Cycle Touring in Spain. Harry Dowdell

      

      CYCLING TOURING IN SPAIN

      by

      Harry Dowdell

      JUNIPER HOUSE, MURLEY MOSS,

      OXENHOLME ROAD, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA9 7RL

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      About the Author

      Harry Dowdell has been a lifelong cyclist. His first cycle tour, with friends was while still at school, was around the North York Moors staying in youth hostels at Wheeldale and Whitby.

      After a lengthy break, when the bike was used only for commuting, he restarted cycle touring round south-west Ireland then France.

      Harry’s cycle touring in Spain started in Andalucía, and subsequent visits have taken in most of the country including two of the Caminos de Santiago. During these tours he has made notes, drawn sketch maps and collected GPS data. This information is the basis for the maps, profiles and text that appear in this book.

      Harry continues to cycle regularly in Spain, North Yorkshire and wherever the fancy takes him. He lives in Nidderdale with Liz and pays the bills working as a fitness instructor at the local leisure centre.

      © Harry Dowdell 2003

      First edition 2003

      Reprinted 2006, 2013 and 2017 (with updates)

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 381 6

      Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore.

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      All photographs, maps and route profiles by the author except where stated

      Maps and profiles have been produced from data generated with a GPS.

      Temperature and rainfall data is based on information supplied by the Met Office.

      Acknowledgements

      Special thanks are due to two people who have supported me in writing this book: firstly Liz who reintroduced me to cycle touring before our first tentative tours of Andalucía and then allowed me out to do the others; secondly Ivor who joined me on the other tours and was an ever-present sounding board. Sadly Ivor is no longer with us and is greatly missed.

      A number of readers have kindly forwarded me changes which are always welcome. So many thanks to Gail, Cameron, Caroline, Martin, Andy, Itsik, Molly and all the others whose names I have lost.

      Thanks also go to the Spanish Tourist Office in London who provided most of the accommodation information and also identified options that broadened the scope of this book.

      Updates to this Guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/381/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal LA9 7RL, United Kingdom.

      Front cover: Puertos de Aliva and the Ermita Señora de las Nieves (Route 8)

      CONTENTS

       Overview Map

       Map legend

       Introduction

       Roads

       Climate

       Holidays and Public Holidays

       A Short History

       Getting There

       Getting Around

       Passports, Visas, Health Care and Insurance

       Mobile Phones

       Money and Banks

       Staying There

       About the Bike

       What to Take

       Camping

       Eating and Drinking en route

       Coping with Extreme Weather

       How to Use this Guide

       Cycle Tours

       Route 1 Serranía de Ronda

       Stage 1 Málaga airport to Yunquera

       Stage 2 Yunquera to Ronda

       Stage 3 Ronda to Teba

       Stage 4 Teba to Álora

       Stage 5 Álora to Málaga airport

       Route 2 Sierra de Grazalema and Torcal

       Stage 1 Álora or Málaga airport to Carratraca

       Stage 2 Carratraca to Ronda

       Stage 3 Ronda to El Bosque

       Stage 4 El Bosque to Zahara

       Stage 5 Zahara to Teba

       Stage 6 Teba to Antequera

       Stage 7 Antequera to Málaga airport

       Route 3 Las Alpujarras and the Sierra Nevada