The Guadalest valley is the best-known inland stretch of the Alicante coast, and the village of Guadalest itself, with its castle perched on a pillar of rock and its bell tower on the cliff, is one of the most photographed places in the province. The shelter at Barranc de Famorca, Abric V, is not in the busy part. It lies about two kilometres from Castell de Castells and a few kilometres from Famorca, in the quiet valleys on the far side of the Serrella. Like the others in the ravine, it carries Levantine painting protected by UNESCO as part of the rock art of the Mediterranean basin in Spain.
What the guide books do not always say is how quickly the crowds fall away. Guadalest draws coachloads from Benidorm, but a few kilometres inland, in the valleys of Castell de Castells and Famorca, you can ride for an hour without seeing another vehicle. The mountains here are steep, terraced with centuries of dry-stone walls, and covered with a mix of pine, carob and wild olive. Almond trees bloom in February, and the slopes look dusted with snow.
The road from the coast to these valleys is a classic. It climbs out of Callosa d'en Sarrià, where medlars are the local fruit, passes the turquoise Guadalest reservoir, and then winds up through bends of every size to the high ground. Surfaces are generally good on the main route, but narrow and patchy on the side lanes. Traffic is heavy near Guadalest at weekends, with coaches and rental cars, so start early. Beyond the village, you will have the road to yourself.
Castell de Castells, with fewer than five hundred people, has a bar or two and a small shop, but fuel is uncertain. Fill up on the coast, at Callosa or Altea, or at Pego. Benimantell, nearby, is another tiny village. The Pla de Petracos, a famous painted shelter with a visitor trail, is close, and is worth the stop if you want a more structured introduction to the art. Take water and sun protection in all seasons.