Stage: Burgos - Revilla del Campo

Its immense architectural and cultural heritage makes Burgos a must-see and a compulsory stop on this tour. Among the attractions, its world-famous cathedral undoubtedly stands out; it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984 and, much earlier, in the late 19th century, a National Monument. Burgos is also a major transit point for other important national and international routes. The Camino de Santiago, specifically the French Way, crosses the city allowing pilgrims to enjoy its rich history. The Route of El Cid follows in the steps of the exiled Rodrigo Diaz, a major figure from medieval history and literature and a native of the nearby town of Vivar del Cid. For its part, the Saint Olav Way, which begins in the city of Burgos and ends at the original Shrine of San Olav, was inaugurated in 2011 in the Valley of Los Lobos in nearby Covarrubias.

A university city, one of Burgos’s great attractions is the local cuisine, a magnet for the immense majority of visitors. Visitors can’t leave without tasting some of its delicacies such as roast suckling lamb or its delicious black pudding, both with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for their quality and traditional methods. Pair these delicacies with the famous wines from the Ribera del Duero and Arlanza Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) regions.

With your stomach full and your batteries well charged, it's time to hit the road, starting at the old railway station in Burgos. Travellers can allow themselves to be guided through the city by the plaques on the street lights to find the path that will take them out of the capital of Burgos, with the memories of the city they’ll treasure forever.

There are a number of rest areas along this section close to the city (Los Pisones Rompizales) offering respite for children and adults alike, and many Burgos locals, frequent use the area, accompany travellers on their walk, making the trail a bio-healthy route.

The path, again flanked by fields of crops, runs parallel to the River Cardeñadijo with its modest flow and its small gallery forest embellishing the landscape. To preserve the railway heritage of the trail, at some level crossings small sections of the track have been preserved, embedded in the road, posing no difficulty or danger, but helping travellers go back in time imagining the rattle of the train.

Shortly after the nine-kilometre marker, the old Cardeñadijo station introduces the visitors to the village of the same name, above which the Church of San Martín Obispo dominates the landscape. Given its proximity to the capital, the gastronomic offering is made up of similar delicacies for visitors.

After passing through this beautiful and peaceful village, the route continues gently uphill, with the Mediterranean scrubland and its wide range of aromatic plants gradually opening up between the fields of dry cereal crops.

We then reach the Modúbar de la Emparedada tunnel. This former railway infrastructure, at 590 m long and perfectly straight, has light at the end of the tunnel visible from the entrance, so it has no artificial lighting. All the same, it is recommended to carry a torch, especially if travelling with children.

After the tunnel, the path descends slightly towards the village of Modúbar de la Emparedada, serving up spectacular views. On a clear day, you can make out the foothills of the Demanda mountain range. The peace and tranquillity of the route is enhanced by the sight of flocks of sheep leisurely grazing on the slopes, benefiting from the pastures in the area.

Shortly after, travellers enter Modúbar de la Emparedada, where they will find the old railway station. This small town has been inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by the Neolithic site of Altotero. The Modúbar de la Emparedada Museum, known as MUMO, is another highlight. This museum presents a new concept, allows visitors to visit 24 hours a day using an access code. The museum belongs to the Leader cooperation project "MUSEOS VIVOS" promoted by Local Action Groups (LAG) of Castilla y León, with a wide range of thematic museums, interpretation centres and other places of interest spread throughout Castilla y León.

Returning to the old railway line, and shortly after leaving the town of Modúbar de la Emparedada, the route turns south and after crossing the BU-V-8013 road we reach the hamlet of Cojóbar, also belonging to Modúbar de la Emparedada, where a Nature Trails interpretative panel provides us with the information we need to get to know the area. The Church of San Cristóbal is the highlight of the area. Shortly afterwards, we reach the old halt station of Cojóbar. After passing the nine-kilometre marker for this stage, a crossroads invites us to visit the locality of Olmosalbos, where the Torreón de los Gamarra tower stands out.

Continuing along where the trains once passed, the traveller arrives at Revillarruz and the Church of Natividad de San Juan Bautista. The trail continues parallel to the River Ausines, eventually crossing a bridge, enjoying the riverside vegetation.

The village of Los Ausines, and the district of Quintanillas, will welcome us a little further on. A little further on is the old Los Ausines halt, equipped with a Rest Area. Los Ausines is made up of three districts, on the left of the route, firstly passing the aforementioned Quintanilla , with the Church of Santa Eulalia and the medieval bridge over the River Ausines. The second is San Juan and, shortly afterwards, the Sopeña.

The route runs parallel to the BU-P-8012 road for several kilometres. After the 12-kilometre marker, we reach the Revilla del Campo Rest Area, with its sports facilities and some of the original elements from the railway line. The village of Revilla del Campo, with a district on either side of the route, is the perfect place to end this Burgos to Revilla del Campo stage, next to the Nature Trails interpretative panel.