Between the mountain ranges of northern Alicante and the plains of Valencia lies the Vall d'Albaida, a quiet and little-visited district of small towns, vineyards and orchards, and the shelter at Barranc de Carbonera, Abric II, is on its edge. It lies about two and a half kilometres from Otos, a village of five hundred people, and close to Ráfol de Salem and Bèlgida, which are about the same size. It carries painting in the Levantine tradition, protected by UNESCO as part of the rock art of the Mediterranean basin in Spain, and the ride links it to the Cova de la Catxupa, an even smaller site in the same area.
What you notice first is how many villages there are. The valley is dotted with settlements, each with its own church tower, its own square and its own festival, a result of centuries of Moorish and Christian farming. The terraces on the slopes are old, and the irrigation channels, the acequias, are in places still working. Cherry trees, almonds and olives grow on the higher ground, and in spring, the colours are lovely.
Albaida, the little capital of the valley, has an odd distinction: its museum of puppets, the Museu Internacional del Titella, houses puppets from all over the world and is a genuine delight, particularly for children. It is a pleasant place to stop for a coffee.
Riding in the Vall d'Albaida is gentle and pleasant. The roads are narrow, with lots of corners but no great gradients, and the surfaces are generally good. Traffic is light, and there are views over the plain to the sea on a clear day. In the hills, the lanes are rougher, with gravel and the occasional landslip. Spring and autumn are best, and the vines turn red in October.
Otos and the neighbouring villages are too small to count on for fuel. Muro d'Alcoi, about seven kilometres away, has nearly eight thousand people and is the safer choice, and Albaida and Cocentaina have more. Carry water, and wear sturdy shoes, since the last stretch is on foot.