Why this ride
96 km from Beniatjar to Beniatjar, about 2 h 12 of riding. The stops in between: Barranc de mastec, Abric de la Creu and back through Barranc de mastec. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Penya de Benicadell and Abric de la Creu
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 96 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 2 h 12
- 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. Penya de Benicadell
From almost anywhere in the southern half of Valencia province you can see it: a long, jagged ridge of grey limestone with a sharp tooth at its eastern end, standing on the skyline like a broken saw. The Benicadell, at 1,104 metres, separates the Vall d'Albaida to the north from the Comtat to the south, and the sharp summit, the Penya, is the mountain's signature. At its foot lie the villages of Beniarrés, Ràfol de Salem and Otos.
Read the complete Penya de Benicadell write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Penya de Benicadell is where the day begins. Next is Barranc de mastec.
2. 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 comes up about 18 km into the recorded legs. Next is Abric de la Creu.
3. Abric de la Creu
Ontinyent and Bocairent sit close together in the southern part of Valencia province, in the upper valley of the Clariano river, surrounded by the mountains of the Serra de Mariola and the Serra Grossa. Ontinyent is a textile town with a fine old quarter on a hill above the river, crowned by the tall bell tower of the church of Santa Maria. Bocairent, a few kilometres away, is a medieval village perched on a rocky outcrop above a ravine. The Abric de la Creu, the shelter of the cross, lies in the hills between the two.
Read the complete Abric de la Creu write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 48 km into the recorded legs you reach Abric de la Creu. Next is back through Barranc de mastec.
4. back through 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 through Barranc de mastec, late in the day. Next is Penya de Benicadell.
5. Penya de Benicadell
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Penya de Benicadell write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Penya de Benicadell. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Penya de Benicadell to Barranc de mastec
Penya de Benicadell → Barranc de mastec is 18 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc de mastec to Abric de la Creu
Barranc de mastec → Abric de la Creu is 30 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Abric de la Creu to back through Barranc de mastec
Abric de la Creu → back through Barranc de mastec is 29 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Barranc de mastec to Penya de Benicadell
back through Barranc de mastec → Penya de Benicadell is 19 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.