Racó means corner in Valencian, and Racó Gasparo is a corner of the hills, a little fold of land tucked away from the road, about five kilometres from Benassal. The country here is the high interior of Castellón, near the borders of Aragon, where the land lifts toward Els Ports de Morella and the whole region feels more like the Pyrenees foothills than the Mediterranean coast. Villages with a few hundred people, stone houses and a medieval castle on a rock are the norm, and Culla, a small village nearby, is crowned by one of the most dramatic of them.
The shelter at Racó Gasparo is one of the painted shelters of the district, part of the Mediterranean Basin rock art that UNESCO listed in 1998. The ride also visits the Abrigo del Plano del Pulido, which is another shelter in the district.
Benassal sits well inland and high, and the climate is cooler than on the coast, with cold winters and fresh summers. The village has a historic centre of old stone houses, a few noble mansions and an air of quiet pride, and there are springs in the hills around. In the hills around, the oaks, pines and juniper make good cover for deer and boar, and the clear night sky is excellent for stars.
For riders, the roads here are among the best in the Valencian interior. They cross high plateaus and drop into ravines in sequences of fast, open bends, with a good surface on the main routes, little traffic and big views. The wind can be strong on the ridges, and in winter ice and snow may close the highest passes. Distances between towns are long, so keep the tank full. Villafranca del Cid, about eleven kilometres away, is a larger town with fuel and services.
Spring and autumn are the finest seasons. Pack a warm layer, even in summer, and aim to be at the shelters in the morning, when the light is soft.