Carob trees are the quiet workhorses of the Alicante hills. They are broad, dark and evergreen, with glossy leaves and long, leathery brown pods that hang in clusters in late summer, and in the dry terraces behind the coast, they thrive where little else will. The pods, called garrofas in Valencian, were once fed to mules, horses and pigs, and are now ground to make a sweet, cocoa-like flour and a thickening gum used in food. In the old days, a carob harvest was a family event, with branches beaten and pods gathered in sacks. Many of the groves are abandoned now, but the trees stand on, and you pass dozens on a ride.
Garganta de la Hoz III is a painted shelter in the hills about fourteen kilometres inland from El Campello and Villajoyosa, in the Levantine tradition, protected by UNESCO as part of the rock art of the Mediterranean basin in Spain. The ride links it with El Pantanet.
The climate here is the gentlest in Spain for riders. Winters are mild, with daytime temperatures often in the high teens, and spring comes early. That makes the coast hills one of the best places for a ride in February, when northern Europe is frozen, and the almond trees are in bloom. Summers, by contrast, are hot, with temperatures above thirty-five degrees, so go early.
The lanes inland are narrow, twisty and quiet, with views over the terraces to the sea. The surface is mixed, with new tarmac and patches of rough, and gravel in the bends. After heavy rain, mud and rock may be washed on to the road. Cyclists are numerous on weekend mornings, so keep a little caution on blind corners.
Fuel is easy in El Campello, Villajoyosa and San Juan de Alicante, all within a short ride. Villajoyosa's seafront is a pleasant place for lunch, and the town has a famous chocolate tradition. There are no services in the hills, so take water.