Why this ride
A 176 km round trip from Rugat - roughly 3 h 55 in the saddle. It goes by way of Abric de la Paella, Barranc de la Penya Blanca, Benirrama- Abric I and Sierra de Alfaro.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l and Sierra de Alfaro
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 176 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 3 h 55
- 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 Abric de la Paella.
2. Abric de la Paella
Muro de Alcoy and Cocentaina sit side by side in the valley of the Serpis river, in the Comtat, a district of northern Alicante surrounded by mountains. Cocentaina is crowned by a castle with a tall tower, and below it lies an old town with a palace of the Counts of Cocentaina and a Franciscan convent. The Abric de la Paella, named after the paella pan perhaps because of its shape, lies in the hills between the two towns.
Read the complete Abric de la Paella write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Abric de la Paella comes up about 20 km into the recorded legs. Next is Barranc de la Penya Blanca.
3. Barranc de la Penya Blanca
Planes is a small village in the hills of the Comtat in northern Alicante province, crowned by a castle and looking out over a valley of olive and cherry orchards. The Barranc de la Penya Blanca, the ravine of the white rock, lies close by, among the folded limestone ridges between Planes, Benimarfull and the reservoir at Beniarrés.
Read the complete Barranc de la Penya Blanca write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 37 km into the recorded legs you reach Barranc de la Penya Blanca. Next is Benirrama- Abric I.
4. Benirrama- Abric I
In the Vall de Gallinera, a long, narrow valley in the mountains of northern Alicante, the Benirrama shelter is one of a cluster of rock art sites, part of the Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin World Heritage listing. The valley is particularly rich in macro-schematic art, a distinctive style found only in this region, with large, abstract human figures and symbols painted in red, and the nearby Pla de Petracos is the most famous site of this style. Benirrama itself is also the name of a ruined Moorish castle on a hill above the valley.
Read the complete Benirrama- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Benirrama- Abric I, about halfway. Next is Sierra de Alfaro.
5. Sierra de Alfaro
The Sierra de Alfaro is a long limestone ridge in the mountains of northern Alicante, between Castell de Castells, Benimantell and Planes, a rugged, empty landscape of rock, scrub and pine, with terraced valleys and small villages tucked into its folds. Its slopes hold several shelters with prehistoric paintings, and the area is part of one of the richest regions for rock art in Spain, with Levantine, schematic and the unique macroschematic styles found nowhere else. The ridge is also crossed by walking trails, and the views from the top over the mountains and the sea are wide.
Read the complete Sierra de Alfaro write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Sierra de Alfaro sits at 66 km, about halfway. Next is back through Benirrama- Abric I.
6. back through Benirrama- Abric I
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Benirrama- 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 Benirrama- Abric I comes up about 114 km into the recorded legs. Next is back through Barranc de la Penya Blanca.
7. back through Barranc de la Penya Blanca
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Barranc de la Penya Blanca write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 137 km into the recorded legs you reach back through Barranc de la Penya Blanca. Next is back through Abric de la Paella.
8. back through Abric de la Paella
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Abric de la Paella write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Abric de la Paella, late in the day. Next is Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l.
9. 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
The route ends here after 176 km.
Leg by leg
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l to Abric de la Paella
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l → Abric de la Paella is 20 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Abric de la Paella to Barranc de la Penya Blanca
Abric de la Paella → Barranc de la Penya Blanca is 17 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc de la Penya Blanca to Benirrama- Abric I
Barranc de la Penya Blanca → Benirrama- Abric I is 20 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Benirrama- Abric I to Sierra de Alfaro
Benirrama- Abric I → Sierra de Alfaro is 29 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Sierra de Alfaro to back through Benirrama- Abric I
Sierra de Alfaro → back through Benirrama- Abric I is 28 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Benirrama- Abric I to back through Barranc de la Penya Blanca
back through Benirrama- Abric I → back through Barranc de la Penya Blanca is 23 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Barranc de la Penya Blanca to back through Abric de la Paella
back through Barranc de la Penya Blanca → back through Abric de la Paella is 18 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Abric de la Paella to Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
back through Abric de la Paella → Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l is 20 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.