Nearly 40 km of the route, dominated by beech and oak forests, can now be enjoyed between Mugiro (Navarre) and Andoain (Guipúzcoa).
This is an easy walk suitable for all ages either on foot, with a pushchair or wheelchair, by bike or on horseback. There are different levels of difficulty depending on the section. The use of motorised vehicles however is prohibited; these can be taken on the fast route, the A-15 motorway, which runs parallel with the Plazaola route.
Leitza-Uitzi Tunnel (5km.)
From the Town Hall Square in Leitza walk past the church leaving it to the left until you reach “Iturrizarrea” fountain. The path that leads to the beginning of the Green Route is just ahead of the fountain. There are two options: one is to continue southwards towards the Uitzi tunnel covering about 5 km and taking you through a series of 5 small tunnels; the other is towards Guipúzcoa to the north and leads through 7 tunnels. The first tunnel is more than 600 metres long.
Leitza - Guipúzcoa border (5km.)
From Leitza village (at an altitude of 490 metres) walk up towards the station, which is past the housing developments between the paper mill and the petrol station. Once at the station you can take the 5- km walk until you reach the border with Guipúzcoa or carry on another 26 km as far as Andoain.
 | |  |
Mugiro-Lekunberri-Uitzi (7km)
The main access to this route is from Lekunberri station and from there you can opt for a 2-km walk towards Mugiro, which follows the river Larraun, or a 5-km walk towards Uitzi, which goes through 3 small tunnels. Running parallel with the village you can either turn right up a set of wooden stairs leading up to “la Peña”, a small leisure area with wonderful views over “las Malloas”, or go down into the village to admire the old houses each decorated with their coat of arms.
Leave Lekunberri via the small tunnel and go past a concrete track. The Green Route begins on the left just past the tunnel under the dual carriageway. From here the route takes you straight through to the privately-owned Uitzi station.
 | | |
The Uitzi Tunnel and the Watershed
The Uitzi Pass marks the watershed between the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean Sea. It is also the dividing line between the sections of the old railway track which have been restored and those that have not. At this point the track cuts into a 2.6-km-long tunnel, which for many years was the longest tunnel in the whole of the Iberian Peninsula. The whole length of the tunnel is passable, however IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
There is an alternative route which covers 4 km, but it is uneven and levels vary by about 200 metres. Go through the village crossing the imaginary watershed line and take the road just after Uitzi station which leads to the mouth of Uitzi tunnel. The more adventurous walkers may wish to go through the 2.6-km tunnel, but only at their own risk and equipped with torches and waterproof boots.
| 
