5 Favourite Cultural Cycling Tours in Andalucía
Andalucía is one of the most beautiful and interesting regions of Spain. Within this part of southern Spain you will find interesting history, unrivalled culture, stunning architecture and dramatic scenery.
Alongside the famous cities of Sevilla, Granada, Cadiz and Jerez de la Frontera, one of the lovliest smaller towns is Ronda. It is located in the heart of unspoiled mountainous scenery and sits on top of a dramatic cliff overlooking the Guadalevín River. The town is divided in two by a 120-metre-deep gorge which is straddled by a stunning arched bridge.
From Ronda, it is easy to explore far and wide into the mountains and surrounding countryside which is famous for its charming and traditional white villages or ‘pueblos blancos’.
Whilst many visitors to the area use a car or public transport to traverse the region at speed, one of the best way to explore the area is on a cultural cycling tour. A cycling tour lets you get away from the roads and experience the beautiful countryside up-close-and-personal. Cycling causes no noise and no pollution and offers the added bonus of building up an appetite to enjoy some delicious local tapas or a chilled beer.
Hike and Bike the Sierras, based in Ronda, offers a diverse range of cultural cycling tours which are suitable for riders of all levels. E-bikes are also available. Whether you are looking for just a one-day cycle tour or wish to spend more days travelling further afield, their guided and self-guided cycling tours use the region’s quiet country roads and country tracks to visit interesting white villages and explore the region’s hidden cultural gems. Take a ride to a ‘cavehouse’ village, do some wine tasting at a local bodega, or cycle cross country from Ronda to Sevilla, Jerez or Cadiz. Whichever tour you choose, you are sure to experience the very best of Andalucía’s culture and landscapes in a relaxing, healthy and enjoyable way. We have selected here our 5 favourite cultural cycling tours from Ronda.
Bike & Bodega – 1-day guided or self-guided tour
A pleasant, easy 20km bike ride through the countryside near Ronda, passing market gardens, olive and almond groves. Finish your tour with a visit to a local organic wine bodega, with winery visit, wine tasting and lunch or Iberian tapas selection.
The Bodega Joaquin Fernandez is a family-run vineyard, set on a hillside 3km from Ronda, with stunning views across the valley below and nearby mountains. A family member will lead your tour, explaining the bodega’s history and processes and its structured, complex and elegant wines.
Ronda to Setenil de las Bodegas – 1-day guided or self-guided tour
An easy, 30km ride, suitable for families and leisure riders to the cavehouse village of Setenil de las Bodegas. You will ride on quiet roads and tracks through varied rural Andalucían countryside, including vineyards and arable farmland, along old Roman routes and undulating trails.
Setenil sits in the bottom of the River Trejo valley, along a dramatic gorge which is the result of major erosion of the surrounding limestone mountains. Over thousands of years the river has carved out large overhanging rocks which have provided human shelter for centuries and these original ‘cavehouses’ still form the basis of many of the houses, bars and shops in the village – If you go inside you can see how the limestone rocks form the roof and walls. In one street, buildings have been squeezed on both sides of a narrow passageway beneath a solid rock ‘roof’ which weighs ominously above your head as you cycle through.
Via Verde – 1-day self-guided tour
A very popular ride along the wide, unsurfaced track of a disused railway line. It is an easy trail, heading gently downhill for most of the way, so is suitable for families and leisure cyclists.
The route meanders through valleys, olive groves, forests and along flowing rivers. You will pass through 30 tunnels – the longest is nearly 1km in length. You will also ride over 4 viaducts and past a griffon vulture colony, where the birds nest high up on the cliffs above the track. Watch the huge vultures soar effortlessly through the air and maybe pop into the visitor centre to watch the “vulture-cam”.
Ronda to Sevilla – 7-night self-guided tour
A moderate level, self-guided bike tour which takes you between two of Andalucía’s most beautiful towns. 5 days of relaxed cycling and time to sightsee in Sevilla at the end. This tour is a feast of scenery, ancient history and Spanish culture.
Your cycling route will take you through beautiful unspoiled countryside and via small white villages which have barely changed in centuries. It follows a section of the ancient Roman Via Serrana route, dotted with castle remains and churches of Santiago. Explore the Roman ruins of Italica, just outside Sevilla, then enjoy a final day exploring Sevilla itself, a city of stunning architecture, great food and the romance and drama of flamenco. Don’t miss the Alcazar Palace complex, the Cathedral and Giralda Tower and the Plaza de España.
Ronda to Cadiz – 7-night self-guided tour
A moderate level, self-guided bike tour which takes you from the mountains of Ronda via Jerez de la Frontera to the Atlantic coast and the historic city of Cadiz. 5 days of varied cycling, with plenty of time to enjoy the sights along the way.
On this tour you will cycle via arable fields, vineyards and olive groves, through rolling hills, past blue lakes and finally to the sea. You will pass through charming and traditional white villages, including Arcos de la Frontera, perched on a cliff edge, and see grand Renaissance churches and Arab fortresses. Enjoy a sherry bodega visit in Jerez, before finishing in Cadiz. The city’s long maritime history defines its heart, so take time to visit the domed cathedral, the maritime museum and the botanic gardens. Soak up the atmosphere in the old town’s narrow streets or at the seafront fort or simply go to the beach – this city has something for everyone.
All these cycling tours are available throughout the year and provide an opportunity to experience the delightful culture and scenery of Andalucía.
For more information on any of these cultural cycling tours, contact Hike + Bike the Sierras at info@hikeandbikeholidays.com or visit their website for more cycling tour ideas http://www.hikeandbikeholidays.com/
Tags: Ronda, Setenil de las Bodegas, cycling, Serrania de Ronda, bodega visit, Things to do in Ronda, Sevilla, Cadiz, Jerez de la Frontera, cycling tour
