"The sense of harsh wild nature, empty and lonely, is only seen and experienced on the peaks, ridges, sierras and loftiest shady places where traces of deciduous forest still grow with oak, ash and maple trees. The rest is humanised geography, tempered, softened, shot through with nuances and vestiges of humans, with lovely magical surroundings of the finest, fiercest and most fruitful countryside and rural way of life. Our true geography from long before the Iberians until just a few decades ago." Joan Pellicer i Bataller
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Contents 004
What is a “Centre BTT” in the Region of Valencia?
010
INTRODUCTION Under the Al-Azraq sky. Proposals for getting to know a fascinating landscape
018
ROUTE 1 -L’ESTRET DEL’INFERN Along the riverside woods
028
ROUTE 2 - L’ORXA-BENIARRÉS Along the former railway line
038
ROUTE 3 - EL CIRCO DE LA SAFOR A privileged balcony over looking the Mediterranean
048
ROUTE 4 - L’ALBURECA The sierra where the sun rises
056
ROUTE 5 - EL BARRANC DE L’ENCANTADA Through the heart of the Vall de Gallinera. El Camí dels Mallorquins
068
ROUTE 6 - EL BENICADELL The magical fascination of the Valencian mountains
080
ROUTE 7 - LA VALL D’ALBAIDA Y LA SIERRA DE ADOR From the Serpis valley to the river Vernissa
092
ROUTE 8 - LA SOLANA DEL BENICADELL Towns, wayside chapels and fortresses. Along the noonday roads
102
ROUTE 9 - LA VALL D’ALCALÀ A strenuous ride through the essence of Alicante’s cultural heritage
114
Advice and handy hints
What is a Centre BTT in the Region of Valencia? It is a space with free access set aside for mountain biking, which has a network of suitably signposted routes and a series of equipment and back up services for bike use. Whatever your ability level, any “Centre BTT” will enable you to enjoy riding safely and with peace of mind touring the most beautiful spots in the Region of Valencia.
What do the “Centre BTT”s in the Region of Valencia offer? A minimum of 100 kilometres of circuits, suitably mapped and marked, designed for all members of the public. A Welcome Point offering services of attention and information about the “Centre BTT” itself and its surroundings. It also has a bike rental service, parking areas, areas equipped for washing and repairing bikes, shower and toilet facilities, and first aid. Information Points located in different establishments and places throughout the area, providing Information about the “Centre BTT” itself and local tourist resources. A quality standard in the services and infrastructure of the “Centre BTT”, since they are certified and backed by the Valencial Regional Government.
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Starting points and signposting Most of the itineraries are circuits that set out from the Welcome Point. They are interconnected waymarked routes, and may be followed either on their own or as long distance rides. At the Information and Welcome Points there is also an informative map with the network of “Centre BTT” routes and indications of the different services they offer. All the routes have a complete signposting and marking system made up of different signs that are positioned along the entire route and especially at points where they intersect. The signs indicating services and route directions are positioned on specific posts or on natural or urban supports.
Route classification Each “Centre BTT” proposes various routes with different ability levels, along stretches with scant motorised traffic and not generally asphalted. The routes are classified by colour according to ability (distance, height differences, possibility of going on the bike or condition of the road):
very easy
easy
hard
very hard
Signposting code of the “Centre BTT”s The “Centre BTT”s have a standardised signposting system used in other “Centre BTT”s in Europe. Each signpost has a coloured number indicating the route being travelled on and its ability level.
Direction, colour and number of the route
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Index of pictograms Well
Corral
Wayside chapel
Mountain
River
TV antennas
Cross
Power station
Vantage point
Tunnel
Welcome Centre
Storage tank
Water spout
Sports Centre
Castle
Uninhabited
Fig tree
Bridge
Inhabited
Tourist bike routes Summary of the technical information of the routes described in this publication (distance, ability level, starting point, duration and height difference).
NO. NAME
STARTING POINT
DISTANCE
DURATION
HEIGHT DIFF.
01 Estret de l’Infern
L’Orxa Welcome Point
LEVEL
23.8 km
1hr 45min - 2hr
336 m
02 L’Orxa Beniarrés
L’Orxa Welcome Point
16.6 km
1hr 20min
187 m
03 Circular a la Safor
L’Orxa Welcome Point
22.5 km
2hr - 2h 30min
594 m
04 L’Albureca
602 m
L’Orxa Welcome Point
19.5 km
2hr 30min
05 Barranc de l’Encantada L’Orxa Welcome Point
29.0 km
3hr
729 m
06 Circular al Benicadell
L’Orxa Welcome Point
35.6 km
3hr 30min - 5hr
851 m
07 Vall d’Albaida
L’Orxa Welcome Point
40.6 km
3hr 30min - 4hr 30min 703 m
08 La Solana
Beniarrés Information Point
19.2 km
2hr 30min
601 m
09 Vall d’Alcalà
Planes Information Point
40.0 km
4hr 30min
1413 m
Instructions and recommendations Use of a helmet is obligatory. Indicate at the Welcome Point which route you are going to do and inform yourself about its technical points and the weather conditions on the day. Do not forget to check the condition of your bike and always carry water, warm clothing, repair kit and mobile phone well charged. Respect the environment, its inhabitants and the animals you come across, as well as private areas. Select and follow the routes according to your ability, both physical and technical. You must obey the signposting of the routes, give priority to pedestrians and obey the local traffic regulations in general (foreigners should familiarise themselves in case of any differences with their highway code at home). It is important to have cycling insurance. For that you must get an insurance policy or membership licence from any of the federations or sports clubs that cover mountain biking as one of their activities. In the absence of signs indicating which way to go at crossroads, ride along the preferred road. The places where you are going to ride are open, with unrestricted circulation, where many activities are undertaken (forestry, husbandry, agricultural), so maintain a sensible attitude, be understanding and respectful of other users. The “Centre BTT” does not take responsibility for misuse of the routes or recklessness of users.
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Useful telephone numbers: El Comtat “Centre BTT” Centre BTT El Comtat Partida Fontetes, s/n 03860 L’Orxa (Alicante) 96 651 18 69 Tourist Info Cocentaina Pl. del Pla, s/n (Palau Comtal) 03820 Cocentaina (Alicante) 96 559 01 59 Tourist Info Muro de Alcoy Pl. Matzem, s/n 03830 Muro de Alcoy (Alicante) 96 553 20 71
Civil Defence 96 553 02 09 Fire Service 96 559 24 41 Police (“Guardia civil”) 96 553 02 14 - 96 553 03 18 Emergencies 112 Muro de Alcoy Health Centre 96 651 62 28
By: José Manuel Almerich
From towns tucked away in the silence of the valley, to peaks and precipices of overwhelming beauty, two hundred and twentyfive kilometres, sixteen towns, five thousand metres accumulated height difference, natural fresh water spouts, wayside chapels, country houses and castles await. And one river, the Serpis, forming part of a stage-set in which you are the only actor.
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Benicadell. 38° 50' 8.51" N 0° 17' 38.60" W
Under the Al-Azraq sky. Proposals for getting to know a fascinating landscape
V
all de Perputxent is a place you pass through. L'Orxa, at the end of the track, is not on the way to any other towns but rather it lies behind the mountains or through the narrow Paso del Infierno. Like Turballos, in the Middle Ages it was said that it was a “dead end”, given that few knew what lay beyond the huge wall of Benicadell. The world ended there for many of the inhabitants of the small towns and country houses dotted about the Comtat and the Baronía, and it is precisely here that this proposal for really getting to know a fascinating landscape begins.
The “Centre BTT” of L’Orxa was born out of the vocation to serve as a basis for a series of round trips that could be linked up to turn them into a long distance ride. Entirely designed for mountain biking, it is understood that this form of travel is the most natural and ecological that exists for penetrating deep into natural sites without altering them. The peculiarity of this geographical setting makes it ideal for enjoying this activity with total freedom and independence. The Vall de Perputxent is a hollow surrounded by mountains and through which the river Serpis runs, which has become the backbone
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and chief economic driving force of the valley. The river is not only the vital artery that has irrigated the fields ever since the Muslim occupation, but it has also generated wealth, has been a means of communication and a source of energy powering water mills, electricity generating stations and paper mills, on which the industrial development has been based. Until very recently the dependence of agriculture, both unirrigated as well as irrigated, was maintained in a delicate balance. Today rural tourism is necessary as a supplement to maintain the economy, and also the customs, alive, safeguarding a value for future generations who would not have had the chance to get to know the world of our predecessors. A simple lifestyle, based on the produce of the fertile lowlands and on the resources offered by the mountain environment, has also meant that people have conserved the friendly dealings that have always characterised them and the towns have partly retained their traditional architecture. The woodland has not had the same good fortune. Throughout century after century humans have felled its holm oaks and exploited the mountains to the limit of what they could offer, as a justifiable activity necessary for their own survival. In a place inhabited for over five thousand years, as the archaeological remains of the Cova de L’Or bear witness, where the first groups of agricultural and livestock farmers settled in the valley, the landscape we see today is a
consequence of human action rather than that of nature. Without the human presence it would not be possible to understand or interpret the scenery in which these routes are undertaken. The formation of the valley of the midcourse of the Serpis has its origin in the action of the tectonic forces that have given shape to the territory throughout the different geological periods, and whose most important physical characteristics are of two types: anticlines and synclines. The entire Baetic Cordillera of Alicante is crossed from north to south with anticlines and synclines lying on a southwest-northeast orientation and sometimes of considerable length. The northern end of the Baetic Cordillera is formed by the anticline of the CovaltaBenicadell sierra which encompasses the Vall de Perputxent in the north and the Vall D’Albaida to the south. After the Serpis, the Albureca-Safor sierra. Further south, the Almudaina sierra, and then the Serrella and Aitana. And so on successively, a series of alignments that begin in the Sierra Nevada and stretch as far as the sea, the Tramontana sierra on Mallorca being their continuation. This alternation of mountains and valleys is what makes this territory different, and its complexity gives rise to secluded little spots, watercourses and gorges, places sometimes isolated and difficult to reach, like microcosms within the same area. The weather also tends to be conditioned by this parallel arrangement of the Baetic Cordillera, above all for its height and
The bike is the most human of inventions for travelling, not only in space but also in time.
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orientation, since many of the formations as is the case of the Safor or Mariola present a barrier to the moisture-laden east winds which are channelled between them, quickly gaining altitude and producing abundant precipitations, especially in the autumn. On the other hand, in winter the snowfalls are occasional, mostly on the peaks above a thousand metres (Safor, Benicadell, Montcabrer). In former times the snow was much more abundant, as the well-conserved neveras [special constructions to store snow and form ice] still bear witness. The lowest altitude example of these still existing in the Region of Valencia can be visited on Route 9, very close to Alcalá de la Jovada. The summers are very hot and sometimes influenced by humidity from the sea. Any time of year is good for doing the suggested rides, but on the very hot days of summer the routes with very hard climbs are not recommended. It is better to confine oneself to pedalling along the riverside and even bathing in one of the pools of the Barranc de L’Encantada. In springtime the steeper slopes of Benicadell, Ador and Albureca can be tackled. And in March, when the cherry trees blossom, it is the time for riding through the valleys of Alcalá and La Gallinera, a unique display which one never tires of looking at. Winter is ideal for all the routes, as long as you are suitably equipped, and in autumn the course of the river must be visited, of course, where the trees burst out in a riot of colour among all the vegetation the riverside offers.
The proposed routes run through the mountains that surround this stretch of the Serpis before it is forced by Benicadell and the Sierra de Ador to pass through L’Estret de L’Infern, the only possible way through to the sea and the plains of the seaboard. Here the valley is closed and on the most demanding routes, the itinerary indicated follows the anticlines until it gets out of the valley and then continues across the slopes without losing height, so as to then descend into other valleys parallel to this one, as is the case of the Vall del Vernissa, the Vall de Gallinera or the Vall D’Alcalá. These stretches, undertaken at the unhurried pace the landscape deserves, allow one to get an understanding of the complexity of the area and feel in your legs the intense strength of Alicante’s geography. Before setting out on the journey, just remember the role that humans have played in these parts since the remotest antiquity. How the landscape has been transformed, adapting it to the necessities of life. While the most ancient human presence is represented by the Cova de L’Or, there are plenty of Iberian settlements and some from the Bronze Age, the same as the other valleys that will also be explored. The castle of L’Orxa is in fact situated on top of a former bronze mine and the Vall D’Alcalá route passes close by the Iberian settlement of Xarpolar. The Romans left their mark in the form of rustic villas and small necropolis, above all at the end of the Muro de Alcoy. They also made considerable agricultural
transformations, since they had at their disposal slave labour capable of undertaking these enterprises, building roads and other infrastructure. But it was undoubtedly the Arabs who adapted the land, cultivating it and making it more productive, in many cases introducing new crops and innovative irrigation techniques, as well as an important network of irrigation ditches that may still be seen today in the lands of what used to be the four former alquerías [from an Arab term for a group of farm buildings, similar to the Roman villa or country estate] of the valley: L’Orxa, Canéssia, Benillup and Benitáriq, known nowadays nowadays as Benitáixer. From this era the fortresses survive, like that of Perputxent which gives its name to the valley, and the castles of Benissili and
Margarida perched high up and inaccessible in the valleys of Gallinera and Alcalá respectively. When Jaime I conquered this territory and by means of treaties managed to take over many of these alquerías, he allowed the Muslims to carry on living there, respecting their ways of life and also their religion. Converted into Moors, the Muslims were more and more shunned and marginalised, forcibly baptised and inhabiting remote places in the most minimal conditions of subsistence. The whole of that era has left such a mark on the countryside that it is impossible not to feel it close. Some years after the expulsion of the Muslims in 1609, Mallorcans and Spaniards occupied these former alquerías again although many of
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them would never be inhabited again and were left abandoned. The countryside and rural way of life reached its height at the beginnings of the twentieth century and the mountain was left worked out and overexploited. This is the landscape that has been left and that we are obliged to maintain, for there are still some outposts of nature that retain their purity intact. The rest is a cultural landscape, so typically ours and so alive that it seems as if time has not passed. Route by route and kilometre after kilometre take us back through history, from those Moors and their isolated settlements, to the abandoned railway line, built by the British to join Alcoy with Gandia. From the towns of the valley, tucked away in the silence, to peaks and precipices of
overwhelming beauty, two hundred and twenty-five kilometres, sixteen towns, five thousand metres of accumulated height difference, natural fresh water spouts, wayside chapels, country houses and castles await. And one river, the Serpis, forming part of a stage-set in which you are the only actor. The “Centre BTT” is at your disposal. There are many possibilities and different degrees of difficulty: there is bound to be one that suits your ability level. Now it is just up to you to choose which road to follow. Have a good trip!
ROUTE l’infern NUMBER1 L’Estret de l’Infern
Disused railway platform 38° 51' 19.74" N 0° 18' 41.63" W
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Along the riverside woods The Mediterranean mountains offer few opportunities to follow the course of a river throughout a whole day. There are also few chances for getting to know a riverside woodland that retains all its purity and biodiversity along a river. Few rivers, too, on the entire peninsular seaboard are left in a good state of conservation and whose watercourse, moreover, has never been altered by human intervention, except to serve as a natural passageway. The course of the river Serpis, also known as the "Riu D’Alcoi" is one of these fascinating surprises and, following the former railway line, is the first proposal of this guide. Culture, history, nature and sports come together on this ride ideal for really getting to know the only river in Alicante with a permanent watercourse throughout the whole year, and a Protected Landscape designated by the Generalitat [Valencian Parliament]. The river Serpis has its source in the Serra de Mariola, very close to Alcoy and the Carrascar de la Font Roja, and is made up of a series of gullies which converge at its head. An indeterminate number of small but winding tributaries and endless natural water spouts along its length feed into it on its way. But it is the winter snows that will provide its greatest rate of flow in spring. The high levels of rainfall over the
Serra de Mariola, thanks to the moist eastern winds, mean that the Serpis has water flowing permanently, all year round. When in 1893, the Harbour Company Limited considered building a railway to join the port at Gandia with Alcoy, for the purpose of transporting coal for industry and taking the manufactured products down to the sea, they used the only natural route possible: the canyon formed by the Serpis, a pass through an impressive narrow gorge, also known as L’Estret de L’Infern or Racó del Duc. The Serpis then fulfilled the same function the most important rivers of the world seem to have been used for: a means of communication, a supply of water for populations, the creation of irrigation, feeding a reservoir - that of Beniarrés generating electricity and making possible the historic fertile market garden of Gandia. A winding river, like a serpent as its name indicates, forming meanders that enable the growth of the existing almost jungle-like vegetation, and in it every variety of flora and fauna species needing its protection to survive.
Racó del Duc. 38° 51' 31.29" N 0° 18' 28.04" W
The proposed route starts out from L'Orxa, more specifically from the hostel where the “Centre BTT” itself is located. L'Orxa is a small, quiet town of uncertain origin, whose present location is a former Muslim alquería which belonged to the Muslim leader Al-Azraq. Moorish reminders of those Muslims who were relegated to the uninhabited inland regions by the Spaniards, can still be spotted in its narrow whitewashed streets. Archaeological remains can also be visited on Route 2. After crossing the river Serpis, continue the climb until, at the height of the old railway station, you meet the abandoned platform of the railway built by the British (El trenet dels anglesos - “the railway of the English” - as it is popularly known locally. In Spanish the term “English” is commonly used to refer to “British”, regardless of strict correctness). Many signs of this former use remain: little
height difference, an abundance of stone chippings that served as the support for the tracks, cuttings to pass through the mountain, remains of cables that had supplied the electricity, coal yard depots and, looking carefully on the ground it is still possible to come across remains of that mineral which once fired the industry of Alcoya. This ride could be named archaeological cycle-tourism. On reaching the now green ex-railway line, Perputxent castle will be seen ahead, which is spoken of in Route 3. This castle, of Muslim origin, is the one from which this valley takes its name: a micro-region with its own personality and characteristics marked, as so many are, by the presence of humans and conditioned by its own geography. The paper factories that in former times contaminated our river have been left behind. Today things are more controlled, the waters of the Serpis are in
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Riverside woods of the Serpis 38° 49' 36.13" N 0° 20' 53.26" W
better condition, and it is not hard to catch a trout and even fish like barbels or the Southwest European nase. But even so, its waters require constant vigilance. Continue following the former railway line and after a few more kilometres the route pluges into the steep canyon, between high limestone walls and reaches a certain degree of height above the riverbed which lies to the right. In this area it is possible to see the richness of the riverside vegetation.
The Galería woods, as its name implies, stretches along the river bank like a gallery, creating an impenetrable tangle, a real paradise for countless birds, many of which can be seen without any problem. Willows, tamarinds, elms, poplars, black poplars and aspens reach the height of their splendour in autumn, the season in which these species seem to explode with the intensity of colour. The range of colours achieved by the riverside woods makes this landscape look quite distinct from that which one is accustomed to in Alicante, and very different to that offered in winter or spring. Just four kilometres from L’Orxa the route passes through its first tunnel. The start of excitement, adventure especially if you are accompanied by kids, since this route is ideal for riding as a family or with friends who want to make their first foray into the thrilling world of mountain biking. From the
An ideal route for making your first foray into the thrilling world of mountain biking.
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sixth kilometre the route descends and taking great care crosses the river. It goes without saying that you must not try to cross if the river is in spate or if there is the danger of floods. Remember once again that you are in a Mediterranean climate, where it rains abundantly and sometimes torrentially in the months of autumn, when the sea mist forms pockets at altitude, on some occasions provoking the meteorological phenomenon known as the “cold drop”. Rivers of little water flow or gullies without water for most of the year, can become dangerous if you are nearby. With this warning in mind, which will certainly be taken into account, cross the river at a concrete ford. To the right there is a former power station, testifying to what used to be the rational harnessing of natural resources for energy. Small electricity generating stations fed by the flow of the rivers supplied energy to the nearby towns and industries, without much environmental
impact and without altering the flow with dams. In this isolated place where this power station is found, as many as fourteen families lived and they had a church, a tavern and a grocery store. Continuing on the route, leaving the power station behind, a bridge is crossed. Two tunnels have previously been passed through, until one is reached at the end. But the second one is the longest of all and will need a headlight or cycle lamp to go through it, since a point is reached where the darkness is absolute. A light is also important for being seen, since although it is infrequent, the occasional vehicle might pass. Just six hundred metres after the last tunnel there is a sudden turning to the right up a steep climb. The ex-railway line is left here, as it ends abruptly a little further on. When it was dismantled, the bridge was taken as well, to make use of the ironwork. This climb, which marks the
final stretch of the route, is firm but is very steep. This leads to the Circo de la Safor. Once on the road, an Information Point beside the quarry indicates the end of the route, although in the following proposals, this indication is not the end, but rather the signal to continue. In fact, if you want to go down from the quarry to Villalonga or to the fast-flowing Font de la Reprimala, it is as simple as just turning off to the left and freewheeling downhill in a thrilling descent. Opposite the Font de la Reprimala and further on, too, there are some restaurants where you can regain your strength. El Circo de la Safor, which may be seen in all its immensity from this last Information Point, is one of the most sublime and strenuous landscapes of the entire Mediterranean seaboard. Route 3 climbs its slopes and mentions their formation. It is a circular sierra which, like a huge amphitheatre open to the Gregale
winds from the northeast, rises in a disconcertingly vertical manner to over a thousand metres above sea level.
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Fábrica de l'Infern. 38° 52' 16.43" N 0° 16' 57.02" W
THE LIGHT FACTORY Between the towns of L’Orxa and Villalonga, along the entire course of the Serpis, the remains are found of five former hydroelectric power stations, which were popularly known locally as fábricas de la luz, literally “[electric] light factories”. These small generating stations, based on the same principle that has powered water mills for centuries, harnessed the force of the water to turn it into electrical energy. In the same way as for water mills, the water was retained in pools or diverted by means of azudes [small dams, from the Moorish word meaning “barrier”] if the river had a considerable volume of flow, and channelled to move the magnetic turbines that generated the electricity. The
generating station passed here has always been known as the fábrica de L’Infern, because it is situated on the ravine of the same name. The fábrica de L’Infern was built in the early nineteenth century and, unlike the other four that used to exist along the Serpis, it was not built over a former watermill. It changed owner various times, was closed for a long time, put into working order again, and finally abandoned when the monopoly of the large electricity companies came about. A total of as many as fifty people lived there. Its isolated chapel still remains and the inhabitants of the rest of the power stations further down the river used to go there to attend mass. The fall had a drop of 29 metres and an estimated power of 700 kW/h. The other power stations were at Racó del Duc, Mare de Déu, Céntim and La Reprimala, already very close to Villalonga.
ROUTE NUMBER1 L’Estret de l’Infern
Route data START
L’Orxa Welcome Point
LEVEL DISTANCE
23.8 km.
DURATION
1h 45 min - 2 hrs 336 m
HEIGHT DIF.
Altitude
23.8
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Km 0
Km 6.4
Welcome Point. Set out from L’Orxa municipal hostel towards the CV-70l.
Caution! Detour leaving the railway line, turning down to right.
Km 0.2
Km 6.8
CV-701 right turn to Beniarrés. Leave L’Orxa.
Km 0.9 Bridge over river Serpis, cross over.
Km 0.99
Bridge. Cross over river. Fábrica de luz [former small generating station] on right.
Km 7.4 Return onto former railway line. Go right.
Km 8.1
Leave CV-701 turn right and gentle climb.
Carry straight on. (Fuente de la Mata on right).
Km 1.5
Km 8.8
Abandoned railway station, turn right onto the former railway line (dirt road).
Km 2.2
Bridge over a meander of the river.
Km 9.3
Carry straight on.
Tunnel.
Km 3.4
Km 9.7
Continue along railway line (small bridge on right).
Km 4.2 Tunnel.
Km 4.7
Tunnel (light will be needed).
Km 10 Leave railway line. Turn right. Gentle climb.
Km 11.3
Continue along railway line.
Continue along the main road between huts.
Km 4.9
Km 11.5
Hut on left, azud on right. Carry straight on.
Km 6 Former water storage tank. Carry straight on.
Continue along the main road. Do not heed diversions.
Km 11.9 Quarry, Information Point.
You can link onto Route 3 or return and complete the route to L’Orxa back the way you came.
ROUTE L’Orxa-Beniarrés de l’infern NUMBER2 L’Estret
Return to L’Orxa along the former railway line 38° 52' 10.26" N 0° 17' 32.04" W
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Along the former railway line The Sierra del Benicadell and its extension towards the east frames most of this route, like a large wall, along the north facing slopes of the Vall de Perputxent. The route takes you riding all the time along the hillside, stepped in small terraces, with the peak of Montcabrer opposite as an unmistakable reference point. This is a simple route, very easy, the shortest and most convenient of the entire L’Orxa “Centre BTT” network. It is ideal for the kiddies to join in, and also for sharing with all those who want to try mountain biking for the first time. Then, if they like the trip and it turns out well, you can venture to do L’Estret del Serpis (Route 1) and go through the deep canyon the river forms as far as the Racó del Duc. From L’Orxa to Beniarrés, once the abandoned former station and the castle are left behind, the route continues along what used to be the old railway line, today asphalted and turned into a road which joins the the country land of both municipalities. The surface is not in very good condition, at least along some stretches, where you need to take care of holes. This road is used by agricultural vehicles, tractors and small mechanical rotavators, to reach the fields for their work. So, despite the easiness of the route,
care must be taken at all times. Precisely this stretch of now green ex-railway line, which barely stretches to eight kilometres between the two towns, is shared with motor vehicles, and these do not always travel at the speed they should. The first thing that attracts attention on this short but intense itinerary is how its route is elevated. There is an extraordinary view over the whole countryside at all times. It is as if one were to be flying at low altitude, very close to the ground and merging with the vegetation lining the road. In the background the immensity of the Sierra de Mariola can be seen, crowned by its highest peak, Montcabrer, and a little further down, the castle of Cocentaina. To the right Benicadell and, in the distance to the left, the depression formed by the river Serpis, made use of since ancient times for cultivating small vegetable gardens, and at its central and deepest part, the Beniarrés reservoir which, like a silvery lake, is caught sight of in small doses along the way. The green or yellow patches of willows and black poplars along the water course indicate where the river runs, which is sensed but not seen. The autumn colours of the tamarinds and deciduous trees announce the presence of the reservoir, which at this time of year is at its best, both for the
Former railway station at L’Orxa 38° 51' 0.97" N 0° 19' 27.36" W
abundance of water and for the unmistakable colours of the surroundings. Beside it, and like a deep scar between the mountains, the Barranc de L’Encantada feeds its waters into the river and forms a natural spot that is particularly regarded as a micro-reserve of flora at the top of Senabre. As you ride along, the narrow strips of reedbeds take over the road surface. The presence of this aggressively invasive species is indicative of the abundance of
water at the edges of the former railway line, whether from springs that flow from the foot of the mountain, or from the accumulation of rainwater. The reeds, everpresent all along the first part of the route, were introduced into the peninsula by the Romans and, since then, they have been used as a building material and as supports for crops. With the abandonment of the countryside and rural way of life and the mechanisation of agriculture, the reeds are hardly used any more and are
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DESERTED MOORISH SETTLEMENT OF CANÉSSIA Canéssia is a deserted settlement forcibly abandoned by the Moors at the beginning of the 17th century. The Moors were the descendents of the Muslims who stayed in the Kingdom of Valencia after the conquest by Jaime I, since the monarch respected their customs and also their religion. Nowadays the remains of the settlement are deeply disfigured by the buildings - chiefly corrals put up during the last century. Nevertheless, vestiges of the shapes and former materials of the original constructions can still be seen. The alquería of Canéssia had as many as twelve inhabited houses in 1316 and more than a score by the end of the 16th century. Along with L’Orxa and Beniarrés, it belonged to the Castell de Perputxent concession.
not cut or commercialised like before. So, many watercourses are found to be invaded by this species, preventing other native species of greater ecological value from growing, and causing problems with the accumulation in the irrigation ditches. For now the reeds give a respite and are slowly disappearing, the former terraces of crops can be seen stepped across the hillsides. Most are of Moorish origin, although many others were improved and widened by the Spaniards who repopulated these lands after the expulsion. The Moors, those Muslims marginalised, persecuted and relegated to the interior by the Spaniards, lived in
this valley until 1609 when they were expelled. Forcibly baptised, they never renounced their religion because it was, moreover, an identifying sign of their own culture. These groups, who inhabited the Vall de Perputxent and, as will be seen, to a greater extent the Vall D’Alcala and the Baronía de Planes, adapted the land to their vital necessities and created the landscape we can see today. The old dry-stone walled terraces are crumbling with the passage of time and erosion has been more and more intense after the abandonment. Nature is returning to soften the forms and reshape the profile that was once snatched from
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Centre BTT El Comtat (L'Orxa. 38° 50' 51.23" N 0° 18' 42.41" W
them. The fields of olive trees and almond trees closest to the road and easiest to access are better cared for. The fast and trouble-free communications with the town have enabled them to carry on being cultivated, although on many occasions, working the land scarcely covers costs. The terraces, more raised in the steeper places, have been definitively abandoned. Among them, if you look carefully, you will also see former country houses and corrals still standing in places that are disconcertingly high up. Shortly after passing a bridge over the line, a small closed valley can be seen to the right, and a little further on, to the left,
remains of what were the houses of a deserted Moorish settlement. The ruins have been left shapeless and overgrown by the desolation. This is close to Canéssia, also known as Al-Canessia or Alquenénsia, the deserted Moorish settlement documented since the Middle Ages. From the geological point of view, it is also interesting to take a good look along stretches of the road that go in a trench across small hills. You will see that the former railway line is laid on conglomerates, accumulated pebbles, originating from the action of the river. This kind of material indicates that this is a stream terrace and the part you ride on was the former abandoned river bed, since
The Serpis valley 38° 49' 36.13" N 0° 20' 53.26" W
the river has continued excavating, and was left raised by the subsequent erosion. It is like riding through the past of our geological history, thousands of years ago. At times, the route goes through small woods of holm oaks, strawberry trees and mastic trees. This vegetation, so typically ours, is the remains of what was the former woodland that used to cover this hillside. They are the relics of woods that have remained, or have reoccupied, from the vegetation that would have covered the entire valley before human intervention. This shows, like an open book, what the Vall de Perputxent was like many centuries ago, even before the appearance of agriculture. It is now a humanised landscape that cannot be understood without the human transformation. In the vicinity of Km 6, at the roadside, a small dry-stone well. If you stop and look at it carefully you will see that it still
accumulates water inside and no mortar was used to build it. It is the dry-stone technique and that of the dome, by means of the system of gradually enclosing courses. This means that as each course of stones is laid, they are positioned so that they gradually get closer until they meet and cover the roof completely. In this way they form a hut with a false cupola but extremely resistant to the passing years. It is small in size for the purpose it was built: to cover a hole, but sometimes these constructions acquire quite considerable size and proportions, like the shepherd’s huts or cucos, that are true works of art, the greatest exponent of our most ancestral culture. Just before entering Beniarrés the route crosses the highway. Always make the corresponding Stop taking great care. Never take a chance, even if no traffic is coming, and at these crossroads always put
34 -35
your foot down firmly on the ground. The former railway line continues now along the left hand part of the highway and the bottom of the valley can be seen closer, dotted with a mosaic of fields and tiny vegetable plots that go back to the Muslim dominion, and maybe even before. They are the oldest irrigation ditches of the area and the orchards of Benillup are the treasure most cared for by its inhabitants throughout their history. Beniarrés, the end of this short route, stands on a hill crowned by the white chapel of the Santo Cristo de los Afligidos [Holy Christ of the Afflicted].
Cova dels nou forats. 38° 49' 29.69" N 0° 20' 53.42" W
In Beniarrés, all kinds of facilities can be found for resting and regaining one’s strength, whether you wish to return the way you came, or if you want to prolong your stay with any of the other routes in this guide.
ROUTE NUMBERR2 L’Orxa-Beniarrés
Route data START
L’Orxa Welcome Point
LEVEL
DURATION
16.6 km 1hr 20 min.
HEIGHT DIF.
187 m
DISTANCE
Altitude
16.6
36 -37
ROUTE El Circo de de l’infern la Safor NUMBER3 L’Estret
Font dels Olbits. 38° 51' 19.98" N 0° 17' 26.24" W
38 -39
A privileged balcony overlooking the Mediterranean If you close your eyes and let them rest for a few moments on the middle of the Circo de la Safor, you will have the sensation, and almost the certainty, of being in the middle of a Pyrenean glacial valley. But no, it was not quaternary glacial ice that formed this spectacular amphitheatre, giving it the characteristic “U” shape, but rather a very different phenomenon, older and geologically more complex: a sinking of the dolomite rocks, very karstificated calcic rocks, something which is dealt with later on, when a point is reached where this entire phenomenon may be better observed. The present proposal for a ride signposted as Route 3 is, within the whole guide, the most complete that may be undertaken if you only have one day available to get to know the Circo de la Safor and the “green way” of the Serpis. The route alternates between following the course of the river with all the surprises this stretch offers, and the most demanding part that involves reaching the steep slopes of the Safor and pedalling round its contours gradually gaining height. It is a circular route, moderately difficult, ideal for those who already have some experience, and also an essential counterpoint for seeing the river
from the more elevated parts. The canyon of the Serpis and the Circo de la Safor form a unique and unrepeatable group on the entire Mediterranean seaboard. After a little more than twenty kilometres, now is the moment to discover it and set yourself right with a good meal at L’Orxa at the end of the ride. At any of its establishments you can try els figatells [similar to faggots, a mixture of pigs liver wrapped in the lacy stomach tissue], blat picat [a rich casserole based on “minced wheat”, with chick peas and red kidney beans, pig’s trotter and belly pork, potato and turnips], or L’espencat [from the Valencian for “cut into long strips”, a salad of
Downhill to L'Orxa 38° 51' 16.61" N 0° 17' 56.29" W
red peppers, aubergines, onion and tomato, with fish and egg], which together with oven-baked rice make up the traditional cuisine of the Vall de Perputxent. Some of those dishes have a very ancient origin and reflect, in their flavour, the essence of the Moorish culture. Setting out from the L’Orxa hostel, the same as Route 1, following the river Serpis, follow the same route indications as far as Km 11.9, where the quarry is and an Information Point. The first thing you catch sight of is the castle of L’Orxa or Perputxent. This fortress, built on a conterfort of the sierra very hard to access and easy to defend, dominates the whole valley and controls the natural passageway along the river Serpis, a strategic spot and a key post for communications from inland to the coast and vice versa. It was built during
the 11th century over the ruins of a former Bronza Age settlement, which was probably made use of for the old materials. Once the fábrica de la luz is reached and the turning to the quarry, as described in Route 1, you come to the Information Point. From here, continue climbing to the right leaving behind the huge quarry.
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PERPUTXENT CASTLE Also known as castell de L’Orxa, this fortress, readily visible at the start of these routes along the Serpis, is made up of two clearly differentiated parts: the Muslim castle and the Spanish fortress, although this latter made use of Muslim elements. It has a quadrangular floor plan, somewhat elongated, with a tower at each corner, three of which remain but in poor condition. It is surrounded by a double ring of protective walls, an indication of the castle’s magnitude, and the second of them, irregularly shaped, protects a broad area of 3,000 square metres. To the north, a rocky scarp makes it impregnable, and so it needs no protection. To the south, the fortress is formed by the protecting wall and the tower of square floor plan, and at the east end, remains of other constructions and a very large well. The Spanish part, much more complex, is at the west of the group and of the three towers that remain, one was reused as a residence. The Torre del Homenaje, the most outstanding and eye-catching of the entire castle, was divided internally into three levels. Access to the main floor is
by an external staircase which was reached from the internal courtyard. All that is left of the stately central residence built after the reconquest are the side walls and the spring of an arch with barrel vaulting. The castle was converted by the Spaniards into a feudal residence. The great tower and a group of spacious adjoining rooms, enabled the lord to remain permanently in residence with a small garrison of soldiers. After a series of vicissitudes, the castle and all its pertinences (valley, villa and district) passed into the hands of the Order of Hospitallers and subsequently to the Order of Montesa. Access is very easy from L’Orxa station. A track between fields and steep banks leads straight to the foot of the fortress. It is not possible to reach it by bike.
Unhurried, controlling the breathing, you become a lord of the landscape
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Circo de La Safor 38° 52' 18.39" N 0° 15' 11.29" W
As you climb and gain height, you get a better understanding of the vastness of this place. Little by little, undertaking it suitably unhurried and controlling the breathing, you will become a lord of the landscape. At one of the turns in the road, between Km 13 and 14 approximately, it is worth stopping for a moment to look at this curious circular form, so unusual in the Alicante sierras. El Circo de la Safor is a grandiose mountain formation of the Baetic Cordillera. It emerges over the coastal plain that is seen beside the sea, in an impressive vertical cut nearly a thousand metres in height. Villalonga is at just 100 metres and the peak of La Safor, straight after, rises to 1,013 metres. Its immense walls are visible from the coast and the special position of the sierra turns it into a privileged balcony looking out over the extensive quaternary
plain covered with orange trees. The explanation is far from its being of glacial origin as has too often and mistakenly been said. This huge massif was originally raised up by the sudden orogenic movements of the terciary era. Originally it was a pyramid shaped mountain, like Puig Campana and Montdúver, but the loamy substrate at its base and the deep erosion by the river Serpis, caused part of the massif to sink forming such a peculiar circle shaped relief that is presented today. The respect that such a colossal and sublime landscape commands, makes one feel small and insignificant in the face of this supreme divine creation, just as the poet Josep Mascarell i Gosp described. Moreover, the Circo de la Safor is not only valued for its morphology, but also for the considerable variety of botanical species it is home to. Its north facing orientation and the abundance
of water, as much by retention of the vapour from the sea as for that which springs up in its natural water sources, means that in a few metres species of the Atlantic climate like ivies coexist with carob trees and olive trees proper to the local climate. This will not have passed by unnoticed along the route, given that it passes through sections of exuberant vegetation. The humidity will also be felt on the face as you go further into the cirque. Now nearly in the high part, you turn suddenly to the left and the view changes definitively. As you pass the last chalet the road, still climbing, starts to border along the Safor sierra, on its western slope, and another great colossus is there in front: Benicadell, the land in its shadow having been designated a Protected Landscape by the Generalitat. Seen from here, it looks like an Alpine mountain, like the Cervino, standing defiantly like a finger pointing to heaven. This view of the most emblematic mountain of the central area, mentioned in the Cantar del Mío Cid, is one of the most spectacular and unusual, above all if it is set against a sunset. This road, narrow but asphalted, was until recently a forestry track only suitable for bikes. Now it may be passed, although at some risk, by motor vehicles. Even so, you are not likely to come across anyone except bikers and hikers, both groups respectful to the environment. You also get a bird’s eye view of the narrow canyon of the river from here. It is like a geology lesson, as the open fault between the sierra of Ador and La Safor is
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Valley of the Serpis from La Safor 38° 52' 4.97" N 0° 15' 37.63" W
seen, over which you find yourself and, like the Serpis, it has opened up a way through to the sea. The subsequent uplifts in more recent geological eras, have made the height difference to the river bed greater than erosion itelf. The road starts to go gently downhill, some two and a half kilometres after passing the hillside after the last chalet, you see a turning to the left. Although it is not marked on the “routometre”, this detour leads to the Font dels Olbits, a pleasant spot ideal for having a rest and a bite to eat. There is also water available from the natural water spout if you need it and from this point one of the most interesting walks in the area starts: the classic climb for hikers to the peak of la Safor. It takes approximately an hour and a half to get to the top, and a bit less to the
Pla de la Nevera, at the base of the summit. This place prior to the peak is in fact a doline or sinkhole, where there are the remains of a nevera [an ancient stone construction where snow was stored to turn into ice to distribute amongst the nearby towns and inhabitants]. Returning to the road where the water spout was, carry on, this time steeply uphill, as far as the town of L’Orxa. Shortly before the descent you will have left, also to the left, a turning that leads to the Font dels Bassiets, a place that is also equipped with facilities. You arrive at L’Orxa very close to the starting point. Crossing a watercourse you join the highway to return to the “Centre BTT”.
ROUTE NUMBERR3 El Circo de la Safor
Route data START
L’Orxa Welcome Point
LEVEL DISTANCE
22.5km
DURATION
2hr - 2hr 30 min. 594 m
HEIGHT DIF.
Altitude
22.5
Km 0 L’Orxa municipal hostel Welcome Point. Go to the highway.
Km 0.2 CV-701 turn right in the direction of Beniarrés, going out of L’Orxa.
Km 0.9 Bridge over the river Serpis.
Km 1.5 After crossing the bridge, leave the CV-701 and take the asphalted road to the right.
Km 1.8
Old station, go to the right.
Km 2.2 Carry straight on.
Km 3.4 Continue along the line (to the right a drinking water spout).
Km 4.2 Tunnel.
Km 4.7 Continue along railway line to the left of the river.
Km 4.9 Hut and azud.
Km 6 Former water storage tank.
Km 6.4 Caution! Leave railway line. Go down to the right.
Km 6.8 Bridge. Cross the river. Fábrica de luz to the right.
Km 7.4 Return to the railway line. Turn right.
Km 8.1 Carry straight on (Fuente de la Mata on the right ).
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ROUTE NUMBER4
Beniarrés reservoir 38° 48' 52.44" N 0° 21' 10.26" W
L’Albureca
48 -49
The sierra where the sun rises The Albureca sierra is a small mountainous line extending between the municipal districts of L’Orxa, Beniarrés, Planes and La Vall de Gallinera. It is, in fact, a prolongation of the Safor sierra, which is separated from it by the Barranc de les Foies and this, in turn, is separated from the small Cantalar sierra by the Barranc de L’Encantada. It reaches its maximum height at the Cerrillo (765m) and closes the Vall de Perputxent along the east. Cantalar, Albureca and Safor extend, along with the sierra de Gallinera and del Almirall, as a single morphological unit in the Baetic direction and in their turn close the Vall de Gallinera along the northeast. These hillsides, often bare and with hardly any vegetation, are known as La Solana, in reference to their sunny orientation. The same is not the case with L’Orxa nor Beniarrés, where the orientation specifically allows species like the strawberry tree, the shrub Laurustinus or Viburnum and the flowering (or manna) ash to flourish. This route enables a considerable section of this sierra to be explored, its interest lying fundamentally in the view it affords. Take into account that this sierra separates the valleys of Perputxent and Gallinera and the new highway from Villalonga -
known as "de los tres valles" [of the three valleys] precisely because it joins up the valleys of Perputxent, Planes and Vall de Gallinera - goes along its upper part. This sierra has some exuberant spots and, well into its interior, interesting ravines like that of L’Encantada and the Barranc Fondo that is partly travelled. A sierra of hunters and mushroom-gatherers, before shepherds and charcoal-burners, the Albureca is much frequented due to its being so easily accessible and its closeness to centres of habitation. The route, of barely twenty kilometres, begins with a steep climb. For that and to avoid pulling a muscle, it is important to warm up before setting off, doing a series of stretches and riding around the town beforehand. Stretching exercises are fundamental, both before and afterwards, but hardly anyone ever bothers. Starting a steep climb with the muscles stiff and cold is not at all recommended, and with time you may pay the consequences. Route 4 also sets out from the hostel. As on the others, it goes gently downhill and
Camí del Pinar 38° 48' 52.08" N 0° 22' 9.82" W
joins the highway. This time you go in the direction of the town leaving the houses to the right. On the outskirts you pass some industrial sheds, paper warehouses, and continue climbing to the left. The climb starts on asphalt and gradually gains height. In just a few hundred metres you will have the whole of the valley below you and can look at the town from on high. Getting up onto the sierra by dint of effort and a very low gear, it is important never to force the knees and use comfortable gears, and Benicadell gradually looms into sight, ever-present again. L’Orxa is left further and further behind and it is worth looking carefully at the vegetation and the surroundings. The remains of abandoned fields and dry-
stone walls half falling down indicate that this sierra was intensively exploited. Now, with the abandonment of the countryside and rural way of life, the lands have been left uncultivated and the low scrubby bushes have covered it entirely making it impossible to get through. Among the species proper to the Mediterranean scrubland, abundant heather bushes, wild carob trees, mastic tree, Kermes oak, Aleppo pines and large stretches of rosemary can be seen. Other species like thyme and pebrella - a rare variety of thyme, thymus piperella, native to this region - and lavender, are more discreet, but produce the unmistakable aroma of the sierra, especially if it has just rained. As you climb higher, the sierras of La Marina
50 -51
Alta begin to stand out more clearly and unmistakably: Mariola, Safor, Benicadell and Ador are perfectly identifiable. At the top of Benicadell, on the very top of its peak, you can see the trig point, a white post, beside which climbers and mountaineers have their obligatory photo taken. Without leaving the asphalt, the road becomes rougher, the hard shoulder is more deteriorated and the environment somewhat more disquieting. Riding on
it is dominated by the low scrubland and on reaching the high part it continues across an undulating plain where the Foradada sierra can be clearly made out on the horizon. On one of its peaks, not the highest but the most outstanding, the curious hole can be seen that gives the sierra its name. El Forat, a karstic orifice through which, in the festivities of San Francisco a ray of light enters and illuminates the remains of the former convent beside Benitaya. A walk can be made joining up the valleys of Gallinera and Alcalá passing by El Forat, but it is quite a long way so best to leave it for another time. Shortly before reaching the three valleys highway which leads to Villalonga passing through the Pla de la Llacuna, there are some large stretches of reforestation. This
Camí del Pinar. 38° 48' 52.08" N 0° 22' 9.82" W
re-establishing of the scrubland, in disuse nowadays, involved the perfectly ordered and aligned planting of Aleppo pines. The landscape that you see is not only the outcome of forest fires, but rather of long centuries of livestock grazing and abusive tree felling. In an era when the mountain was everything to humans, they had to exploit its resources in order to survive. At the beginning of the 20th century, the greatest occupation was given to the areas well inland, which caused excessive pressure on the natural environment. Gathering firewood and clearing brushwood for the kilns, firewood for the hearths, the intensive presence of white goats and then inadequate reforestation, all contributed to create this landscape. Vegetation is fundamental to avoid erosion, recharge the aquifers and avoid the torrential rains of autumn washing
away the fertile soil to the bottom of the rivers and ravines. The Villalonga highway is reached and then the route continues to the right, the hard shoulder and width of this changing abruptly. Straight ahead, the Foradada sierra and below the Vall de Gallinera. The complex physical geography of the mountains leaves a hard bare thirsty land where life was always harsh, and where caves and abysses abound, limestone
52 -53
Sierra del Benicadell from l’Albureca 38° 50' 8.51" N 0° 17' 38.60" W
pavements and in many cases the bedrock left exposed. But between them, tiny plots of cherry trees indicate the proximity of Gallinera and if this route is being done in springtime, the whiteness of the blossom dominates all the fields. The road continues gently downhill and, just when the steep descent into the valley begins, a stretch of red earth is seen in good condition but it gradually gets worse. The route starts to climb again to recuperate the loss in height and the dry landscape becomes more and more evident again. This is now a stretch of pure MTB terrain. After over half the route on asphalt, one misses the dirt where the mountain bike is really enjoyed. A water storage tank is passed, and further on a very large fig tree. Before going down again to L’Orxa there is still a good climb, and a stretch of track in the midst of some terraces which must be
respected. The descent starts with the road in poor condition: loose stones and the effects of erosion on the bare land. On joining the asphalt again, the route does not leave it at any time now until the downhill stretch into the town. While not being an excessively hard ride, it is demanding in the accumulated height difference which exceeds six hundred metres. Nevertheless, the experience will have been positive and good for fitness. El Camí de la Serra, the mountain road, has once again led to discovering spots that would otherwise never have been visited. The sierra where the sun rises, as it was called by the Arabs, despite its simple outline and modest height, still has much to teach and, in its abandoned fields, the hard work of entire generations our forebears.
ROUTE NUMBERR4 L’Albureca Route data START
L’Orxa Welcome Point
LEVEL
DURATION
19.5km 2hr 30 min
HEIGHT DIF.
602m
DISTANCE
Altitude
19.5
54 -55
Km 0 L’Orxa municipal hostel. Welcome Point.
Km 0.19 Turn left. Go towards the valley road.
Km 0.6 Carry straight on.
Km 0.8 Turn left. The paper mill is seen ahead.
Km 1 This is on the valley road. The climb starts (asphalt).
Km 2.7 Continue climbing.
Km 4.3 The hard part of the climb ends. Continue straight on.
Km 5.88 Carry straight on.
Km 6.2 Crossroads. Turn right. Leave the new highway to Villalonga to the left .
Km 6.6 Carry straight on along asphalt.
Km 6.8 Caution! Leave the asphalt and turn right along dirt road of red earth.
Km 7.8 Follow the road up a gentle climb. Large fig tree to the right.
ROUTE NUMBER5
El Barranc de l’Encantada
Barranc de l'Encantada. 38° 47' 21.90" N 0° 20' 1.05" W
56 -57
Through the heart of the Vall de Gallinera. El Camí dels Mallorquins This proposal for a longer and more interesting itinerary, goes right into the heart of the Vall de Gallinera. It goes towards the west to reach the head of the valley and after passing the hill that divides its waters, enters the Barranc de L’Encantada, one of the most fascinating areas of the Alicante mountains. If it is the right time of year, the ravine will have a surprising amount of water and there will be an abundance of crystal clear pools where it is even possible to bathe. A place charged with legends filling anyone who passes through it with respect and admiration. So, leave the Vall de Perputxent and go past the Vall de Gallinera. This means a stiff climb up the same road followed on Route 4 along the Albureca sierra. The characteristics of the landscape have already been mentioned: asphalted climb, abandoned terraces and fields of olive trees that have not disappeared, low scrubby bushes gradually covering the dry-stone borders. A landscape affected by the intense human presence ever since ancient times. Occasional fires, incipient recuperation, crumbling terraces, holm oaks gradually gaining height after the disappearance of felling and charcoal burning, and a society fortunately more and more sensitive to the environmental values of its surroundings. The impressive outline of the
Barranc de les Foies is also seen on the left, a geographical feature separating the Safor from the Albureca, the sierra on which this route is situated. Ahead, with its imposing and unmistakable outline, Benicadell. The new Villalonga highway is reached and followed to the right, now turning into a narrow road going down to the Vall de Gallinera. The first fields of cherry trees indicate the presence of a new valley into which the route descends quickly. A little before, from the high part, an extraordinary view had been enjoyed of the narrow depression formed by the river Gallinera trapped between mountains. The Foradada sierra closes the valley and protects its small settlements from the winds, all under the same municipal unit. This road, asphalted nowadays, used to be a dirt track until a few years ago and the only one in existence in order to pass from one
Cami dels Mallorquins. 38° 49' 2.07" N 0° 15' 44.28" W
valley to another, so it would probably have been opened up over a former bridleway. Once in the low part, carry straight on. The two alternatives to the right and the left lead to Benissili and Llombai respectively. This last is a deserted Moorish settlement of a certain very documented entity and with important remains. After the houses giving onto the highway, with their architectural reminders of the Moorish presence and the Muslim influence, the same as Benissili, but this last was not abandoned. Llombai is just a kilometre away in case you wish to go there. The road followed leads straight to the hill of Benissili, the line dividing the two slopes, east and west. The uphill road offers good views of the surroundings, especially of the town of Benissili which lies to the right surrounded by cherry trees and protected by the Albureca sierra. Its slopes are dry and bare, thirsty and scorched by the sun. It is the Solana, the
name they give in nearly all the towns to the south-facing slope. The vegetation is very different on the Umbría or shaded side, all the slopes on the left where small streams with abundant water flow down, especially in autumn. At the top of the hill it is worth stopping for a variety of reasons: you can take a rest since a third of the route has been covered, the hardest. On the other hand, this point indicates an important change of orientation since the rainwater has different destinations, according to whether it falls one
58 -59
La Vall de Gallinera. 38° 49' 31.44" N 0° 14' 35.06" W
side or the other. To the west, it flows into the Serpis and probably irrigates the orchards of Gandia, Beniflá and Bellreguard. Forced by the anticlines of Benicadell and the Ador sierra, the water will take longer to journey towards the sea. The water that pours down to the east will reach the Mediterranean sooner, not without previously flooding the wetlands of Pego-Oliva. It will give life to the rice fields that grow in its surroundings. Two drops of water, just metres apart, will reach different destinations in the same sea by very different routes. Also, from this point, you can look at a couple of corrals situated on the slopes of the sierra, facing south. Orientation was also important in the location of towns and settlements, especially in cold or exposed areas. It is possible that the first corral seen, with the typically Moorish rounded arched gateways, was a dwelling in that era, reused, as was
common, as corrals for cattle by the Spaniards. The ceramics of the surrounds is often the only thing that can clarify these queries. The road enters a beautiful river valley, picked up and protected by the Albureca sierra. Known as the Cami dels Mallorquins, although a sign indiactes Camí de Gallinera, this road now consolidated makes reference to the Spanish settlers who came from Mallorca and repopulated after the expulsion of the Moors. The place is known as L’Almadec, where there are also remains of a deserted Moorish settlement known as the Llombo. Here the riverside vegetation blends with that of the drier and steeper sierra, fields of unirrigated land with pools of crystal clear water, water sources and springs with quirkily shaped rock formations. The route enters the Barranc de L’Encantada. The track climbs after crossing a ford over the same riverbed,
sometimes dry, sometimes flooded. At Km 13.5 on the “routometre”, there is the choice of continuing along the road to the right as far as the dam of the Beniarrés reservoir. This option is only advisable for experienced mountain bikers, although problems are not foreseen, due caution must be taken as this is a technical track. In scarcely four kilometres the dam is reached, passing through the Mas de Fantaqui. This stretch is pure MTB. If you carry straight on, without taking the detour into account, it leads into the Barranc de L’Encantada along asphalted road. This depends on your fitness and the condition of your bike. The longer option is also, from the landscape point of view, more complete and varied. Follow the road beside the river. This stretch is very beautiful. Deep pools lie at the bottom of the riverbed to the left and Margarida is seen in the distance, a place name which also comes from Mallorca. Terraces of cherry trees garland the mountains. It is a surprisingly lonely place. There is a small water spout that pours water onto the road itself. It is usually dry except in
times of rain. The rocks of the ravine take on shapes modelled by erosion. Carry on past some ruined remains that could be from an old kiln. The landscape begins to open up as the road enters the Vall de Planes. For a while it has also been within the municipal district, the largest of all the surrounding towns, only exceeded by Cocentaina. The Baronía de Planes was crucially important between the 16th and 18th centuries. Right at the halfway point on the itinerary, the route joins a highway beside a bridge. It continues climbing gently towards Planes and turns along a dirt road to the right. Climbing up it passes a house and then starts a downhill stretch which, without presenting any difficulties, obliges you to pay attention especially on the last bend, already close to the ravine. Planes is very close by, and it was visible ahead before going down. The little wayside chapel of Cristo de San Cristóbal [Christ of St. Christopher] is on the right at the final foothill of the Cantalar sierra. The town is reached along the Camí del Collao. Now there is no option but to continue along the highway, which obliges you to remember a series of recommendations for road safety. Always ride along the verge, if you are in a group avoid riding side by side and do not encroach too far onto the carriageway. Wearing a helmet is obligatory and it is recommended to wear clothing that may be easily seen. Although mountain bikers’ clothing is much more discreet than that of road riders, you must always mark your presence with brightly coloured or eyecatching garments, or at least have reflective
60 -61 Benissili. 38° 49' 6.46" N 0° 16' 35" W
strips on your backpack. The highway is wide, with a good verge and after the first climb, it is all downhill. To the right is the small wayside chapel of Santo Cristo [Holy Christ] on top of the sierra and the Camino del Calvario is also on the right. The Vall de Planes is a small hollow which belongs to the depression of the Serpis, although it hangs slightly over it. The Barranc Fondo creates this little valley, beside which is the town thus lying slightly raised above the Vall de Perputxent and separated by two small mountainous foothills that are the Cantalar sierra along the northeast and the districts of Solana and Codonyer to the northwest. To a bird’s eye view, Planes is tucked away in a small valley over another larger valley formed by the Serpis, this last occupied in part by the Beniarrés reservoir. Leaving the Vall de Planes, the huge limestone mountains enfolding it are also left behind: Almudaina, Xarpolar, Cantacuc and Albureca. Descending towards
the Beniarrés reservoir, most of which also belongs to Planes, an extraordinary panorama of the whole Vall de Perputxent can be enjoyed. The waters held back by the dam form a huge lake surrounded by mountains, its waters reflecting the colossal Benicadell. The descent is fast and, at the height of the dam, on the right, you come to the road along which you would have arrived in the case of following the variant at Km 13.5. At the dam there are once again two options: either carry on along asphalted highway to the town of Beniarrés crossing along the top of the dam and from there continue along the green ex-railway line to L’Orxa, or follow the itinerary described in the “routometre”, much more exciting. Only there might be a problem: it may not be possible to cross the Serpis at Km 22.6. If the river is in spate, as happened to us during our test rides, the best and most prudent thing to do is follow the previously mentioned highway from the dam
as far as Beniarrés. A little over four kilometres of asphalt. But if the Serpis can be crossed, and you are entirely sure that fthere is no danger, then it will be time to get wet. Once the river has been crossed, just one kilometre remains to join up with the green ex-railway line on the stretch from Beniarrés to L’Orxa, and finish the trip in a relaxed fashion. Whether or not the river can be crossed, what is an obligatory visit is the Barranc de L’Encantada. It is reached just a few metres from the crossing of the river. The ravine is of vast proportions and overflowing with
vegetation, and even in summer it has deep pools of crystal clear water ideal for bathing. Autumn is the best time of year for riding, due to the amount of shade offered by the trees along the riverbank. From the same spot along the river, a marked track zig-zags up and leads to some rock shelters where the shepherds built their refuges years ago. These ethnographic testimonies that still remain on our mountains have much to teach us, especially about the hardships of rural life up to just a few decades ago. Once at Beniarrés,
PLANES DE LA BARONIA Standing on a small hill, the urban structure of Planes forms one of the best examples of a mediaeval town in the whole of the Alicante mountains. Crowned by the castle, its houses seem to be grouped together around the fortress, adapted to the difficult orography of the terrain. If you have time, it is worth stopping to explore its steep narrow streets and visit some of its monuments. You can also eat at any of its restaurants and order a good puchero [stew] or arroz al horno [oven-baked rice] which are their specialty. The hand-made embutidos [sausages and cold meats] are also famous in the region, as are the pies and, above all, the cherries. The castle is the most characteristic monument of the town and the first thing
you notice from a distance. It stands over the town and two phases of construction can be appreciated, the same as the castle of L’Orxa. One of Muslim origin, the other feudal subsequent to the reconquest. Its initial function was to control the passes of the Serpis and during the era of Al-Azraq it was one of the fortresses protecting the Vall D’Alcalá, where the Muslim monarch had his residence. After the reconquest it passed into the
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reverse. There will be no view of the outlines of Benicadell now, nor the Montcabrer, neither will you see the Serra Mariola in the distance enclosing the universe. Now the castle of L’Orxa is the destination, guiding you back to the starting point.
whether the river option or the highway was taken, the return to L’Orxa presents no problems. Follow the former railway line all the time, the same as on Route 2 but in
hands of Jaime I and in its time must have been an imposing castle, given that it had eight towers of rectangular floor plan and a large well adjoining the eastern protecting wall. Its fortified perimeter measures over 220 metres in length. The mark of the Muslims can be seen all over the town, especially in all the system of water transportation that conserves dykes, mills, reservoirs and pools, an aqueduct and the remains of one of the oldest marshes in Europe. The parish church was built over the old mosque that seems not to have been demolished. The aqueduct was also originally built by the Arabs. It still works carrying the waters from a nearby spring to the water spout and washing place to be found at one of its ends. Standing away from the main buildings of the town, the isolated chapel of Cristo de Planes or of
San Cristóbal [St. Christopher], is situated on the Cantalar sierra dominating the whole valley. It is a place of great devotion and very much rooted in the popular religiosity of Planes, since the big festivals of the first Sunday of October culminate there, in which the inhabitants go up in a procession to the little chapel. The alquerías of Almudaina, Benialfaqui, Catamarruc and Margarida belonged to the Baronía de Planes, and nowadays the last three, along with Planes, still form part of the same municipality.
ROUTE NUMBERR5 El Barranc de l’Encantada
Route data START
L’Orxa Welcome Point
LEVEL DISTANCE
29km
DURATION
3hr 729 m
HEIGHT DIF.
Altitude
64 -65
66 -67
El Barranc de l’Encantada Alternative route
ROUTE NUMBER6
Solana del Benicadell. 38° 49' 35" N 0° 22' 51" W
El Benicadell
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The magical fascination of the Valencian mountains El Benicadell is one of those mountains that remain forever etched on the memory. It has no woods, no rivers, not even any deep ravines complicating its simple orography, but nevertheless Benicadell is a special mountain, distinct, airy and elegant, with a sharply pointed shape. It is, the same as Penyagolosa, Montcabrer and Puig Campana, an emblematic mountain, symbolic, representative of a land and region with its own identity. These words ended what was the first collection of mountain biking guides published a decade ago by the Centro Excursionista de Valencia. Guides that encouraged society to discover a natural and cultural heritage both nearby and
unknown. The mountain bike has been the greatest sporting invention of the late 20th century, and it has opened up vast possibilities for travel, day trips or lasting various days, through the most thrilling, isolated and unknown places of our mountains. With one’s own effort and a speed that is close to natural, it enables one to access lonely spots it would never have been possible to reach in a vehicle, and on foot would need various days on forestry tracks and roads not always attractive for walking. It has also enabled access to, knowledge of, and respect for, the countryside and rural way of life by people who, until then, had no link with hiking and nature.
This guide, with the detailed description of each route, has that same purpose, and that same philosophy of making known the most relevant values of each place, accessing them in the most natural and ecological ways there are: on foot or by bike. This guide could not fail to include the circuit of Benicadell, setting out along the sunny side and returning along the shaded face, designated a Protected Landscape by the Generalitat [Valencian Government]. A mountain that is an obligatory visit for all those who wish to get an in-depth knowledge of the central regions. Setting out once again from the L’Orxa “Centre BTT”, follow every detail of Route 2, although you can also leave from Beniarrés.
Look for the street of the Fabriqueta to leave the town by the former brickworks, following the Font del Port road. Always in a westerly direction, and after leaving the water spout to the right, you soon pick up the former railway line again, not asphalted on this stretch. It passes beside a former halt converted into a little house as a second residence and continues straight all the time until it comes to Gaianes. Go through the town, which is mentioned in more detail in Route 8, and you can return by the exrailway line, this time asphalted and without any possible confusion. By the side of the Parque Europa there is a water spout in case you need to replenish your supply of water and then continue at a good pace along the former railway line. The landscape is dominated by carefully tended fields of olive trees. At the time of the olive harvest there may be rather more people travelling along the railway line, and entire families working together on the harvest, but normally the road is only travelled by bikers and walkers who go out later in the day to enjoy their favourite pastime or have a quiet walk or ride. After a noticeable turning to the left, the route passes through Turballos, a small town hanging on the sunny face of Benicadell that ended up abandoned and in ruins. Today, completely recovered, it is inhabited by a community of people who live in accordance with their shared way of thinking.
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Turballos. 38° 48' 19" N 0° 26' 29" W
Leaving behind Turballos the route heads for the former national highway 340. A stretch comes now that requires full attention and following every detail of the route. At Port D’Albaida, go along the verge of the national highway for barely three hundred metres, but every precaution must be taken as it is has very heavy traffic. After crossing an old bridge, now away from the highway, follow the Cami dels Fontanars towards the corral de Diego, going straight past. This will have negotiated a height difference of some hundred metres from the old bridge, at the start of the track, and three hundred metres from Turballos. The views here are impressive. The sierra Mariola on one side and the Vall D’Albaida on the other. On reaching the forestry track that comes from Atzaneta the highest point of the day’s route will have been passed. An
iron cross indicates this is the right way and from here on the landscape changes completely. This is the shaded side of Benicadell, one of the loveliest mountains of Valencia’s geography. In the distance is the peak, rising majestically outlined against the sky as the culmination of the whole sierra. From the crossroads, now without any possibility of
getting lost, continue towards the east along the spectacular track that runs across the slopes of Benicadell along the north face. Immediately after the crossroads, barely three hundred metres, Font Freda is reached. This place is a real oasis of water and shade. Ideal to rest and eat. If the day is clear the views over the Vall D’Albaida are extraordinary. A little further down there is a vantage point of large dimensions which is reached by a track. At the end, the delightful towns of Otos, Carrícola and Belgida look as if time had stood still for them. Very closely linked with Benicadell, various trips leave from these towns to its peak and they are also a very interesting centre for cultural initiatives. This track carries on in a circular continuum close to the limestone walls, sometimes it even seems like it is going to fly off over the
white fields of the valley. In the nooks and crannies and ravines where it passes, the vegetation is recovering little by little, and the black and white rockroses dominate this Mediterranean landscape. Leaving a small house on the left which looks abandoned in the immensity of this spot, right at Km 27.9 the route detours to the left following a narrow road that in barely two kilometres leads to the forestry house where the track that was left also passes. There might be a chain across the entrance of the road, in which case you have to be respectful and follow the track to the same forestry house. If you choose the option to detour, it passes beside the Frare hut and comes to a recreational area, good for a rest with a water spout, and straight away a hard climb up to the forestry house. This
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stretch is more technical and demanding, so if you prefer not to make life more complicated, continue from Km 27.9 straight on along the track. A little before reaching the forestry house, leave the footpath on the right up to Benicadell, its crest and peculiar shape having been a reference point throughout the route. “It is easier to feel than to explain,” said Cavanilles after toiling painfully up this mountain one 8th August two hundred years ago, accompanied by experts from Salem who guided him on his ascent. The climb on foot from this point takes a little over an hour. It is an ideal outing to begin getting into the magical world of the mountains and discover hiking as a way of getting to know one’s surroundings. The advantages for health are enormous, the same as with cycling: improved cardiovascular and cardio-respiratory system, without counting the effect as an escape valve to help unwind from daily routine and stress. As the inhabitants of the Vall say, Benicadell looks like whatever you want it to: a ship’s prow, a dragon, a fantasy castle or a bird of prey about to fly off. It all depends on one’s imagination and the angle it is seen from. The peak of Benicadell has a height of exactly 1,105 metres above sea level and the view from the summit is indescribable. All the final foothills of the Baetic Cordillera lie beneath one’s gaze (Aitana, Safor, Serrella and Montdúver) and the mountains of the interior of Valencia are perfectly identifiable if it is a clear day: El Caroig, the Enguera sierra, the Caballón sierra and the Albufera
de Valencia. The sierra takes the name of its summit, whose toponymical origin derives from “Penya Cadiella”, the name by which it was known by the Arabs and that is how it appears mentioned in the Cantar del Mío Cid. It seems to have been fortified with various towers and castles during the Muslem domination, and served as a refuge for Castillian mercenaries in their constant run-ins and sackings through the towns of the Vall D’Albaida. Close to its summit is a nevera in a perfect state of conservation of vast dimensions and with the roof structure intact, where the snow was stored in winter so that once it had turned into ice, it would be delivered
around the townsfolk during summer. There are also numerous remains of terraces on its slopes and a series of lovely footpaths of airy and eye-catching routes that have made this mountain one of the most-loved for hiking in Valencia. From the forestry house the highway going down to Beniarrés is soon reached. One kilometre and seven hundred metres after the house, on a very sharp bend, leave the turning on the left that goes down to Beniatjar and carry straight on until you come out onto the Castelló de Rugat highway which continues to the right. You can also follow the “routometre”. Now on asphalt, taking all the precautions, it is a fast descent to the town of Beniarrés, always taking care to keep at a distance from other cyclists and avoiding riding two or more abreast. This is a highway without much traffic, but the cyclist on asphalt is very
Umbría del Benicadell. 38° 49' 59" N 0° 25' 37" W
vulnerable. So take every precaution and speed must always be moderate. From Beniarrés, the return toL’Orxa is already known. You can also begin and end this attractive itinerary from the information point at Beniarrés.
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TURBALLOS It was an independent municipality until it lost its population and was made part of Muro de Alcoy, along with Setla de Nunyes and Benamer. That was how the 1857 census recorded it. You immediately realise Turballos is not a normal place. Whether you visit it on this route (Km 15.6) or on Route 8 on the Solana del Benicadell (Km 11.9), something in the atmosphere tells you this village is special. The church, beside the main street and the plaza, is very old. Dedicated to San Francisco de Paula it is at present the centre of a Christian community directed by a priest, Father Vicent, following the model of the Franciscan life and with a philosophy of thinking based on the tradition of Lanza de Vasto, a Christian disciple of Gandhi. The 18 houses, currently inhabited mostly by the members of this community, were rescued and restored in the 1980s. In Turballos they aim to be self-sufficient. They run workshops, courses and retreats for anyone who, regardless of their beliefs, wishes to spend a few days in silence. They recycle everything, every house has its own vegetable plot from which they obtain the necessary fresh produce, they make a living from work, crafts and manufacturing olive oil with an old olive press or mill from the 18th century. They also produce soap, conserves, weaving and knitting their own clothes and making their own bread in the communal oven. They work with wood and rear animals although they are vegetarians.
They live a simple life and a peaceful coexistence based on respect. All the resources are communal and are shared out according to the needs of each of the members. Father Vicent, a small nervous man, dried up and wizened by the sun and wisdom, is their ideological priest and has no problem showing visitors round the town, the orchards, the church and the olive press. Another peculiarity of the village of Turballos is its appearance, since it looks like time has stood still. Its houses and streets retain a very particular traditional style and it is, without doubt, one of the most interesting visits that could be made during the bike ride.
ROUTE NUMBERR6 El Benicadell
Route data START
L’Orxa Welcome Point
LEVEL DISTANCE
42.6km
DURATION
3hr 30min. - 5hr 851m
HEIGHT DIF.
76 -77
Km 7.25 Carry straight on. Caution! Highway.
Km 7.26 CV-701 Join highway and turn straight away to the left.
Km 7.45 Straight over the bridge.
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From here you can return along the former railway line back to L’Orxa
ROUTE NUMBER7 La Vall d’Albaida and the Sierra de Ador
Aielo de Rugat. 38° 52' 56" N 0° 20' 35" W
80 -81
From the Serpis valley to the river Vernissa As on the previous route on Benicadell or on the following one over the Solana, this itinerary may have some variations and have either L’Orxa or Beniarrés as its starting point without it mattering. You can also “tone down” the route if you go up to the Puerto de Salem [a mountain pass] on the highway and also use it to go down to the town of Castelló de Rugat, where you would join the scheduled route at Km 21.3. This makes the trip more humane since the initial proposal is pretty tough, especially the climbs up to the highest point of the pass (Km 12.4) and above all coming down (Km 16.85) since this is a long, very technical track which obliges you to get off the bike and do many of the stretches as far as Castelló de Rugat on foot. Having made this warning and depending on your ability, you can start off as always following the relaxed and peaceful ride along the former railway line as far as Beniarrés. The climb along the indicated track demands physical fitness in order to manage it without difficulty. After crossing a field of almond trees, follow a short track and then carry on up between olive trees. Once you are on the highway take care as always to ride as close as possible to the verge. It is not a busy highway but on
weekends it may have a bit more traffic. Whether you go by the highway or along the previously described track, you will have had time to notice the special configuration of the narrow terraces and how they are adapted to the steep side of the Ador sierra at this point. This way of making the edges of stone is reminiscent of other regions like that of Els Ports or La Marina, although the vegetation is different. The way of cultivation, so closely linked to subsistence, obliged entire generations to transform the slopes into land to plant olive trees, almond trees or fruit trees. It is a place of overwhelming beauty,
Port de Salem. 38° 51' 26" N 0° 22' 57" W
Mediterranean, very much ours. The majestic outline of Benicadell dominates these parts at all times and the Puerto de Salem separates the Benicadell sierra from the Ador sierra, although morphologically it is all the same alignment of Baetic origin which starts in the vicinity of Fontanars dels Alforins (la Lloma Llarga) and continues without any geological break as far as the vicinity of Palma de Gandia and Ador, towns situated at its feet, lying along the final foothills like privileged theatre boxes overlooking the sea. So as to understand it better, the Solana sierra, the Agullent or la Covalta sierra, Benicadell
and the Ador sierra, all form part of the same mountain chain, separated from each other by the Barranc dels Tarongers, the Puerto de Albaida and the Puerto de Salem respectively. This proposed route allows you to really get to know the Ador sierra, the closest to the sea and which, at the beauty spots of la Umbrieta, the pine forest of Terrateig and Penyes Albes, conserves excellent woodland perfectly structured and conserved, which allows one to get an idea of what the original vegetation was like that used to cover the sierra before the pressure from humans and forest fires. From the same mountain
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pass that separates the Ador sierra from Benicadell, the high point of the Puerto de Salem, continue along an excellent track running in a northeasterly direction along the entire shaded side of the sierra almost on its highest slope. It is an old road, opened up for the forestry replanting, reminiscent of the track of Route 6 but with the difference that here it is not the peak of Benicadell that marks the horizon. The outline of that lies behind now, and you have to look back now and then to appreciate the elegance and steepness of this sublime mountain. The characteristics of this stretch are not very different from those previously mentioned, although here the vegetation is scarcer and a few farming houses are left clinging onto the mountainside. It is a landscape of impressive solitude and loneliness, a place to savour the surroundings and pedal along absorbed in the silence. The Vall D’Albaida remains on the left at all times, its name in Arabic meaning “the white one” with reference to the colour of the land. This is an arid landscape, only frequented by those out shooting or hunting game, and its road has only one destination: the corral de Copovi at the end of it and does not have to be reached. A little over four kilometres from the detour of the highway, you come to a track going off to the left of the road, with a large blue-coloured marker as a reference point. A clear reference is the ruins of some houses surrounded by abandoned fields lying to the left, and a
stiff climb made for three hundred metres after a bend. If you reach the corral de Copovi, at the end of the road, on top of the sierra, you will have passed it. Nevertheless the marker is the best, since the track starts off not very clearly and continues between scrubby bushes and gorse, which makes its access difficult from the outset, even on foot. It is a tricky, complicated stretch, which is why the possibility of going down by the highway is pointed out at the beginning. The track gradually gets more established and more marked. It also depends on the rains whether there is more or less vegetation and also, of course, the maintenance and clearing work done by the forestry workers. Three kilometres of respite go past various different blue markers, indicating the road to follow, to the vantage points of Águila, Peña Blanca, Montdúver or before, the ruins of the corral del Roig. Reaching the Barranc de les Covetes indicates that the
track comes to an end and soon you will find a stretch in poor condition, where great care must be taken due to the amount of loose stone and the strong erosion. Finally the Castelló de Rugat is reached and the highway which, after a small detour, leads to the small settlements of Rugat and Aielo de Rugat. It is important before getting to Castelló, to check on Km 19.35 of the “routometre”. Go straight ahead at the first crossroads, discounting the turning to the right, until you come to anabandoned general store straight ahead. The detour, referred to on the “routometre”, is the road just before the store, not the previous one, which may cause confusion since you do not see
Casetes de Moll. 38° 52' 49" N 0° 18' 29" W
it until you are right at it. Having made this clear, follow the route between the towns of Vall del Vernissa and it will be from Terrateig onwards that the real climb begins. The Font del Molí and the Mas del Moli at Montitxelvo are places where you can rest and get your strength back. Also refill with water which you will not find until the end of the climb. This stretch is the best conserved of the whole Ador sierra and the vegetation remains with all its richness. Water on this part is abundant, and if the year has been generous, water spouts, streams and springs like the Font Nevera, the Barranc del Tossal, or the Pla de les Fontetes will be gushing with life and engulfed by dense and exuberant leafiness. The climb up the Umbrieta as far as Penyes Albes is hard and demanding. It leaves no respite and allows no rest. This is the toughest part of the ride with a height difference of over three hundred metres from the final houses of Terrateig in barely four kilometres. However, the setting is the recompense. The woodland dominates the road and completely covers it. Species like the strawberry tree, Laurustinus or Viburnum and the flowering ash are conserved here, having disappeared in the rest of the sierra. All are of Atlantic influence and proper to more humid climates, finding here their ideal habitat. This remnant of Mediterranean woodland is the most valuable gem of the towns it belongs to, and they must look after it and do everything to ensure its conservation.
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Montitxelvo. 36.81" W 38° 53' 28" N 0° 20' 41" W
Riders must also contribute with respect and admiration as the route gradually ascends. As it gains height the Barranc del Tossal is left behind to the left. A little higher than the Pla de les Fontetes, and as you get nearer the last mountain pass, the landscape of silence returns. This stretch, tracing a spectacular route, is made grander still by the stepped terraces of crops in such a lost and lonely spot, and remains of buildings reminding one that this solitary place had once been totally influenced by human habitation. Penyes Albes emerges over the last terraces swathed in mist and mystery. It would be unfair not to recognise that this spot is overwhelming. It is yet another reminder of the greatness of the mountain bike, and also how important it is to be in company and be kitted out with all the necessary tools. It is a very isolated spot and
far away from everywhere. Already tired with the effort, perhaps you cannot enjoy the surroundings as they deserve, but the houses of the Collado, also known as the Casetes de Moll, still retain the traditional architecture, although some unfortunate corrals on the right spoil the group with their unsympathetic impact on such a special place where the sea can be made out in the distance. The road continues between the edges of fields and areas of grass until it begins to drop suddenly towards the deep canyon of the Serpis. Much care must be taken because this road is always in poor condition. It is so steep that it is hard for it to be maintained. Whenever it rains there are landslides and it forms ruts which make access difficult and even prevent all-terrain vehicles from passing.
The narrow streets of Aielo de Rugat are a reminder, as are its fiestas, of the Muslim past of these lands
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It is possible that a bridleway used to exist, traced with respect and intelligence by our forebears, since the remains of an old corral still remain and, beside the Font de les Coves, an abandoned mas. These ruins make one think, once again, how hard life was on the mountain, in extreme conditions in an inaccessible place where its dwellers could never find a way out of their poverty. Today we venture into these places for sheer pleasure and with a very different view of the surroundings than they had. Now on the ex-railway line, having taken care coming down this dangerous stretch due to its steepness and the landslides, continue to the right to return again to L’Orxa. The remaining kilometres are
pleasant and relaxing, following once again the river, the backbone and source of inspiration of all these routes.
ROUTE NUMBERR7 La Vall d’Albaida y la Sierra de Ador
Route data START
L’Orxa Welcome Point
LEVEL DISTANCE
40.6 km
DURATION
3hr 30 min - 4hr 30 min 703m
HEIGHT DIF.
88 -89
90 -91
ROUTENUMBER8 La Solana del Benicadell
Turballos. 38° 48' 19" N 0° 26' 29" W
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Towns, wayside chapels and fortresses. Along the noonday roads If Route 6 explored the shaded side of Benicadell along the only forestry track there is, this new proposal explores the different possibilities on the sunny side. While this majestic mountain displays all its force on its north facing side, to the south its slopes shelter terraces of crops and protect country houses and towns. Terraces as far as where the rock begins, rising above them absolutely vertically. During this route you get the sensation of pedalling alongside a colossal protecting wall which, the same as the fields, also provides riches: water, shelter and pastures. The route climbs in order to follow the only roads as faithfully as possible. The towns of Gaianes, L’Orxa, Beniarrés and Turballos arose and lived, thanks to Benicadell. The delightful vegetable plots
irrigated by the Serpis and the well-cared-for valley of Perputxent are always in view although the crops that surround this route are mostly olive trees and almond trees. The itinerary sets out along the ex-railway line as far as Beniarrés, which has already been described on the previous routes. But from this town on, the present route travels as far as possible over the rough dry slopes as far as may be reached by bike. Most of the roads go up and down to join our route parallel to the sierra with those fields situated highest up. So the route description has to be followed to the letter, since if you take the wrong turning, most do not have a continuation. Go through the town of Beniarrés on the streets Dr. Orero, Rosa Escrig and Alameda,
until a left turn out of the town. Remember that the ride may also set out from Beniarrés. So the route is also proposed departing from the Information Point. Beniarrés well deserves a visit. Not only for the undoubted interest offered by its architectural heritage, but also for natural beauty spots within the municipal district, various of them designated as Plant Micro Reserves: L’Alt de Senabre and the Barranc de L’Encantada and the protected landscapes of the Serpis and of the shaded side of Benicadell. From the town you head off towards the Font del Barranc del Port, a place for recreation much visited by the inhabitants of Beniarrés, before starting a demanding climb which takes you as far as the wall of
Benicadell. Riding along the edge of two prominent hills almost the same, after reaching the highest point between terraces of olive trees and the Tossal Negre, the route goes down a road in poor condition as far as the wayside chapel of San Francisco de Paula already within the municipal district of Gaianes. It is on this route that you really notice the shape of Benicadell. The foothills climbed by bike are furrowed by ravines and small hillocks from which the limestone rock falls way. On the little hills that are formed, all with their own name moreover, the simplest and most interesting monuments of the route are situated: the wayside chapel of San Francisco and the Castellet de Gaianes. Reaching Gaianes, continue along what was the former Vereda de Albaida now a wide dirt road. The joy lasts less than a kilometre because the route goes up a steep slope to what was a former quarry. Then towards the Castell, taking the same name, an old fort with an impressively robust construction. The route passes by the artificial landscape left by the abandoned quarry and the road goes into a grey closed chasm, surrounded by threatening rocks. Having come out of this, leave the ruins of the Castell on the left, of which only the remains of the tower still stand and merge into the landscape that enfolds them. It is a wild area, extremely arid, where the limestone pavement is visible, bare rock eroded by water. At the highest part of this second section,
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BENIARRÉS Beniarrés stands on a small hill at the entrance to the Vall de Perputxent, although historically it belonged to the Baronía de Planes. The town’s oldest human presence goes back to prehistory, the Cova de L’Or being the most representative. The name of Beniarrés appears in historic documentation for the first time in 1259. By then it already had a defensive tower and quite a few houses grouped around it. This was the typical layout of a Muslim alquería. By the 16th century, Beniarrés had passed on to form part of the Order of Montesa when this absorbed the property of the Hospitaller Order of St John. Despite a Town Charter having been granted in 1275 to ten Spaniards, barely a hundred years later all its inhabitants were Moors. These cultivated
the fields and reared their cattle until their expulsion. From that time on Beniarrés was repopulated by families who came from the Huerta de Alicante, from the Vall de Albaida and the Vall de Guadalest. The construction of the Beniarrés reservoir, opened in 1971, attracted a lot of immigrants who settled there. The Alcoy-Gandia railway line, built a hundred years previously, also represented a strong thrust to the economic growth of the town. Among the monuments to point out are the parish church dedicated to St Peter, of neogothic style and built over an older gothic church, and the wayside chapel of Santo Cristo standing on a hill dominating all the towns of the valley.
which is now the final climb, the partial explanation for this is found. The corral of Veneno is a huge rural construction retaining the traditional architecture intact, where the herds were kept and the owners probably lived during the season. These corrals, which go back to roughly the beginning of the 20th century, a time of maximum occupation of our inland mountains, protected the herds that grazed on the sierra, mostly sheep and goats, although they did not always graze together. This pressure on the vegetation, the same as occurred on the Serra Mariola and the rest of the mountains surrounding the valley, caused very intense deforestation. It is enough to look at the old photos to see that by the 1950s, the situation was worse than it is now. Later,
the forestry replanting carried out on Benicadell, especially on the north face, filled the mountainside with Aleppo pine which years later suffered fires. The corral of Veneno has indisputable ethnographic interest because of the scarcity of examples of livestock corrals, with all the items necessary for this activity, in a good state of conservation. In fact, it was in use until a few decades ago. It is worth taking a look around the building and looking at the view you get from there over the valley of the Serpis and the nearby towns. The way continues now along a track, going down between fields of almond trees it then goes through a small ravine to climb up again. Now without any
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possibility of getting lost and following the “routometre” clearly, you come to Turballos, one of the oldest towns in the region, currently inhabited and restored by a Christian community holding cultural and religious activities there. Go through the town on the main road and pass the last houses to an asphalted road that leads steeply downhill to the former AlcoyGandia railway line. Follow it to the left again in the direction of Gaianes, all the time discounting the turnings that lead to fields and country houses.
point as on the way out, now returning along the same road to Beniarrés and L’Orxa.
Always travelling along the railway line, the town is reached and crossed lengthwise to follow the line again the other side of the town. At the entrance to Gaianes, you must go along Beniarrés street until, once again on the former railway line, you hit the same
GAIANES Gaianes is a town of Muslim origin which was conquered by Jaime I in the mid-11th century. It belonged to the Count of Cocentaina until it achieved its independence. It was set up as a parish in 1535, splitting itself from that of Cocentaina, and after the expulsion of the Moors, the villa remained almost completely deserted, since 62 Moorish families had lived in it. For this reason, in 1611, the Count Gastón granted it a Town Charter for the purpose of reoccupying it with Spaniards.
Gaianes is a quiet town, with few inhabitants, well-orientated, its streets sundrenched in a privileged setting. Of its principal monuments, the wayside chapel of Sant Francesc and the Castellet have already been seen on the route. Perhaps now is the time to have a look around the town and also visit the church of Santiago Apóstol [James the Apostle], a 16th century building of great architectural value built over what was the old mosque. The Town Council building is also very interesting since it is built over a former ancestral seat.
ROUTE NUMBERR8 La Solana del Benicadell
Route data START
Beniarrés Welcome Point
LEVEL DISTANCE DURATION HEIGHT DIF.
19.2 km 2hr- 2hr 30min 601m
Altitude
19.2
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ROUTE NUMBER9 La Vall d’Alcalà
Margarida. 38° 47' 16" N 0° 17' 55" W
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A strenuous ride through the essence of Alicante’s cultural heritage Of all the itineraries in this guide, this proposal is, undoubtedly, the one most culturally and historically charged. It is also perhaps the most complete in all the senses, the toughest, longest and with the greatest height difference. But it is also the one that enables one to experience the bike so intensely as the most perfect instrument invented by humans for travelling in direct contact with nature. The proposed route crosses one of the most fascinating areas in the Alicante mountains, a landscape of transition between inland and sea, between the regions of the Comtat and La Marina. It is also a contrast between the Spanish and Muslim cultures, both present in this territory and both having left their mark on the landscape. The bike enables you to travel more in time than in space, enjoying the concept of cycle tourism and exploring these mountains in a leisurely fashion, and without the place of destination being that important. An attractive and demanding proposal through complex and fragile territory, full of small towns, former country houses, deserted Moorish settlements, water spouts and castles. Specifically, a trip through our most recent past, sometimes
so alive, it seems time has stood still. Moreover, if you stay at any of the rural houses or small hotels to be found in the Vall D’Alcalá, you can turn each weekend into a small holiday. The route sets out from Planes, and you can set your bike computer to zero at the Information Point. Following the highway from Dénia and going behind the filling station, an asphalt road is reached which in a little over two kilometres leads to the small town of Catamaruc. Enter the town on Sant Josep street and carry on straight ahead. Catamaruc is a small town, very small, welcoming and picturesque where the houses and streets are conserved with the feeling of yesteryear. Painted and well-
L'Atzuvieta. 38° 47' 56" N 0° 14' 52" W
cared-for they make up a pleasing urban environment. It is quickly crossed and on leaving it, beside a water spout, the route continues climbing up a dirt road. This stretch gets tougher after the two and a half kilometres from the last houses. It comes out onto the sierra. The crops are being left behind and, as you get higher, the castle of Margarida can be seen to the left. This castle is perhaps the hardest to reach in the whole Valencian territory, to the extent that the farthest point requires rock climbing techniques to reach it. It is possible that it was originally entered by a ramp or steps adjoining the wall of which remains are left at the base. On the part facing Margarida, from which is is separated by the deep ravine of the Barranc de L’Encantada, the fortress falls away in an impressive precipice. Some
rocky strips along the summit that are seen on the route form a natural protection to the most exposed part of the castle. The scarp is known as the Peña Cantacuc and the present remains, scarcely a tower in ruins, are of small dimensions, some forty metres by approximately eight and a half. It was conquered by Jaime I in 1258 from the Muslim monarch Al-Azraq and the wall with a filling of stones with which it was built can still be seen. The way continues up the Cantacuc sierra, a modest mountain which is really a foothill of Almudaina. On this stretch the secular deforestation is seen again, which lands of Alicante have suffered for centuries from the charcoal burning and livestock grazing. Continue riding across the sierra as far as one of the scarce pine forests salvaged from the fires. Soon the remains of a lime kiln are left to
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one side, another of the activities that traditionally used up the vegetation covering our mountains and scrubland, since for making lime a large quantity of firewood was required to reach the necessary temperature to obtain quicklime. The process consisted of maintaining the limestone stored inside the kiln at a temperature of over a thousand degrees centigrade for a period of ten to twelve
days. The fire was lit over the open surface of the kiln which gives an idea of the amount of fuel necessary, obtained from the surrounding woods. A few metres further on from the lime kiln, at Km 7.3 on the “routometre”, the ride can be shortened or divided into two, since the route returns to this point further on. As the route is fairly tough, it is not a bad
ALCALÀ DE LA JOVADA Alcalá de la Jovada is one of the towns whose streets and plazas best conserve the Muslim legacy. The place name itself, AlQualan’n, means “the castle” in Arabic. And Jovada derives from Jou, which is a farm implement like a yoke, joining a pair of animals across the neck, like oxen or in the case of these lands, mules. The amount of land that could be worked in a whole day, from sun-up to sun-down, was called a “Jovada”. In Alcalá, the lord and his subjects made an agreement to share the property on a long lease or emphyteusis, which means the lord gave the vassal the useful dominion of the land in exchange for certain recompenses, amongst which was the work of one Jovada. This is more or less the origin of the word that defines a town which has, in spite of its small size, an extraordinary historical and cultural heritage. The palace of Al-Azraq,
mentioned by Jaime I in the Llibre dels Fets,was situated on the Plaza Mayor, occupying the whole block of houses, of which the present church forms a part. The street “dels Ametlers” and the houses of the tower overlooking the ravine, retain architectural elements of Arab origin. Close to Alcalá, following the highway in the direction of Vall D’Ebo, the deserted Moorish settlement of Atzuvieta is an obligatory visit, as is the nearby nevera. The deserted Moorish settlement is the most interesting and best conserved in the whole Region of Valencia.
Planes. 38° 47' 3" N 0° 20' 40" W
idea to do it in two trips, one that goes from this point to Planes via Benialfaqui and then setting out from Tollos, or better still Alcalá de la Jovada, going round the whole of the Vall D’Alcalá via Beinaia, the Barranc de Malafí and the country houses of Capaimona. Having made this suggestion, this description continues with the route exactly as it appears in the “routometre”. At Km 7.92 it reaches the highest point of this climb and also the highest pass of the whole ride. A precarious asphalt road is reached and followed in the direction of Tollos. Tollos is another small town, this time situated in the Vall de Seta. On the south facing slope of the Almudaina sierra, the same as Benimasot and Balones, it has an ideal temperature all year round, especially in winter. This location is what made numerous citizens from central and
northern Europe choose this place as their permanent residence. Tollos was also a Moorish place and its mintxos and L’olleta de blat are typical dishes, which may be tasted in the former school converted into an extraordinary restaurant. The route continues behind the sports centre, on this stretch coinciding with a PR (Sendero de Pequeño Recorrido - name given to a short footpath trail) marked with white and yellow signs. On reaching some corrals in ruins, there is a rightangle turning to the right to go down towards the Barranc de Malafí, where it then follows a dirt road, always much more agreeable for mountain biking than the asphalt. In the ravine the PR signs that follow the Malafí road are left behind and then the route starts to climb again. When the climb ends and in a closed hollow protected by the mountains that surround it, there are the country
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houses of Capaimona, two groups of houses in ruins set on a gentle slope surrounded by terraces gradually being covered by the woodland mass, chiefly holm oaks, after the abandonment of the countryside and rural way of life. It is not known with certainty whether it was a Moorish place, but what is evident is that at the beginnings of the 20th century, the time of maximum human occupation, these country houses had a great influence on the surroundings. Today they are no more than the testimony of a life of hardship where the people worked the fields and tended their animals. For the record, there are also the remains of a wayside chapel. The group was made up of two country houses: that of Dalt, which belonged to Alcalá and that of Baix, which belonged to Tollos. Leaving them behind, not without a certain nostalgia and the desire to return with more time to look around this place, the way enters a lovely woodland of holm oaks in good condition. This uphill stretch allows a good look at it, strength permitting, as it is a good example of the vegetation that used to cover these mountains. The holm oaks have a size that corresponds to the years that have passed since the countryside and rural way of life was abandoned and the woodland stopped being felled. They are trees of about forty to fifty years. Leaving a small house on the left the route follows the road. Soon it goes downhill again, this time on a wide track leading to Alcalá de la Jovada.
The way continues from the plaza going out of the town to continue along the Cami del Pla de les Vinyes, not without first filling your water bottle at the spout gushing from the face of Al-Azraq, a bronze bust depicting the Muslim leader who was lord and owner of these lands until his demise at the hands of Jaime I. Al-Azraq was also known by the nickname el blavet for his blue eyes, somewhat unusual among the Arabs with the exception of a few members of the Nasrid dynasty. Right above the water spout is a rural hotel, well integrated among the houses of the town, for a good sleep and even better eating. Something to bear in mind on these rides, for it also forms part of the journey and contributes to the economic development of these parts. After the last houses a slightly uphill stretch of asphalt begins, surrounded by fields of almond trees. In the distance lies a small nucleus of houses forming Beniaia and after a small downhill and crossing the Molinet at a ford, the way returns to the highway on the left in the direction of Beniaia. The vegetation on this short stretch of barely one kilometre once again has a surprising abundance of holm oaks which form a leafy and well-structured woodland. Dry-stone terraces once again a reminder that these slopes were once dominated by human activity to the smallest and most tucked away corner. Beniaia is a delightfully quiet town which also has a good eating house. Nearby there
is another deserted Moorish settlement, La Cariola, inhabited until the 17th century. A visit there is very recommendable, since it is very close, barely one kilometre from the town. The route passes the same detour at Km 26.5 on the “routometre”, shortly after coming out of Beniaia and leaving behind the asphalt to go onto a dirt road, always uphill and between fields of fruit trees. Soon Km 7.3 is reached, which was previously mentioned as the linking place in the case of turning this route into two round trips. Carry on climbing until the highest part is reached and then downhill again. This constant effort gradually wears you out, so you must take care not to get dehydrated and stop frequently to eat
some fruit, an energy bar or nuts. That is how the mountains of Alicante are, with no respite. The route continues until it passes the Font de Frau. It reaches Benialfaquí on a steep downhill and continues along the Calle de la Font on the right. From the detour of La Queirola as far as the town it has been ten interminable kilometres of demanding climbs and entertaining downhills where you have to pay maximum attention. The route crosses the Cantacuc sierra again and passes close to the Penyetes de L’Alt de Benialfaquí, the Penyal de la Cendra and the Penyes de la Cova Negra which are now over the town situated in the foothills of the Almudaina sierra surrounded by terraced crops. The town is surrounded by green, thanks to the
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LA QUEIROLA
well-cared for fields. The position and quietness of the town are once again an invitation to stay, but it is not far now to reach Planes. Back on the asphalt highway, once again remembering all the precautions to be taken, it leads back to the Information Point in Planes, the starting point of this strenuously tough ride through the very essence of the least known cultural legacy of the Alicante mountains.
The deserted Moorish settlement of La Queriola, built on the hill of the same name, at 730 metres altitude and beside the Barranco de la Gleda, was a former Andalucian alquería that has as many as a dozen houses and numerous mediaeval constructional elements that can still be seen, stone facings, the layout of rooms and patios. In the 11th century, this alquería, which also appears mentioned by the names of La Criola or Cariola, belonged to the Muslim leader Al-Azraq. As from 1245, with the Spanish conquest and the subjection of Al-Azraq to Jaime I, the Andalucian ruler remained for three years with half of the revenues from La Queirola. Until the expulsion of the Moors in 1609, 13 families lived in the alquería. After that it was left deserted and the new Mallorcan inhabitants did not go as far as to occupy it, but they did use the houses as corrals for the livestock. Joan Pellicer, the beloved botanist who left an indelible record and an extremely valuable legacy in his work, tells how the last inhabitants of La Criola were his uncle Blanc de Planes and his family who, when the Civil War ended, abandoned the town the same day as the wedding of his sister, Roseta del Cel, who came down from the town for the last time dressed in her bridal gown to the church of Beniaia. A vivid shot from the best film by Berlanga.
R9 ROUTE NUMBER La Vall d’Alcalà
Route data START
Planes Welcome Point
LEVEL DISTANCE DURATION HEIGHT DIF.
40km 4hr 30 min 1413m
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Advice and handy hints It is always a good idea, before starting any sporting activity, to take out accident insurance or have a federal mountain card. A rescue can be complicated and also medical attention, depending on where the accident happens.
at least three layers of protection, as this is a mountain climate and some stretches of a certain altitude are very exposed.
Always take warm clothing, even in summer, above all technical garments of good quality. A breathable waterproof windcheater (Goretex or similar) is essential. Here it is fundamental to have
Helmet is obligatory, gloves and sungoggles. Clear goggles for dusk. Insects come out as the sun sets and may damage the eyes if unprotected.
In summer, it will be sufficient to wear a simple T-shirt or singlet, but always carry a lightweight waterproof windcheater.
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Sun screen cream and lip salve. Small day-pack. Use it to carry energy bars, camera and waterproof windcheater for immediate use. If you have to carry baggage, be very sparing and keep clothing down to the absolute minimum. One change of clothing for the hotel or hostel, and two for riding. A mini toiletries bag, soap for washing clothes, clean handkerchief, lightweight fast drying towel, lightweight sandals and a Polartec 100 or similar quality fleece is sufficient. All in a stuff-sac laid lengthwise on the rack. Do not use panniers as they upset the equilibrium of the bike downhill and can cause lots of problems as tracks are narrow and on some stretches have abundant vegetation. Always have the phone numbers to hand of the places where you are going to stay the night. Also emergency phone numbers, of course, and do not forget your mobile phone. Tools are a very important matter. If you are going in a group, the weight may be shared out, but do not forget the chain tool, spare inner tubes and patches, insulating tape, a set of Allen keys, brake
cables, small pliers, scissors, razor blade and above all the pump. Special care must be taken on Routes 7, 8 and 9, and on Route 5 if you follow the alternative proposal. They have stretches that are very technical. Provide yourself with an adequate supply of water and food for the whole day (even if the route only takes a few hours). Check the bike thoroughly before leaving. A good mechanic will leave it in condition for riding these routes without any difficulty. If the parts are good quality, the same as the bike, there is no reason why you should have any breakdown. Be prudent at all times and save your strength for the end of the day.
You never know what might happen on the mountain nor is there any need for haste. If necessary, you must know when to admit defeat. Look out for your own safety and that of others. Be helpful and supportive with strangers who might need information or local knowledge or tools. Take care of and respect water spouts. they are the most valued that may be found on the mountain. Do not leave or bury waste or rubbish. Always take it away with you.. Ride on the road. Shortcutsbreak the
line of the route and contribute to erosion. Be careful of all-terrain vehicles or quad bikes, especially downhill. Fortunately in the Region of Valencia, quad bikes are no longer allowed to go on the forestry tracks but off-roading vehicles continue to be a serious problem, especially in the mountains of Alicante. Take great care. No need to remind that the bike should be of good quality, and one must be consistent with that.
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With a mountain bike you stop being a passive observer. You feel the wind, the sun, smells, cold or heat and adventure becomes something real, exciting.