Why this ride
144 km from Cocentaina to Cocentaina, about 3 h 11 of riding. It goes by way of Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I, Coves Roges- Abric I and back through Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Barranc de mastec and Coves Roges- Abric I
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 144 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 3 h 11
- 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 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 is where the day begins. Next is Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I.
2. Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I
The Vall d'Albaida is the quiet valley south of Xàtiva where the Valencian hinterland starts to climb towards the mountains of Alicante, and Otos, Ráfol de Salem and Bèlgida are tiny villages scattered among its folds. The Barranc de Carbonera is one of the ravines that cut into the limestone slopes, and the shelter in it is part of the Mediterranean Basin rock art group that UNESCO inscribed in 1998. The Peñón de los Machos, another painted rock nearby, is on the same ride. The paintings belong to the Levantine tradition, red figures of people and animals painted on the walls of small overhangs in the cliffs.
Read the complete Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I comes up about 31 km into the recorded legs. Next is Coves Roges- Abric I.
3. Coves Roges- Abric I
Planes looks like a village that has been arguing with gravity for a thousand years and winning. Its houses climb a hill crowned by the remains of a Moorish castle, and the whole place overlooks a valley of olive and almond terraces that falls toward the Beniarrés reservoir. The Coves Roges, the red caves, lie in the broken limestone country around here, and the first of their shelters carries prehistoric paintings, part of the scattered rock art of the Valencian mountains. The colour in the name is not poetry: the rock itself is stained a warm iron red.
Read the complete Coves Roges- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 72 km into the recorded legs you reach Coves Roges- Abric I. Next is back through Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I.
4. back through Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Barranc de Carbonera- 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 de Carbonera- Abric I, late in the day. Next is Barranc de mastec.
5. 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 at Barranc de mastec. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Barranc de mastec to Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I
Barranc de mastec → Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I is 31 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I to Coves Roges- Abric I
Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I → Coves Roges- Abric I is 41 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Coves Roges- Abric I to back through Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I
Coves Roges- Abric I → back through Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I is 43 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I to Barranc de mastec
back through Barranc de Carbonera- Abric I → Barranc de mastec is 29 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.