Why this ride
A 301 km round trip from Castell de Castells - roughly 6 h 35 in the saddle. The stops in between: Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l, El Pantanet, Abric del Garrofero and back through El Pantanet. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I and Abric del Garrofero
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 301 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 6 h 35
- 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. Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I
The Guadalest valley is one of the most photographed places on the Costa Blanca, and it is easy to see why. A narrow rocky spur rises from the middle of the valley, topped by the tower and ruined walls of the castle of Guadalest, and the village clings to the rock below, reached through a tunnel cut in the stone. Beyond it, a reservoir with a startling turquoise colour fills the valley floor, and the great grey wall of the Sierra de Aitana, at 1,558 metres the highest peak in the province of Alicante, rises behind. The village itself is crowded with visitors in summer, and many of the shops sell souvenirs, but at dawn the view across the valley is quiet and fine.
Read the complete Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I is where the day begins. Next is Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l.
2. 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 comes up about 45 km into the recorded legs. Next is El Pantanet.
3. El Pantanet
Few riders have heard of the Serra de Mariola, and that is a pity, because this little limestone range between Alcoi, Bocairent and Ontinyent is one of the most rewarding corners of inland Valencia. El Pantanet, near the village of Alfafara, is a small rock shelter with prehistoric paintings, one of the many sites in the UNESCO listing of the Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula. As with most of its sisters, it is protected and access may be limited, but the hills around it reward the trip on their own.
Read the complete El Pantanet write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 86 km into the recorded legs you reach El Pantanet. Next is Abric del Garrofero.
4. Abric del Garrofero
Bicorp is a small village in the Canal de Navarrés, a valley in the interior of Valencia province walled in by rugged mountains and deep ravines. The surrounding Macizo del Caroig is one of the largest wild areas in the Valencian Community, a vast tableland of pine, scrub and gorges cut by the Júcar's tributaries. The Abric del Garrofero, the shelter of the carob tree, lies in the hills near Bicorp, Quesa and Navarrés.
Read the complete Abric del Garrofero write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Abric del Garrofero, about halfway. Next is back through El Pantanet.
5. back through El Pantanet
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete El Pantanet write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through El Pantanet sits at 139 km, about halfway. Next is back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l.
6. 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
back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l comes up about 257 km into the recorded legs. Next is Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I.
7. Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I closes the day.
Leg by leg
Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I to Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I → Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l is 45 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l to El Pantanet
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l → El Pantanet is 41 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
El Pantanet to Abric del Garrofero
El Pantanet → Abric del Garrofero is 64 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Abric del Garrofero to back through El Pantanet
Abric del Garrofero → back through El Pantanet is 64 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through El Pantanet to back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
back through El Pantanet → back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l is 43 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l to Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I
back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l → Esbardal de miquel el Serril- Abric I is 45 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.