Why this ride
274 km from Albinyana to Albinyana, about 5 h 35 of riding. It goes by way of The, Abric de la Serra de la mussara, Mas d'En Ramon d'en Besso and back through Abric de la Serra de la mussara.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Cova de Vallmajor and Mas d'En Ramon d'en Besso
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 274 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 5 h 35
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
The recorded total and the leg detail need reconciliation. Inspect the leg notes before using this record for timing or navigation. 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. Cova de Vallmajor
Inland from the Costa Daurada, behind the beach towns of El Vendrell and Calafell, the land rises into the low hills of the Baix Penedès, a landscape of vineyards, almond and olive groves, pine woods and small villages. The Cova de Vallmajor, near Albinyana and Bonastre, is a rock shelter in these hills with prehistoric paintings, part of the Levantine rock art of the Mediterranean that is recognised as a World Heritage Site. The paintings are faint and the shelter is protected, so visits are usually by arrangement.
Read the complete Cova de Vallmajor write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Cova de Vallmajor is where the day begins. Next is The.
2. The
Just inland from the beach at Altafulla, on the Costa Daurada north of Tarragona, the remains of a grand Roman villa look out over the Mediterranean. This is the Villa dels Munts, one of the finest Roman country houses in Catalonia, built in the first and second centuries AD, with baths, gardens, mosaics and painted walls. It is thought to have belonged to an important citizen of Tarraco, the Roman capital of the province of Hispania Tarraconensis, and it is part of the World Heritage inscription of the Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco, inscribed in 2000. The villa's setting, on a gentle slope above the sea, makes it easy to see why a wealthy Roman would choose it for a retreat.
Read the complete The write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
The comes up 20 km in. Next is The.
3. The
Inside a plain-looking farmhouse building is a domed hall from the fourth century, its cupola covered in mosaics of hunting scenes, biblical stories and figures that may represent the imperial family. Some scholars believe it was built as a mausoleum for Constans, son of Constantine the Great, who was killed in 350; others are not so sure, and the debate is part of the fun. The site belongs to the UNESCO listing for the Roman town of Tarraco.
Read the complete The write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
41 km in you reach The. Next is Abric de la Serra de la mussara.
4. Abric de la Serra de la mussara
Climb out of Reus on a clear morning and the Serra de la Mussara rises ahead like a wall, a limestone escarpment that holds up the edge of the Prades plateau and drops steeply to the plain of the Camp de Tarragona. The rock shelters along this cliff line, close to the village of Vilaplana, are part of the prehistoric painted landscape of eastern Spain. The best reason to stop, though, is the view: on a good day you look straight down over hazelnut orchards and olive groves to Reus, Tarragona and the sea.
Read the complete Abric de la Serra de la mussara write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Abric de la Serra de la mussara, about halfway. Next is Mas d'En Ramon d'en Besso.
5. Mas d'En Ramon d'en Besso
Behind the Conca de Barberà, where the Catalan plain begins to lift towards the Serra de Prades, a small valley holds the monastery of Poblet, one of the largest and best-preserved Cistercian abbeys in Europe. The Mas d'en Ramon d'en Besso is a farmhouse a few kilometres from Montblanc and from the village of Vimbodí, in wooded country of holm oak, pine and dry-stone terraces with the red cliffs of the Roques Guàrdies nearby.
Read the complete Mas d'En Ramon d'en Besso write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Mas d'En Ramon d'en Besso sits at 81 km, about halfway. Next is back through Abric de la Serra de la mussara.
6. back through Abric de la Serra de la mussara
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Abric de la Serra de la mussara 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 Serra de la mussara comes up 101 km in. Next is back through The.
7. back through The
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete The write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
122 km in you reach back through The. Next is back through The.
8. back through The
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete The write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through The, late in the day. Next is Cova de Vallmajor.
9. Cova de Vallmajor
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Cova de Vallmajor 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 274 km.
Leg by leg
Cova de Vallmajor to The
Cova de Vallmajor → The is 20 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
The to The
The → The is 16 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
The to Abric de la Serra de la mussara
The → Abric de la Serra de la mussara is 27 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Abric de la Serra de la mussara to Mas d'En Ramon d'en Besso
Abric de la Serra de la mussara → Mas d'En Ramon d'en Besso is 18 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Mas d'En Ramon d'en Besso to back through Abric de la Serra de la mussara
Mas d'En Ramon d'en Besso → back through Abric de la Serra de la mussara is 18 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Abric de la Serra de la mussara to back through The
back through Abric de la Serra de la mussara → back through The is 27 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through The to back through The
back through The → back through The is 16 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through The to Cova de Vallmajor
back through The → Cova de Vallmajor is 20 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.