The cycling terrain

The terrain around here offers plenty of challenges in the form of both short explosive climbs and long exhausting ones.

Many bike rides will start from the old N340 main road, which follows the coastline. It is quite hilly, but the ‘hills’ on it are not listed here.

Here is an overview of some of the climbs that are within cycling distance of the hotel and which form the basis for the cycling experience you will have down here.

The list is updated regularly.

Castell de Ferro - La Ventera

There are two ways to get to La Ventera. Either by coming from above or from below. This is the climb from below the coastal town of Castell de Ferro, and it’s a climb that our guests are guaranteed to try several times. And often as the very last part of the trip, so it can be tough, even if on paper it is not among the toughest. However, it reaches over 14% in a few places over shorter pieces. The segment/measurement stops at the stairs up to La Ventera. If a day trip ends here, it’s also a good opportunity to get to know who has the best mountain legs and then meet at the hotel for a cold beer on the terrace 🙂

Length of climb: 6.37 km

Height meter bottom/top: 331 m

Avg. increase percentage: 5.2%

Max. increase percentage: 19%

Castell de Ferro - Gualchos - Lujar

This climb starts at the foot of our own mountain on the edge of the old fishing village of Castell de Ferro, passes Gualchos and La Ventera and ends at 720 meters, where the descent to the town of Lujar begins. The increase is in total ??? long. After almost 10 km you reach a t-junction, where you can continue towards the top, or cycle down towards the town of Motril. If you stop the drive here, the climb is 9.86 km long with an average gradient of 5.3.

Length of the climb:

Height meter bottom/top:

Avg. percentage of increase:

Max. increase percentage: 19%

Motril - Gualchos

One of the roads home to La Ventera goes from the town of Motril, and the ascent starts at the roundabout in Puntalon and subsequently winds its way up through the terrain with good opportunities for shade, as part of the route goes through a spruce forest. After 9.6 kilometers of ascent, you can turn off towards Gualchos and roll the last 4 km down to La Ventera, or you can continue further up. If you continue to the top, the climb is 12.75 km long with

Length of the climb: 9.6 km

Altitude bottom/top: 472 m

Avg. percentage increase: 5.1%

Max. rate of increase: 15%

Polopos - Haze del Lino

About 11 km by bike from the hotel is a fantastic climb. It runs from the old coastal road up to the town of Polopos and from there further up. It starts with quite high percentages and then flattens out, but rises all the way up. The asphalt is fantastic and so is the view. If you stop at the bar in Polopos, the climb is 9.7 km long with an average of 7.6 km. But from there you can continue all the way up to 1281 meters in height to Haza del Lino and then the climb is 17.4 km long with 7.2 in average. The KOM on the long part is 59:49 min. This climb is also a super cool descent.

Length of the climb: 17.4 km

Height meters bottom/top: 1252 m

Avg. percentage increase: 7.2%

Max. rate of increase: 18.3%

Lounging

Down from the coastal town of Castell de Ferro, a long and beautiful climb starts. The first few kilometers climb quietly and go along a meltwater channel, where you often meet goats and goat herders. After five kilometers you take a sharp left turn and then the climb begins in earnest towards the town of Lujar, which is at the same height as Gualchos. The town also has two small bars and a natural spring, so it’s a good place to stop if you’re passing by on a longer route. After Lujar, there are 5 km to the top, and when it is reached, you have driven 17.3 km with an average of 4.3%.

The turns are soft and the asphalt super good, so it’s also a really nice descent.

Length of the climb: 17.3 km

Height meters bottom/top: 756 m

Avg. percentage increase: 4.3%

Max. increase percentage: ?? %

Rubite

Perhaps the hardest climb of those very close to La Ventera is the climb up to the little white town of Rubite. The climb is 10 km away and starts quite hard. The first few kilometres, the percentages of increase are above 15% and then it becomes a little milder. The first 7.1 km is covered at an average of 9.1%, and then it flattens out and descends slightly towards the town of Rubite. It is, however, possible to turn left before the town and continue in a hairpin bend further up, and then the climb is a total of 12.75 km with an average of 6.6%. The slope is covered with brand new asphalt. It is fantastic, and it is currently Burgos-BH rider Angel Madrazo, who has the fastest time on the route for the men (19:42) and Annemiek van Vleuten for the women (27:06).

Length of the climb: 7.1 km

Height meter bottom/top: 645 m

Avg. percentage increase: 9.1%

Max. percentage of increase: ??

La Rabita - Haze del Lino

From the coastal town of La Rabita, the climb starts quietly with a 3% gradient for the first 5-6 km, but at the town of Albuñol there is a bit more of an incline, and then it continues for another 20 kilometers until the summit Haze del Lino without becoming inhumane on some time. It is a super beautiful route that can be easily reached from La Ventera, as there are only 20 hilly kilometers to the start of the climb.

Length of the climb: 26.4 km

Height meters bottom/top: 1280 m

Avg. increase percentage: 5.0%

Max. percentage of increase: ??

Almuñecar - the old goat trail

One of the routes you will have to try is the old route of goat herders, which goes from the coastal town of Almuñecar up to an altitude of 1339 meters. The Carretera de la cabra – or the goat trail in Danish – starts 40 km from the hotel and then meanders through avocado fields and up into the countryside. It does not reach the very high percentages, but with its 34.8 km in total it can challenge most. When you reach the top, you have cycled 75 km, and then you can be happy that it goes downhill again for a good while.

Length of the climb: 34.8 km

Height meters bottom/top: 1324 m

Avg. percentage of increase: 3.8%

Max. rate of increase: 10.2%

Los Güajares

30 km from the hotel on a fairly flat road, a new and delicious terrain begins. One of the climbs goes from the main road up into the terrain through the municipality of Los Guajares. The climb winds its way through avocado groves and approx. halfway up the climb is the town of Guajar-Faragüit. In the middle of a hairpin bend in the city is a cozy and quite reasonable bar, where it is possible to refuel with both food and drink. The bar is called Bar La Parada and their tortilla de patata can be recommended. The most challenging part of the climb starts at the end of the city, where it averages 8% over 2-3 kilometres.

Length of the climb: 14.5 km

Height meters bottom/top: 654 m

Avg. increase percentage: 5.0%

Max. percentage increase: 13.3%