Why this ride
A 209 km round trip from Ontinyent - roughly 4 h 49 in the saddle. The stops in between: Barranc de mastec, Cova Llarga, Morro Carrascal and back through Cova Llarga.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Abric de la fos and Morro Carrascal
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 209 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 4 h 49
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Abric de la fos
The Vall d'Albaida is a broad valley in the south of the province of Valencia, between the Serra Grossa to the north and the Serra de Mariola to the south, and its towns grew wealthy on textiles. Aielo de Malferit, a small town on the edge of the valley, has a rock shelter called the Abric de la Fos in the hills nearby, with prehistoric paintings in the Levantine style. The shelter is protected and access is limited, so check with the local tourist office or interpretation centres before visiting.
Read the complete Abric de la fos write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Abric de la fos is where the day begins. Next is Barranc de mastec.
2. Barranc de mastec
Between Cocentaina and Alcoy, in the hilly interior of Alicante province, a small ravine called the Barranc de Mastec holds rock shelters with prehistoric paintings, part of the UNESCO listing of rock art of the Mediterranean Basin. This corner of Spain is particularly rich in it, with styles ranging from the naturalistic Levantine figures of hunters and animals to the strange, abstract macro-schematic art that seems unique to these valleys. The ravine is surrounded by terraced olive and almond groves, pine woods and limestone crags.
Read the complete Barranc de mastec write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Barranc de mastec comes up about 28 km into the recorded legs. Next is Cova Llarga.
3. Cova Llarga
The Benicadell is the mountain that tells you where you are in this part of Valencia. Its long, sharp limestone ridge, topped by a distinctive rocky tooth, separates the Vall d'Albaida from the valleys of Alcoy and Cocentaina, and on clear days it is visible from the coast. The Cova Llarga, the long cave, sits on the southern side of this world, in the folded hills near Beniarrés, Terrateig and Planes, and it belongs to the scatter of small sites that record people living, painting and sheltering in these hills since prehistory.
Read the complete Cova Llarga write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 60 km into the recorded legs you reach Cova Llarga. Next is Morro Carrascal.
4. Morro Carrascal
Inland from Benidorm, barely half an hour from the tower blocks and beaches, the mountains of the Alicante interior rise steep and empty. Morro Carrascal is a rocky height in this country, near the villages of Benilloba, Sella and Benimantell, where the sierras of Aitana, Serrella and Mariola come together. Shelters in these mountains hold prehistoric paintings in both the Levantine and the older Macroschematic styles, and they belong to the World Heritage listing of Iberian rock art.
Read the complete Morro Carrascal write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Morro Carrascal, about halfway. Next is back through Cova Llarga.
5. back through Cova Llarga
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Cova Llarga write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Cova Llarga sits at 99 km, about halfway. Next is back through Barranc de mastec.
6. back through Barranc de mastec
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Barranc de mastec write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Barranc de mastec comes up about 181 km into the recorded legs. Next is Abric de la fos.
7. Abric de la fos
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Abric de la fos write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Abric de la fos closes the day.
Leg by leg
Abric de la fos to Barranc de mastec
Abric de la fos → Barranc de mastec is 28 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc de mastec to Cova Llarga
Barranc de mastec → Cova Llarga is 32 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Cova Llarga to Morro Carrascal
Cova Llarga → Morro Carrascal is 48 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Morro Carrascal to back through Cova Llarga
Morro Carrascal → back through Cova Llarga is 46 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Cova Llarga to back through Barranc de mastec
back through Cova Llarga → back through Barranc de mastec is 27 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Barranc de mastec to Abric de la fos
back through Barranc de mastec → Abric de la fos is 28 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.