UltraBlade's Bike Tour Landscapes

Landscapes

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Amazing views and a fabulous slow ride along the bottom of a gorge with 1000 foot outcrops towering over you. This is the view from Point Sublime.

The road is narrow (single file in places where there are tunnels) but can be travelled in less than an hour, if you must. However, you'd be mad to use this place merely as a drive, and if you aren't careful you'll crash. The roads can sometimes be wet, even on a dry day, and the surface is iffy. Stop and have a meal and enjoy the views of the river, there are a couple of interesting villages with restaurants. You will probably see canoists gliding down the river, but beware their vans with canoe trailers blasting back for another go. These are run by the local clubs and they know the road well, so watch out because they are usually in a hurry. About half way along the gorge is a tight road which goes up to the local viewpoint known as Point Sublime. Go there, it is amazing. There is a cafe/restaurant at this point which makes it a doubly good place to stop for an hour or so. Make sure your camera is loaded with film, and try a panorama shot. Visit the French Gallery for more photographs.

Pyrenees

Traffic-free roads with superb views. For the highest views choose a route without a tunnel.

This mountain chain which runs between France and Spain is a must for anyone who likes mountain scenery. There are many smaller roads which cross the Pyrenees and most have spectacular views, although on the French side it tends to be closed in because of all the trees. This is because of the high rainfall on the north side. Conversely, the Spanish side is parched and sometimes rather barren; the change in character is what makes these mountains special. Be wary of the weather, because if its raining you can wave goodbye to any view at all. My advice is to watch the weather reports the night before, and if there is a layer of heavy cloud when you approach then try another route near the coast, if possible. You can always cross them on the way home (I have had to alter my plans like this, a couple of times). The photo above is not the best view, but shows a lovely winding road down into the valley at the Roncal pass.

Montserrat (S)

Not that far inland from Barcelona is a mountain range called Sierra Montserrat. About 2000 feet up the mountain, hanging over the road below is a monastery.

The location is stunning, and the ride up is great. The problem is that it is very popular and so there are many cars to meet on the way up. It is a place of religious pilgrimage to the Spaniards, but it is of interest to anyone. The views and the atmosphere are special. The location is so precarious, hanging on the side of the mountain, that they have had to build the car park on stilts. Its well worth a ride if you are in the area, but allow plenty of time.

The view from the monastery is great, and there is a cable car if you wish to go up from the road.

There is a car park at the bottom, but it's not safe enough to leave your bikes - there was no attendant when I visited. There are shops, a restaurant, and religious places at the monastery. The photograph shows the view from the monastery - you can just about make out the road and river in the bottom right hand corner. The concrete 'thing' in the top left-hand corner of the photo is a statue of some sort - it is totally out of keeping with the place. The Spanish specialise in spoiling natural beauty.

Los Mallos de Riglos (S)

Just north-west of the town of Huesca you will find these towering rock formations (nearly 1000 feet) near the Rio Gallego.

There is a small village which sits right at the bottom of these towers, quite why I don't know. This whole area is very beautiful and is the start of the foothills of the Pyrenees. I say foothills, but the nearby Sierra de Loarre peaks at 1595 metres. There is a castle part way up it which is a good place for a picnic, with fine views across the plain of Huesca. Visit the Spanish Gallery for another photograph.

Mascarat (S)

Gorge at Mascarat near Altea on the Costa Blanca

This is the place that people go bungy jumping in the Costa Blanca, being conveniently situated about 10 miles north of Benidorm.

The road (N.332), the motorway (A7) and the railway line (Alicante to Denia) all go through tunnels bored through the edge of a mountain range (Sierra Bernia) which drops into the sea at Mascarat. The cliffs and sea views are terrific and the countryside around is superb, except that there are very many apartments and villas along the coast which tends to spoil it a bit. The valleys behind this stretch of coast (from Benidorm to Javea) are packed with olive groves, as well as orange, lemon and passion fruit trees. The mountains are worth a climb, especially as the temperatures are high, and there are many good biking roads nearby with great views.

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