Why this ride
337 km from Rugat to Rugat, about 6 h 40 of riding. It goes by way of Port de Confrides- Abric I, Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2, Port de Confrides- Abric II and back through Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l and Port de Confrides- Abric II
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 337 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 6 h 40
- 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. Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
Castelló de Rugat sits on the southern rim of the Vall d'Albaida, a broad valley in the south of Valencia province hemmed in by mountain ridges. On one side rises the long saw-toothed crest of the Benicadell, on the other the Serra de la Solana, and between them lies a patchwork of vineyards, olive groves and small towns with church towers. The Barranc de les Coves, the ravine of the caves, cuts into the slopes near Castelló de Rugat, Ràfol de Salem and Beniarrés, and its first shelter holds painted figures.
Read the complete Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l is where the day begins. Next is Port de Confrides- Abric I.
2. Port de Confrides- Abric I
Inland from Benidorm, barely half an hour from the high-rise towers and the beach crowds, the mountains of Alicante rise steeply and the whole mood changes. The Port de Confrides is the saddle on the CV-70 between the Guadalest valley and the upland basin of Confrides and Benasau, with the long limestone wall of the Sierra de Aitana to the south. Aitana, at 1,558 metres, is the highest peak in the province, and on a clear winter morning you can see the sea glittering behind you as you climb.
Read the complete Port de Confrides- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Port de Confrides- Abric I comes up about 40 km into the recorded legs. Next is Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2, 25 km on.
3. Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2
Local walkers call it the cathedral of hiking, and once you have seen the Barranc de l'Infern you understand why. This deep limestone gorge, between the Vall de Laguar and the Vall d'Ebo in the mountains behind Dénia, is crossed by an old Moorish mule path that descends and climbs again by thousands of stone steps, carved and built into the rock walls over centuries. The route, a classic day walk, is spectacular and exhausting, with the gorge narrowing at its deepest point to a passage between towering walls. The gorge also holds prehistoric rock art in its shelters, and the sites grouped as Conjunt 2 are among them, part of the wider family of Mediterranean rock art protected by UNESCO.
Read the complete Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 108 km into the recorded legs you reach Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2. Next is Port de Confrides- Abric II.
4. Port de Confrides- Abric II
The Port de Confrides is the kind of pass that never makes a poster but fills a rider's notebook. It carries the road over the shoulder of the Serra d'Aitana between the coast valleys and the inland basin of Alcoi, and from the top you look both ways, towards the sea haze on one side and the pale Mariola country on the other. Aitana itself, at 1,558 metres the highest summit in Alicante province, stands just north of the road, bald and stony and often wearing a little cloud.
Read the complete Port de Confrides- Abric II write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Port de Confrides- Abric II, about halfway. Next is back through Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2, 24 km on.
5. back through Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2 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 l'Infern Conj. 2 sits at 99 km, about halfway. Next is back through Port de Confrides- Abric I.
6. back through Port de Confrides- Abric I
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Port de Confrides- 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 Port de Confrides- Abric I comes up about 296 km into the recorded legs. Next is Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l.
7. Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l closes the day.
Leg by leg
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l to Port de Confrides- Abric I
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l → Port de Confrides- Abric I is 40 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Port de Confrides- Abric I to Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2
Port de Confrides- Abric I → Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2 is 68 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2 to Port de Confrides- Abric II
Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2 → Port de Confrides- Abric II is 68 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Port de Confrides- Abric II to back through Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2
Port de Confrides- Abric II → back through Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2 is 52 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2 to back through Port de Confrides- Abric I
back through Barranc de l'Infern Conj. 2 → back through Port de Confrides- Abric I is 68 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Port de Confrides- Abric I to Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
back through Port de Confrides- Abric I → Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l is 40 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.