Why this ride
From Benimassot it runs 194 km to Benimassot; allow about 3 h 28 of riding. On the way it passes La Sarga- Abric I, Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I, La Sarga- Abric II and back through Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
L'Esmoladora and La Sarga- Abric II
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 194 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 3 h 28
- 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. L'Esmoladora
The Serra de Mariola is a mountain of herbs. Its slopes smell of thyme, rosemary, sage and a score of other aromatic plants that people have gathered for centuries to make teas, liqueurs and remedies, and the natural park that protects it has become a favourite of walkers who like to crush a leaf between their fingers. L'Esmoladora lies a little way east of that range, in the hills between Planes and Beniarrés, a country of terraced slopes and small reservoirs that spreads out towards the plain of Alcoi.
Read the complete L'Esmoladora write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
L'Esmoladora is where the day begins. Next is La Sarga- Abric I.
2. 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 comes up about 30 km into the recorded legs. Next is Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I.
3. Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I
The painted shelter of Barranc d'Alpadull sits in the folds of the Serra de Mariola, the limestone massif that rises between Bocairent, Alfafara and Agres in the inland corner where Valencia, Alicante and the old kingdom's hill country all meet. It is one of the many small overhangs in eastern Spain that carry Levantine rock art, the group of sites inscribed together by UNESCO as the Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin. Do not expect a museum. These are faint, reddish figures under a lip of stone, usually fenced, often hard to read unless the light is low and raking, and part of the pleasure is simply knowing that hunters drew here thousands of years before anyone thought of building a road up this valley.
Read the complete Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 63 km into the recorded legs you reach Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I. Next is La Sarga- Abric II.
4. La Sarga- Abric II
La Sarga is a deep, rocky ravine that cuts into the hills north of Alcoi, and it is one of the most important rock art sites in eastern Spain. The paintings here include both the lively red figures of the Levantine tradition and the simpler schematic signs of later peoples, and some show deer, goats and human figures with striking detail. The site belongs to the Mediterranean Basin rock art that UNESCO listed in 1998, and it is carefully managed, so check access conditions before travelling. Abric II, one of the shelters, is part of the cluster.
Read the complete La Sarga- Abric II write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
La Sarga- Abric II, about halfway. Next is back through Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I.
5. back through Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Barranc d'Alpadull- 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 d'Alpadull- Abric I sits at 99 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 about 164 km into the recorded legs. Next is L'Esmoladora.
7. L'Esmoladora
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete L'Esmoladora write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
L'Esmoladora closes the day.
Leg by leg
L'Esmoladora to La Sarga- Abric I
L'Esmoladora → La Sarga- Abric I is 30 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
La Sarga- Abric I to Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I
La Sarga- Abric I → Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I to La Sarga- Abric II
Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I → La Sarga- Abric II is 34 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
La Sarga- Abric II to back through Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I
La Sarga- Abric II → back through Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I to back through La Sarga- Abric I
back through Barranc d'Alpadull- Abric I → 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 L'Esmoladora
back through La Sarga- Abric I → L'Esmoladora is 30 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.