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pedalportugal.com/resources/day-rides/the-beiras/fantasy-castles/
The border region between Portugal and Spain is home to some fabulous castles and wonderful rolling scenery.
It’s also extremely unspoilt and the roads here are about as quiet as you’ll find anywhere in Europe.
Most of the small towns and villages in this part of Portugal often look as if they’ve hardly changed in centuries and – standing on the granite battlements of their castles – it’s easy to imagine yourself back in mediaeval times.
This ride originally involved just the ride from Belmonte to Sortelha (see below) but I’ve expanded it to provide the option of a longer circuit that also takes in Sabugal.
Belmonte and Sabugal are both attractive places but Sortelha is one of the stars of this region – and is distant enough from the main tourist trail that you may well get the place to yourself.
Cycling to Sortelha can involve a reasonable climb but it’s well worth the effort. Perched on a hilltop overlooking the wild country of Portugal’s northern borders is a castle that looks like it’s straight from the pages of some historical romance or fantasy epic.
recommended by Josep from Eat Sleep Cycle
510 km and 13,300 m. of positive ascent. Of these, 48% are dirt and 52% asphalt.
A circular route that connects the northern and southern faces of the Central Pyrenees by high mountain dirt tracks and small roads that exceed 2,000 m. in height.
A route that rests under the snow for several months of the year and that we recommend doing from the beginning of June to the end of October.
Designed to pedal all the landscapes, cultures and traditions of its mountains, we encourage cyclists to pedal it completely.
Although the Fera has a specific route, it has several alternatives that allow you to reduce the mileage and the difference in altitude. We recommend using them in case of adverse weather or extreme fatigue.
You can find more information in the Route section and download all the specific information about the route divided into segments in the Route Book.
uteguiden.com/en/biking/the-grand-norwegian-gravel-tour/
best guess at route. Unclear on day 6
www.etapedudales.org/gravel-route-2025
Starting from Horton in Ribblesdale, the home of the iconic 3 peaks challenge, this year's event starts with a brief road section to High Birkwith where the first off road section starts. Turning north at Old Ing the route follows the Pennine Bridleway up to Ling Gill Bridge.Take a moment to look at the inscription on the bridge, at one time this was a the main road between Settle and Hawes!
After the bridge the route climbs on to open moorland to meet the Roman Road - Cam High Road, where it turns right on to the wide gravel track. Follow this track for 3.8km (don't bear right into the forest) where it becomes tarmac for a short stretch before turning left (13.0km).
Continue along the west side of Dodd Fell and then descend with caution to a right turn at Bands Lane (19.8km).Continue along the route to Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre to the feed station.
Retrace to Gayle and continue along the route to the A684 where right for 700m and then right (24.1km) to Burtersett and over the road climb to Semer Water. Following the steep climb out of Semer Water bear left (30.6km) to join the gravel track of High Lane and follow this to the summit of Kidstones Fell. Be VERY careful on the descent to Kidstones B6160.(38.1km)
Turn right and descend just 900m before turning left through a gate to follow the bridleway along Buckden Rake. There are numerous gates here, please close them after you. CAUTION on the descent into Buckden and beware of walkers.
In Buckden (41.5km) head south on the B6160 towards Kettlewell (47.4km), where left on to Conistone Lane on the east side of the river Wharfe. In Conistone bear right and cross the river to Kilnsey. Turn right past Kilnsey Park (Cafe), and then left (53.5km) on to Mastiles Lane. Continue to Malham Tarn feed station (61.5km).
Continue for 1km to Watersinks car park where right on to the track around Malham Tarn. Rejoin the road and follow the route to Cowside where right (70.9km) after the cattlegrid on to a wide gravel track direction Stainforth.
Continue through Stainforth to the B6479 where right and first left on to Dog Hill Brow over the narrow bridge and past the caravan site to a T-junction where right. Continue to T-junction (76.4km) where left. After 1.3km turn left on a farm track towards Feizor (80km) where right to Austwick (82.4km). At the main road turn left and then right on to Townhead Lane. Turn left on to Thwaite Lane (83.1km)and continue to Long Lane where right (85.1km). Follow the Pennine Bridleway for 7km to join the B6479, where right to Horton in Ribblesdale to finish
Made in the Cotswolds. Published by Éditions Système D Ltd.
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