Why this ride
From Cocentaina it runs 268 km to Cocentaina; allow about 5 h 10 of riding. On the way it passes Barranc del Sord-Abric I, Penya del Vicari, Cova del mig dia and back through Penya del Vicari. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Abric de la Penya Banyà and Cova del mig dia
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 268 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 5 h 10
- 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 Penya Banyà
Somewhere in the limestone folds around Cocentaina, under an overhang of rock, people painted small figures thousands of years before anyone here had heard of Rome. The rock shelters of this part of Alicante belong to the great family of Mediterranean rock art that runs down the eastern side of Spain, recognised together by UNESCO, and the Abric de la Penya Banyà is one of these quiet, unassuming sites. Expect faded red pigment on pale stone, often protected behind a grille, and a short walk from the nearest track rather than a visitor centre.
Read the complete Abric de la Penya Banyà write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Abric de la Penya Banyà is where the day begins. Next is Barranc del Sord-Abric I.
2. Barranc del Sord-Abric I
Aitana is the mountain you can see from nearly everywhere in this part of Alicante, and at 1,558 metres it is the highest in the province. The village of Benimantell sits in its shadow, a tiny place of fewer than five hundred people with white houses and a view that ends in blue haze. The shelter named here, Barranc del Sord, belongs to the Tabla de Pochico group, a scatter of Levantine paintings in the hills of the Marina Baixa that form part of the UNESCO-listed rock art of the Mediterranean Basin.
Read the complete Barranc del Sord-Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Barranc del Sord-Abric I comes up about 31 km into the recorded legs. Next is Penya del Vicari.
3. Penya del Vicari
On a map of the Costa Blanca, the Serra de Bernia looks like a wall dropped between two very different worlds. On one side, high-rise Benidorm and the busy coast; on the other, the quiet valleys of Jalón and Guadalest. The Penya del Vicari is one of the rocky outcrops in these hills above Altea and Calp, a place where the limestone is cut by caves and shelters, some of which carry traces of prehistoric painting. It is a small, quiet site in an area otherwise famous for sun loungers.
Read the complete Penya del Vicari write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 102 km into the recorded legs you reach Penya del Vicari. Next is Cova del mig dia.
4. Cova del mig dia
The Montgó dominates the coast between Dénia and Xàbia, a massive limestone mountain rising to 753 metres straight from the sea, its profile said to resemble a sleeping elephant. The Cova del Mig Dia, the cave of midday, is in the flanks of the Montgó, one of several caves and shelters on the mountain, some with traces of prehistoric occupation and rock art. The Montgó is a natural park, with paths leading through scrub and pine to caves, viewpoints and the summit.
Read the complete Cova del mig dia write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Cova del mig dia, about halfway. Next is back through Penya del Vicari.
5. back through Penya del Vicari
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Penya del Vicari write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Penya del Vicari sits at 107 km, about halfway. Next is back through Barranc del Sord-Abric I.
6. back through Barranc del Sord-Abric I
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Barranc del Sord-Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Barranc del Sord-Abric I comes up about 237 km into the recorded legs. Next is Abric de la Penya Banyà.
7. Abric de la Penya Banyà
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Abric de la Penya Banyà write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Abric de la Penya Banyà closes the day.
Leg by leg
Abric de la Penya Banyà to Barranc del Sord-Abric I
Abric de la Penya Banyà → Barranc del Sord-Abric I is 31 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc del Sord-Abric I to Penya del Vicari
Barranc del Sord-Abric I → Penya del Vicari is 71 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Penya del Vicari to Cova del mig dia
Penya del Vicari → Cova del mig dia is 36 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Cova del mig dia to back through Penya del Vicari
Cova del mig dia → back through Penya del Vicari is 35 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Penya del Vicari to back through Barranc del Sord-Abric I
back through Penya del Vicari → back through Barranc del Sord-Abric I is 64 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Barranc del Sord-Abric I to Abric de la Penya Banyà
back through Barranc del Sord-Abric I → Abric de la Penya Banyà is 31 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.