Spain Walking Holidays

La Drova & Barx Cycle RouteLa Drova & Barx Cycle RouteThe La Drova and Barx tourist route goes through the hills of Marchuquera and the “Ermita” village of the same name.From the Passeo Germanias going towards the hospital you will find signs and indicators for the route.  We will follow the road until we meet the towns of La Drova and Barx.  All the way you will enjoy the countryside of Mediterranean forests so typical of the region.Along this route you will travel through a countryside of orange groves and mountains that is typical of the La Safor region.  Every Sunday a market takes place in la Ermita de Marchuquera.  Firstly we arrive at La Drova – the majority of houses are of a rural type and we can enjoy facilities here like the café in the main road through the town.  From there you can take the road to visit the summit of Mt Monduver or eat in a restaurant with a swimming pool.Further on we come into the municipality of Barx where we can relax and enjoy a rest.  The return to Gandía can be done by retracing our steps along the same route, or by following the road down to the municipality of Simat de la Valldigna, where you will find the monastery of Santa Maria.The “Racó del Duc”, also called “Barranc de l’Infern” (Riverbed of Hell) is the stretch of the river Serpis that runs between the municipal districts of Villalonga (Valencia) and Orxa (Alicante).The suggested route has a distance of 2kms and for the most part follows along the old railway track used by the Alcoi to Grau de Gandía train.Given that the railway line takes in five unlit tunnels, one of which is 250m in length, it is recommended to take a torch.  Water can be obtained at the beginning of the route at the La Reprimala source (Fuente), or also at another two that are passed along the journey (Fuente de la Mata and Fuente de Botero.Except for a short slope at the beginning, the rest of the itinerary is almost flat and runs parallel with the river Serpis or the Alcoi.  These characteristics make it suitable for people of any age using a mountain bicycle as a means of transport, although with a little more time we can better appreciate the beauty of the countryside by following the itinerary on foot.The river passes through a mountain canyon with the mountains of la Safor (1011m above sea-level) and la Cuta (680m above sea-level), in which the significant descents offer a unique landscape in the area along with  highly interesting flora and fauna.La Vía Verde (The “Green Road”) of Gandia-Oliva in la Safor connects the coastal towns by means of a 7km track which picks up the old raised railway line of the Carcaixent to Denia train service which was constructed in 1884.This is a bicycle route which shows us a Valencian landscape of orchards and canals where the perfume of orange blossom is all around during the flowering season.The suggested starting point for the route begins in Gandia’s Parc de l’Estacio – site of the former narrow gauge railway station which is no longer in service today.  Opposite you will find the Tourist Information Office.From the park, take the Calle del Tossal, which will lead us via an alleyway to the Serpis riverbed.  A concrete bridge enables us to cross the river Serpis and to carry on in a south-west direction.  We cross the road which goes along the right bank of the river and down to the area of Gandia known as the Grau.  From this point on, the route continues through orchards and orange groves, and after 3 kms we cross the Bellreguard road.  We cross the river Serpis once again and pass through the towns of Palmera and Piles.After 5kms we cross another canal which takes us on to the municipality of Oliva.Technical Details:Bicycle Tour7000 metresLow level of difficultyNo descent in altitude

Spanish Walking Holidays Gandia