Andalucia - esp Grazalema. Anyone toured there?

[Gotte]

Hi there,

Beginning to wonder where to tour next year, and was wondering about Andalucia. I holidayed there with the family a couple of years back, and really liked it, esp the area around Grazalema, Ronda, Arcos del la Frontera and Gaucin.
Anyone toured there and can give indication as to whether the gradients are doable, and how good the accommodation is? Any other tips greatfully accepted.

Thanks

Phil

 

[Dayvo]

Unfortunately I am not familiar with the region you are interested in.

However I spent four months based near Albox and there is some fantastic riding in that area.

Once away from the coast, you ride around the interior and it isn't uncomfortably steep or hilly.

Also I had a 10-day stay in Benidorm and found the cycling in that area to be varied and challenging, and a lot of fun.

 

[J-Lo]

I went on holiday to Albox (arboleas to be precise), not cycling though... but I imagine it would be a great area for cycling! Nice scenery etc and coast nearby, places like mojacar are nice, and not too many steep hills!

 

[andym]

Málaga province has the reputation for the most fearsome gradients (so I wimped out), but I've no reason to suppose they aren't doable (andthere's always the train). The other provincías are also well worth considering: Huelva is off the beaten track but is beautiful; Cádiz has some lovely riding along the coast; the sierras of Sevilla are well worth it; there's some beautiful riding in the altopiano to the north of Córdoba; Granada has lots to offer - not just the Alpujarra; Almería is possibly the hottest and driest of the provinces (going from the Alpujarra in Granada to the Alpujarra almerense is a dramatic contrast) there's also some lovely riding along the coast.

Accommodation is cheap and generally very good value (ie off the tourist tracks a decent room with ensuite for 20 euros or so - although more expensive nearer the coast and in the tourist centres).

Have a look at the Michelin maps (or viamichelin.com) any route that is highlighted in green is worth doing. look for the chevrons that indicate how steep the gradients are.

The major thing to be aware of is the heat: when I was there in April/May last year - towards the end of that time I tended to ride from 7am (ish - depending on whether there was a bar I could get a cafe con leche and a media tostada con aceite - best breakfast in the whole world) until lunchtime. I'm not sure I would want to be cycling there in June-September, although, obviously temperatures are a lot more bearable at altitude.

Go for it.

 

[smith4188]

Yep, toured through all four places in 2007, my first real tour and on a cheapy bike. There are plenty of hills but nothing undoable. All I would say is to include Jeter de la Frontera too, a lovely little hilltop town. One word of warning: I'm not sure if you also plan to hit the coast but the obvious road from the coast to Arcos, despite being a small road, was full of heavy traffic. Big trucks and a strong sidewind weren't a nice combination, the only nasty bit of the trip.

Accommodation-wise I only camped once mostly because the campsites (those that existed, and there aren't many) were only a few euros cheaper than the B&Bs. Cycling through a similar region in 2009, I was usually paying about €25 per night for a B&B. It may cost more now, I'm not sure, but it won't be much more.

Also, according to one guide book I had, Grazalema is the wettest place in Spain (although that seems unlikely to me given how wet the north west of Spain is). That said, I was stuck there for a day in a torrential downpour. Prices in Grazelema were a bit more, I seem to remember.

Go for it. You'll enjoy it. I know I did. A bit of Spanish would be helpful though.

Cheers,
Steven

Hi there,

Beginning to wonder where to tour next year, and was wondering about Andalucia. I holidayed there with the family a couple of years back, and really liked it, esp the area around Grazalema, Ronda, Arcos del la Frontera and Gaucin.
Anyone toured there and can give indication as to whether the gradients are doable, and how good the accommodation is? Any other tips greatfully accepted.

 

[Gotte]

Yep, toured through all four places in 2007, my first real tour and on a cheapy bike. There are plenty of hills but nothing undoable. All I would say is to include Jeter de la Frontera too, a lovely little hilltop town. One word of warning: I'm not sure if you also plan to hit the coast but the obvious road from the coast to Arcos, despite being a small road, was full of heavy traffic. Big trucks and a strong sidewind weren't a nice combination, the only nasty bit of the trip.

Accommodation-wise I only camped once mostly because the campsites (those that existed, and there aren't many) were only a few euros cheaper than the B&Bs. Cycling through a similar region in 2009, I was usually paying about €25 per night for a B&B. It may cost more now, I'm not sure, but it won't be much more.

Also, according to one guide book I had, Grazalema is the wettest place in Spain (although that seems unlikely to me given how wet the north west of Spain is). That said, I was stuck there for a day in a torrential downpour. Prices in Grazelema were a bit more, I seem to remember.

Go for it. You'll enjoy it. I know I did. A bit of Spanish would be helpful though.

Cheers,
Steven

Thanks Steven, and all. I'll check out the various suggestions, also Jeter de la Frontera, as mentioned.
Funnily enough, when I was in Grazelema last, we climbed from the big dammed lake, where it was sunny, and within ten minutes, it was cloud, and pouring down. It proceeded to pour down, with one little break, where the valley revealed itself like something out of the opening of Aguirra, Wrath of God, then poured it down some more until we descended back into the valley.
I'll bear in mind the warnings of traffic and temperatures, thanks

Phil

 

[takeonafrica]

I cycled through August 2009.... passing from Seville to Utrera, Arcos, Grazalema, Ronda, El Burgo and on to Mijas near the coast. All beautiful scenery. Hilly but all can be cycled fully loaded - no pushing needed!
I stayed at a campsite one night but it was very expensive (18euros I seem to recall). Wild camped the other nights, which is easy to do in that area. Since campsites are so expensive, I'd recommend wild camping most of the way or opting to travel light and stay in b&b's etc.

It is hot that time of year, but that was no problem - cycle early in the morning and late in the evening and plan your route so you can while away the hottest hours of the day somewhere nice (whether that's in town to see the tourist sights or by a lake etc to enjoy the nature). In fact, because there's so much to see and do, you'll be grateful of the long summer days!

A note of warning - the coastal road is busy and ugly and awful with no escapes onto smaller roads possible. Avoid it if you can!

Enjoy!!

Links if you're interested: blog of journey, some photos and a map of route

 

[Gotte]

Takeonafrica - thanks for that. I read your blog and it seemed like an eventful journey, especially after the festival. Great read and really informative. I couldn't get the photos to load, though, just got a black square. Again thanks, though.

 

[mangaman]

Also, according to one guide book I had, Grazalema is the wettest place in Spain (although that seems unlikely to me given how wet the north west of Spain is). That said, I was stuck there for a day in a torrential downpour. Prices in Grazelema were a bit more, I seem to remember.

Go for it. You'll enjoy it. I know I did. A bit of Spanish would be helpful though.

Cheers,
Steven

I toured from Grenada to Seville a few years ago in June - so hot and very deserted.

Grazalema was also claimed to me to me to be the wettest place in Spain - although I doubt it.

It's a beautiful are and fantastic for touring. I was on a hybrid MTB and managed it no probs. The gradients we did were nothing scary (we had a guide). Arcos is lovely - we stayed there, as is Ronda.

I went with a company called "discoverandulucia" - I'll just check they exist still

http://www.discoverandalucia.com/ they do - but seem to specialise in corporate things.

I have to say the presence of a minibus full of water and a guide was very helpful - it's extremely hot and very sparsely populated at times.

The cycling was superb. The roads were quality and empty and the highest pass was about 1200 m - which was tough but not steep (mainly tough because of the heat and no shade).

Grazalema is a lovely town - we went through it - and the whole area is great for touring. I do always caution people about water - there are long gaps between villages and it is hot in the summer. It's worth planning a route that includes every possible small village (all had bars which were happy to sell water to take away in vast quantities)

 

[hybrid_plonker]

Have never cycled but know the area well. Don't know : Jeter de la Frontera so think this is a typo for perhaps Vejer ? Plenty of "de la Fronteras" around these parts. Harks back to the days of Moors and Christians.
One route that I intend doing because it is flat ;-) is the Via Verde from Puerto Serrano to Olvera.
http://www.viasverdes.com/GreenWays/Itineraries/Andaluc%EDa/C%E1diz-Sevilla/Sierra%20Greenway/Map#

Of course this is no big challenge but for me it is. This old railway was never completed and it dates back to 1920s - well before Dr Beeching! It was to open up the rugged sierra and the villages inland from Jerez de la Frontera. (That one is a large Frontera!) Now Olvera could be a good base for tours around the area. Sure there are hills BUT many country roads and I reckon you can avoid using the busier roads.
Between Olvera and Grazalema you could plan plenty of rides. One high point in this land is at Old Ronda or ACINIPO which sits on a hill south of Olvera towards Ronda and was an important Roman town - it still has ruins including an impressive theatre. But there are lovely panoramic views from here.

A super downhill cruise is from Grazalema to Benaocaz - rugged limestone and fields of goats and sheep. Benaocaz is a great village to stop with places to eat. And then it is all downhill to the road between Ubrique and El Bosque.

 

[smith4188]

Have never cycled but know the area well. Don't know : Jeter de la Frontera so think this is a typo for perhaps Vejer ?

Oops! Yes, I meant Vejer de la Frontera. Sorry about that.

 

[Dirk Zodiac]

I am often over there in May but tend to be a bit further south in Vejer,can only say that I love the place apart
from when the wind is blowing,it really does howl and can happen at any time.Not so much a problem further
north but at that time of the year it can still be cold and wet , if you are unlucky.But if you enjoy never ending
vistas of carpets of wild flowers then thats the time to go.I have done a few day rides on my race bike around
Grazalema,Ubrique etc and found some of the hills challenging but doable.There is a lovely railway line from
Algerciras to Ronda that stops at various small towns along the way like Cortes which has a campsite,theres
no hassle at all about taking bikes on this particular line,friends of mine have seen locals with the odd goat
apparently!have never had a problem with Spanish drivers[cars and lorries]they allways leave plenty of
room and unlike the nutters over here have far more patience.There has been a lot of new road biulding
in Spain over the last few years and quite often they will leave the original road as a service road,you wont
allways find it marked on the maps but when you do,use them if you see more than 2 cars in an hour
then youre really unlucky!eg the A381 from Jerez to the Med.All in all brilliant cycling country and full
of many surprises, usually very pleasant!

 

[lulubel]

I'm not familiar with that area exactly because I live closer to Malaga, so I can't give any advice on how steep it is, although others have already covered that.

What I do want to emphasize, though, is that it will be hot compared to what you're used to. April to June can be relatively cool (low to mid 20s), but they can also have days that feel like a hot summer's day for the UK. It's rare to have a day in July and August when the temperature doesn't get in the 30s. September can be a bit cooler, and late summer storms generally start in October, which is usually the wettest month of the year.

So, you'll need plenty of water, and if you're not using some kind of energy drink that includes electrolytes, I'd recommend an electrolyte drink/tablets. Starting early is a good idea because it's cooler and also usually not windy. The wind tends to get up more as the day goes on. I don't think I've ever seen anyone cycling after 2pm in the summer.

 

[Gotte]

Thanks for all the input, chaps, much appreciated. Will do my research and see if it's doable.

All the best

 

[mangaman]

I'm not familiar with that area exactly because I live closer to Malaga, so I can't give any advice on how steep it is, although others have already covered that.

What I do want to emphasize, though, is that it will be hot compared to what you're used to. April to June can be relatively cool (low to mid 20s), but they can also have days that feel like a hot summer's day for the UK. It's rare to have a day in July and August when the temperature doesn't get in the 30s. September can be a bit cooler, and late summer storms generally start in October, which is usually the wettest month of the year.

So, you'll need plenty of water, and if you're not using some kind of energy drink that includes electrolytes, I'd recommend an electrolyte drink/tablets. Starting early is a good idea because it's cooler and also usually not windy. The wind tends to get up more as the day goes on. I don't think I've ever seen anyone cycling after 2pm in the summer.

I agree lulubel - I went in June.

The heat was unbearable (high 30s) but what was worse was the lack of shade - there are no trees.

I wouldn't venture there without regular water stops planned - and they aren't easy as it is so sparsely populated.

Don't let that but you off - it was one of the most beautiful rides I've done.