short distance, we regain the Greenway proper some 500m further along. After crossing the Riera Cort stream we arrive at the Apeadero de Llambilles (Km 8), another example of a perfectly preserved railway building. You may wish to make use of the public drinking fountain at the station.

Km 10

The trail continues in a straight line under a pleasant canopy of trees. After passing through the area of Can Torrent, the route describes a sweeping arc past where the Apeadero de Llebrers used to be (Km 10), before arriving at the Cassà de la Selva industrial estate. Here a green-painted cycle path on the pavement takes us to the town centre where we find the Cassà de la Selva railway station (Km 14) which, like so many of the other stations, is in a surprisingly excellent state of repair. Railway sleepers are used to mark out the paths in the park, which is also equipped with toilets and drinking fountains.

The pleasant passage through Cassà de la Selva follows the route of the old railway line, now converted into a street which eventually leads to an embankment that is unmistakeably part of the original railway works. This embankment, protected on either side by a cane fence, leads to a small rise. The following section, around 900m long, crosses an area of flat farmland, only interrupted by one or two watercourses, such as the Verneda stream, which are crossed by small bridges. A little after crossing the Verneda stream we reach the Apeadero de Esclet, of which very little remains.

Km 21

Six kilometres out of Cassá, after crossing a couple of level crossings, we reach Llagostera railway station (Km 21), which is set in a park and, inside houses the tourist office. Once we leave the park a gentle incline takes us up to the main road.

Once past the sports centre, some 700m after leaving the park, our Greenway hits the C-253, a busy road that has invaded the original railway route for a stretch of nearly 3 kilometres. Although the traffic passes annoyingly (and worryingly) close by, there is a cycle lane running alongside the road which keeps us out of harm’s way. From here we get an excellent view of the seemingly endless wood that carpets the nearby mountainous gullies.

Soon we arrive at the junction with the C-250 which we will pass underneath before arriving at the ruins of the old level crossing box. Here the railway line parts company with the road and, now moving to the left of the road, we enter what is without a doubt the prettiest section of the route. We pass through four kilometres of dense Mediterranean wood, predominantly cork oaks, under whose leafy canopy the railway negotiates a number of streams before finally arriving at the Apeadero de Font Picant.

Km 29

In the middle of this forest, 9 km further on from Llagostera, we reach the Apeadero de Font Picant - Bell Lloc (Km 29). These two place names do perfect justice to the location. The latter of the two names means "beautiful place" in English while the former (“spicy fountain”) is in named after the nearby spring with great health-giving properties.

After this idyllic spot, which conveys a sense of peace and tranquillity to the traveller, the trail continues in a similar mood towards more open spaces; broad meadows fringed by the shady domes of stone pines. This stretch is characterized by long straights where cyclists and hikers are the kings of the road; motor traffic is kept out by sturdy barriers. From here we have a clear run into Santa Cristina dAro, the first village of the coastal district of Baix Empordà.

Km 32

Like nearly all the other stations on the route, Santa Cristina station (Km 32) is in a perfect state of repair, and is now used as a cultural centre. On the next section, to Castell dAro, the road has once again invaded the old railway line but a new cycle path has been built, well segregated from the traffic. After the last houses of the village a long straight section between crop fields takes us to the final stage towards the medieval village of Castell dAro. We aim for the silhouette of the bell tower and the battlements of the town’s castle, where the little railway station (Km 35) houses one of the most pleasant surprises on the whole route.

It was years ago when the railway lost its 75cm gauge lines in favour of the wider 1 metre gauge, but here a tiny gauge line, a mere 5 inches, has taken its place. Diminutive trains, on which passengers can ride, run on the narrow tracks that encircle the station. They have partially flooded the area formerly occupied by the switchyard so that the miniature railway can pass over it on a graceful metal bridge, a replica of the one built on the Sant Feliu Carrilet to span the Riera Ridaura stream not very far from here. On leaving the station our Greenway makes a tight, tree-lined turn southwards before heading straight for Sant Feliu.

A modern concrete cable-stayed footbridge spans the normally tranquil waters of the Ridaura where previously there had been lattice railway bridge. Once across this rather imposing piece of engineering (somewhat disproportionate to the simplicity of our Greenway project) we pass beneath the Platja dAro road and start to climb towards the southern side of the Val dAro valley. This gentle climb is far away from any road, making use of the long and straight embankment that previously carried the railway.

Km 37

TJust 2 km further on the trail enters Sant Feliu de Guíxols where, just at the entrance to the town, we find the Apeadero de SAgaró (Km 37). This is the ideal place to stop for those of you who cannot wait to enjoy the warm waters of the Mediterranean, since just 200m away are the sandy beaches of Playa de Sant Pol.

Here the route takes on a suburban air on its way to the old railway station of Sant Feliu, which is impeccably preserved and now home to a school. At the end of the station it is still possible to see the turntable pit where the little locomotives of the Feliuet railway were turned around before making the return journey back to Girona.

Under the title "The Secrets of the Green Way" Consortium Girona Greenways trails edited guides on the Greenways del Ferro i Carbó, Carrilet Carrilet I and II. With Girona Greenways as an axis, the guides will also propose alternative routes that allow visitors to discover the natural and cultural resources near greenways.These products are sold in the points and route information on the web www.viasverdesdegirona.org.