Cycle the Picturesque loop via Frigliana Spain

This wonderful road bike ride takes us to the beautiful whitewashed village of Frigiliana

In total this is just over 41 miles but a real leg-tester, with climbing totalling just over 4,000 feet. The route takes us down to the coast through Competa and Torrox on beautifully smooth roads. The descent to the coast is over 7 miles on gentle turns with stunning views. The final section after Torrox joins us up with a more major road, described as ‘being on a cycle motorway’. The road is wide and fairly straight as you drop from Torrox to Torrox Costa.

Turning left on the coast road takes us along our first flat stretch towards the resort of Nerja, described as the first resort away from Malaga without large, ugly, concrete hotels! Depending on time, we will pop to the Balcón de Europa to take in the picturesque views of the bays.

Leaving Nerja will give us a 6 kilometre climb up to the main stop of Frigliana. With architecture throwing back to its Moorish ancestry, referenced as “Spain’s most beautiful and well-preserved village”. The route will take us through narrow streets to our tapas stop and more beautiful views down the valley.

After the tapas stop the return home takes on a circular route through the mountains back to Torrox. This 8.6 mile stretch is technically downhill by 0.8% but by the time we get to Torrox, your legs will be telling you that’s a lie! Some early ramps hit 14% before finally getting a break on the downhill about 4 miles into this stretch.

Don’t enjoy the descent too much! The last half a mile into Torrox kicks again before taking us back to the intersection that you’ll recognise from the descent. This last stretch, to take us home, never hits double figures and has some lovely false flats before taking us to the top of Competa.