Why this ride
From Denia it runs 402 km to Denia; allow about 7 h 32 of riding. It goes by way of Barranc de Bolulla, Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l, La Sarga- Abric I and Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo II. A steady touring day rather than a sprint.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Cova del mig dia and Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo II
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 402 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 7 h 32
- 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 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 is where the day begins. Next is Barranc de Bolulla.
2. Barranc de Bolulla
Bolulla is barely a village, a few hundred people tucked into a valley of the Marina Baixa behind Benidorm, and the ravine that carries its name cuts into the limestone hills just outside it. The mountains here are steep and close together, terraced for centuries with olives, almonds and loquats, and their caves and shelters hold traces of prehistoric painting that place this corner of Alicante within the wider family of Mediterranean rock art. What you see on the ground is a dry, rocky gully scented with pine and wild herbs, with the ruined castle of Bolulla perched on a ridge above, a reminder of the Moorish centuries when these valleys were densely settled.
Read the complete Barranc de Bolulla write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Barranc de Bolulla comes up 35 km in. Next is Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l.
3. 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
70 km in you reach Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l. Next is La Sarga- Abric I.
4. La Sarga- Abric I
Alcoy, or Alcoi in Valencian, is a city of bridges, built where three rivers meet in deep ravines, in the mountains of northern Alicante. It was one of the cradles of Spain's industrial revolution, with textile and paper mills powered by its rivers, and its streets have fine modernist buildings from that era. It is also famous for its Moors and Christians festival in April, one of the most spectacular in Spain, with parades, music and mock battles in honour of Saint George. The rock shelters of La Sarga lie in the hills about eight kilometres from the city, toward Ibi.
Read the complete La Sarga- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
La Sarga- Abric I, about halfway. Next is Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo II.
5. Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo II
The word barranc means a ravine, and the Barranc de les Coves is exactly that, one of the many steep valleys that cut into the limestone mountains of the Comtat and Alcoià in the interior of Alicante province. This is a green country compared with the dry plains farther south, with forests of pine and holm oak, terraced slopes of cherry, almond and olive, and clear streams in the bottom of the gorges. Roads in the area link small villages such as Beniarrés, Ráfol de Salem and Castelló de Rugat, each with a church tower and a cluster of white houses.
Read the complete Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo II 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 II sits at 141 km, about halfway. Next is back through La Sarga- Abric I.
6. back through La Sarga- Abric I
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete La Sarga- 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 La Sarga- Abric I comes up 176 km in. Next is back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l.
7. back through 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
211 km in you reach back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l. Next is back through Barranc de Bolulla.
8. back through Barranc de Bolulla
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Barranc de Bolulla 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 Bolulla, late in the day. Next is Cova del mig dia.
9. Cova del mig dia
Return visit. Read the place description above.
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
The route ends here after 402 km.
Leg by leg
Cova del mig dia to Barranc de Bolulla
Cova del mig dia → Barranc de Bolulla is 34 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc de Bolulla to Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
Barranc de Bolulla → Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l is 38 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l to La Sarga- Abric I
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l → La Sarga- Abric I is 34 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
La Sarga- Abric I to Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo II
La Sarga- Abric I → Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo II is 34 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo II to back through La Sarga- Abric I
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo II → back through La Sarga- Abric I is 34 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through La Sarga- Abric I to back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
back through La Sarga- Abric I → back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l is 34 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l to back through Barranc de Bolulla
back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l → back through Barranc de Bolulla is 39 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Barranc de Bolulla to Cova del mig dia
back through Barranc de Bolulla → Cova del mig dia is 34 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.