The Dénia Greenway starts to the north of the town, with a connection from the town centre by means of a cycle path which begins at the foot of the castle walls. It heads off from the Ronda de las Murallas street, before joining the Avda de Alcoy avenue and the Camino de Gandia (CV-723) road. At a sign which says: “Vía verde Dénia-El Verger” we leave the main road to take a street which runs alongside a nursery. 160 m further on we arrive at the start of the Greenway.

Kilometre zero of the Greenway is marked on the right hand side of the street. There users will find a rest area with information panels showing the route and suggestions for other walking or cycling routes around Dénia and nearby villages. Two disabled persons’ parking places cater for people with disabilities wishing to enjoy the countryside.

Km. 0

The first part of the Dénia Greenway runs between orange, carob and almond trees before two wooden bridges takes it over a culvert and the Barranco de la Morxama stream. Next a pretty palm-lined track crosses the trail on its way to a country house.

At the second rest area (km 1.1) we find an information panel describing the history of the old railway line that used to run along this route, with interesting photos of the different types of locomotives. The route then enters a long straight section which cuts through the orange trees on either side of the trail. Above the crowns of the fruit trees tower the lofty pines growing in the country estates that are dotted along the left side of the trail.

The Greenway is punctuated by a number of level crossings of lightly used tarmacked rural roads which, if we turned right, would take us down to the beach. At one of these crossings there is an old level-crossing keeper’s cottage (km 1.7) on which it still possible to make out a faded plaque indicating the old 61.86 kilometre point.

Another wooden bridge takes us over the Barranco de l‘Alter stream (km 2.3). Here we can look out over the agrarian landscape surrounding the Greenway; to our left we see the tall chimney of a drying house where grapes used to be dried to make raisins, while ahead of us the trail curves gently to the left. Now behind us we can see Dénia Castle and the impressive silhouette of Mount Montgó (751 m above sea level) with its natural park.

Km. 3

After passing under the only road bridge on the route, we arrive at the rest area and station (apeadero) of El Palmar (km 3). The station, faithfully restored, provides a magnificent shelter from both the sun and the rain at the midway point of our route. An information panel tells us how hard it was to drive the old steam locomotives along this line, with a first-hand account from a train driver. It also describes the human side of the railway and its passengers in the 40s to 60s of the 20th century.

After a fourth rest area (km 3.7) the Greenway once again ploughs a straight path between orange trees, with a view of the Sierra Segaria hills dominating the horizon.

 

The metal bridge over the River Alberca (km 4.4), built upon the original stone abutments, spans one of the most attractive settings of the entire route. A profusion of reeds line and invade the irregular water course of the River Alberca, which can sometimes dry up completely in the summer months. On the far bank the Greenway shares a section of its route with vehicles. An information panel standing next to the bridge describes the flora and fauna of the landscape that we are walking or cycling through.

Km. 5,8

The Dénia Greenway comes to an end at the rest area at km 5.8.

Connection between the Dénia Greenway and the La Safor Greenway (Oliva – Gandía)

If we continue along the old rail bed, now a tarmacked path, after 1 km we reach El Verger where, once across the bridge over the River Girona, we find the disused railway station.

Do we feel like continuing?

A pleasant stroll or bike ride from El Verger through the La Marjal de Pego-Oliva Natural Park takes us to Oliva where we can link up to the other recovered section of the old Dénia-Carcaixent railway line: the 7 km long La Safor Greenway. The route is totally flat along a cycle path and a number of quiet country lanes running through La Marjal.

From the former railway station we pass through the town centre of El Verger along the Avenida de la Vía, which runs into Calle Creu street before arriving at the Avenida de Valencia roundabout.

At the roundabout we leave the old railway behind us and take the bike lane running parallel to the road to Pego. After crossing a bridge spanning the motorway and then passing a petrol station, we arrive at along straight at the end of which we can see the town of Pego.

Just when the straight starts there is a right turn sign. There we leave the bike lane and cross the road, where we travel along a dirt road, past a house, and then enter the Pego-Oliva Natural Park. At first we need to travel parallel to a canal for 400 m before crossing a bridge that takes us to the far side. This pleasant route through the natural park comes to an end when we cross over a bridge spanning the sluice gates of the River Bullent. 400 m later we reach Font Salada, a natural swimming pool fed by hot springs with recognized therapeutic properties. The route continues along rural lanes to the town of Oliva, which we cross from south to north. Halfway along we link up with a cycle path that takes us straight to the starting point of the La Safor Greenway to Gandía.

Further information: Safor Greenway.

If you wish to know about other hiking and cycling routes around Dénia: click here and download the map (PDF).

View map of connection between the two greenways. Click here.