A good day in this part of the Serra de Mariola might go like this. You leave early, when the air is cool and the light is low, and ride the lane from Benilloba up into the hills. The shelter at Barranc del Salt, Abric V, lies about four kilometres from the village, and carries painting in the Levantine tradition, protected by UNESCO as part of the rock art of the Mediterranean basin in Spain. The ride links it with Benirrama, in the Vall de Gallinera, a quiet valley to the east. You walk to the wall, look, and sit for a while with the view.
By mid-morning, you are ready for coffee, and Cocentaina, about ten kilometres away, is the obvious place. The town has a fine old palace, the Palau Comtal, once the seat of the counts of Cocentaina, and a pleasant old centre. Its market is a lively one, and the fair at the start of November, around All Saints, is among the biggest in the region. Fuel is easy there, with several stations.
The afternoon is for the heat, and for the shade of pine woods. Take a long lunch, or a siesta, and return to the road when the day cools. The lanes of the Mariola are best in the late afternoon, with warm light on the limestone and the smell of thyme and rosemary in the air.
The roads are narrow and twisting, with bends of every kind, and the surface is mostly good, though gravel collects in places. Cyclists are common, especially at weekends, and in autumn, mushroom pickers park along the verges. Relleu is another small village, good for a drink. Carry water, and wear sturdy shoes.