We had bad weather in Seville, river boat trip was like a poor foggy day on the Tyne!
At an appointment today the nurse had a picture of the gorge and parador as a wallpaper. Spooky coincidence
Southern Spain Tour 2026
- Thread starter ianrauk
- Start date
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At an appointment today the nurse had a picture of the gorge and parador as a wallpaper. Spooky coincidence
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Looks lush.. that's all . Enjoy.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Cyclo touristas walking up a small incline...I thought you said it was flat. Or was that post 2 Estrellas?!
Day 5.
After a chaotic breakfast in the hotel at Estepa, Ross, Tim and myself rolled out to the smell of roasting chocolate beans, as the towns main industry seemed to be chocolate, and of course olives.
Once again we cycled through miles of olive groves but climbing mainly for the first 12 miles before a most fabulous long and super speedy descent into the town of Sierra de Yeguas for a short break for coffee. Rolling ever onwards in warming temperatures and into a cheeky headwind, we got to Campillos, a town we had stayed in on a previous cycling tour. A couple of beers and a fab chicken bocadillo helped fuel the second part of the ride, the mainly flat and straight roads on to the very pretty town of Antiquera where we have stopped for the night.
So, 41.5 miles for the day
A mainly flat 2500ft of climbing.
And that super, speedy descent? 45.7mph.
Tomorrow we are Málaga bound and back to where we started.
Super, speedy down to that road
After a chaotic breakfast in the hotel at Estepa, Ross, Tim and myself rolled out to the smell of roasting chocolate beans, as the towns main industry seemed to be chocolate, and of course olives.
Once again we cycled through miles of olive groves but climbing mainly for the first 12 miles before a most fabulous long and super speedy descent into the town of Sierra de Yeguas for a short break for coffee. Rolling ever onwards in warming temperatures and into a cheeky headwind, we got to Campillos, a town we had stayed in on a previous cycling tour. A couple of beers and a fab chicken bocadillo helped fuel the second part of the ride, the mainly flat and straight roads on to the very pretty town of Antiquera where we have stopped for the night.
So, 41.5 miles for the day
A mainly flat 2500ft of climbing.
And that super, speedy descent? 45.7mph.
Tomorrow we are Málaga bound and back to where we started.
Super, speedy down to that road
Last edited:
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Looks fabulous. T minus 5 weeks till us Northern CC'ers go to Spain.
- Location
- Glasgow
@ianrauk you've got a cut on your left knee, did you have an off?
Also, I was going to post that you don't look very tanned, but then I saw the marks left by your half cycling gloves ... you got a bit of a tan after all
Lovely tour, would be far too hot for me to cycle though, especially up those hills.
Well done!
Nope..that was me going arse over tit whilst on shanks pony last week at home.
And I don't do tan 😀
Day 6 of the Spanish tour with Tim and Ross.
We left the very pretty and very Spanish town of Antiquera just after sun up. Walking our bikes up the very steep alley to the castle viewpoint. I did visit it yesterday but another quick visit as it was on our route out of town and good to take in the views again.
The morning part of today's route was mostly climbing, two short climbs followed by a fairly tough one of three and a half miles, including percentages of 15%. We did this climb last time we toured Spain and I don't remember it being as hard as it was today. Yep, I'm getting old.
Once at the top at mile 7 and at 3000ft, the views made it worth the effort and it was a speedy three mile descent to the town of Villeneuve de la Concepcion where mid morning coffee was had with my new friend the very friendly Macaw.
Pushing on further on perfect tarmacced rolling Spanish roads. Up, down, up down and around. The best was saved for last. After every climb there was a fantastic descent and fabulous, stunning views. This is cycling country. Passing many other cyclists also enjoying the roads.
The hardest part of the climbing was now done so we decided not to stop for lunch, rather then enjoy the rolling roads all the way back to the edge of Málaga city, where we had to contend with all the usual busy city traffic. Bought back down to earth with a bump after a week of hardly seeing any.
Ending back at the beach bar/cafe we started at last week, treating ourselves to beers, fried sardines and a sumptuous pot of freshly made Paella.
So 41 glorious miles for the day.
2900ft of climbing
And that's the end of the 2026 Spanish tour.
Cycling doesn't get better here. The roads, the people, the drivers, the food and the country itself. It's on another level.
We are already planning the next tour.
We left the very pretty and very Spanish town of Antiquera just after sun up. Walking our bikes up the very steep alley to the castle viewpoint. I did visit it yesterday but another quick visit as it was on our route out of town and good to take in the views again.
The morning part of today's route was mostly climbing, two short climbs followed by a fairly tough one of three and a half miles, including percentages of 15%. We did this climb last time we toured Spain and I don't remember it being as hard as it was today. Yep, I'm getting old.
Once at the top at mile 7 and at 3000ft, the views made it worth the effort and it was a speedy three mile descent to the town of Villeneuve de la Concepcion where mid morning coffee was had with my new friend the very friendly Macaw.
Pushing on further on perfect tarmacced rolling Spanish roads. Up, down, up down and around. The best was saved for last. After every climb there was a fantastic descent and fabulous, stunning views. This is cycling country. Passing many other cyclists also enjoying the roads.
The hardest part of the climbing was now done so we decided not to stop for lunch, rather then enjoy the rolling roads all the way back to the edge of Málaga city, where we had to contend with all the usual busy city traffic. Bought back down to earth with a bump after a week of hardly seeing any.
Ending back at the beach bar/cafe we started at last week, treating ourselves to beers, fried sardines and a sumptuous pot of freshly made Paella.
So 41 glorious miles for the day.
2900ft of climbing
And that's the end of the 2026 Spanish tour.
Cycling doesn't get better here. The roads, the people, the drivers, the food and the country itself. It's on another level.
We are already planning the next tour.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Good reportage Ian, some excellent pix, geat memories formed, smooth traffic free roads and 2 buddies. What more could one want. Oh yes, food and drink.
Thanks.
Only mildly envious.
Thanks.
Only mildly envious.
