Plasencia detour and the Natural VdlP

[Madrood]

Hi all

I'm reading through the virtual VdlP and this is something I didn't see mentioned.

One version I can see from this hiking map would be to follow EX-370 from Carcaboso up to the elevated roundabout. A dirt path then branches off, going under the motorway. 8 km of tarmac to get to that point though. From there, the 'Camino Mozárabe por Trujillo' can be followed either directly to Aldeanueva del Camino, or branching off for Oliva de Plasencia.

In the virtual camino thread, the 'Via verde de la Plata' was mentioned. This is a disused railway track being turned into a greenway, which links Aldeanueva del Camino to Hervás, and then on to Baños. Apparently there are plans to extend this back to Plasencia, with an extension from Banos to Bejar already completed. It does go further than that but away from Salamanca (not true, see Elle's post) Link to more information here.

 

[Elle Bieling]

Thank-you, the "Camino Natural Via de la Plata" along the old railroad bed makes for extremely comfortable and flat walking! It is a wonderful thing that they are extending it all the way to Plasencia and beyond. I did the section from Alba de Tormes to Salamanca when I connected the Camino Teresiano to the Via de la Plata.

 

[Rita Flower]

Oh this is fabulous. I took a detour to Hervas just to visit the town and then to Placensia to break up a long stage. I walked the old railway track for a km or two at Puerto de Béjar. It runs close to the albergue and the hospitalaro recommended it for a late afternoon stroll.
Definitely on the list for the next VDLP - if and when that happens.

 

[Madrood]

Thank-you, the "Camino Natural Via de la Plata" along the old railroad bed makes for extremely comfortable and flat walking! It is a wonderful thing that they are extending it all the way to Plasencia and beyond. I did the section from Alba de Tormes to Salamanca when I connected the Camino Teresiano to the Via de la Plata.

Oh that's good, I was getting the impression it bypassed Salamanca for some reason.

Turns out it used to also go via Zamora on it's way to Astorga. The greenway terminates into the active railway line near Salamanca station but the disused section can be quickly found again just northeast of the station.



I'm not sure about the legality and safety of following abandoned railway track in Spain but it could be an answer for peoples antipathy to the current section between Salamanca and Cubo.

Meanwhile down the other end, recent streetview does seem to suggest that the Plasencia section is coming along. The plan seems to keep it as a dirt path all the way.



As it stands this is roughly what the completed section looks like, bar the section Elle used (VDLP in blue, Verde in red (not a kml)).