Wide-open spaces and shady sierras – where the ride of your life is just around the next corner

The centre of Spain’s a conundrum. It would be easy to dismiss it as flat and dusty and dull… Easy – and totally wrong. There are large expanses of sun-baked plains traversed by arrow-straight highways, but there are also successive chains of hills where fragrant pine forests shade twisty roads and deep gorges provide spectacular views. The heart of Spain’s a land of contradictions: big cities and tiny villages, Roman bridges beside modern motorways. It’s easy to rush south on the boring roads, but it’s so much better to get off them.

WHERE TO STAY

ALBARRACIN

One of the best-preserved villages in Spain: Albarracín. Explore the steep, narrow streets and soak up the atmosphere. Route 45 Hotel tip Hotel Dona Blanca

CUENCA

Surrounded by high hills, Cuenca’s a gem. Explore the old town and visit the hanging houses, clinging to the cliffs. Routes 46 & 47 Hotel tip Hotel Torremangana

SORIA

The compact city of Soria is a charming slice of old-school Spain – with a fabulous main square, narrow streets and unspoilt atmosphere – surrounded by modern suburbs with all the amenities the visiting biker needs. Routes 43 & 44 Hotel tip: Parador de Soria

VALENCIA

It’s a massive city, but a fascinating one – and best enjoyed when it’s not MotoGP weekend. From the central market to the modern “city of arts and sciences” to museums to the nightlife, it’s a fabulous place to visit. Routes 48 & 49 Hotel tip Hotel Vista al Sol

OFF THE BIKE

ALCAÑIZ

The nearest town to the Motorland Aragon GP circuit, Alcañiz is dominated by the huge castle frowning down from the hill above the town. Try the local delicacy sausages and cakes while you’re there.

ARES DEL MAESTRE

One of the most dramatic villages imaginable, Ares del Maestre is on a spur of a mountain with a towering flat peak rising above it.

BELMONTE

Belmonte is a huge and well-preserved castle is a treat to tour at any time. On September 22-23 it’s hosting a medieval combat championship…

MOLINOS CRYSTAL CAVES

It can get hot in central Spain but it’s always cool in the caves. The Molinos Crystal Caves are dripping with spectacular crystals. Entry is €7.

MORELLA

Morella is one of our favourite towns in Spain and a great base (see route 59), it’s a fascinating historic gem of a place, still encircled by walls to this day and crowned with a massive castle.

SAGUNTO

History has left its mark on Sagunto — Hannibal kicked the Romans out on his way to Italy, El Cid temporarily evicted the Moors and even Napoleon had a crack at it. Lots to see and do, but the castle’s the star.

SANTO DOMINGO DE SILOS

Santo Domingo de Silos’s village cemetery may look familiar: Sergio Leone filmed the climax of The Good, The Bad and the Ugly here. Ironic, as it’s a beautiful, well-preserved place and a huge abbey.

SIGÜENZA

Siguenza is a fabulous historic town with a spectacular cathedral and well-preserved castle (now a particularly luxurious Parador).

OUR MOTORCYCLING ROUTES EAST OF MADRID

43 SORIA LAKES

Start/finish Soria
Distance 190 miles
Riding time 5.5 hours
This route runs from the sleepy little city of Soria through woods and past a number of lakes to Santo Domingo de Silos. It’s a real mix of riding with everything from broad, straight roads to narrow hairpins.
Route map, Download the GPX file

44 SORIA – MORE DEMANDA

Start/finish Soria
Distance 170 miles
Riding time 5.5 hours
Another run up into the beautiful Sierra de la Demanda – using some more demanding roads as well as the mostly broad, smooth ones. An ideal run for adventure bikes, with some spectacular views.
Route map, Download the GPX file

45 RAH-SIN, NOT RACIN’

Start/finish Albarracín
Distance 165 miles
Riding time 5 hours
One of the more popular routes in our original Guide to Spain was this ride around the city of Teruel – now adjusted to run from the charmingly authentic town of Albarracín, with some extra recommended roads engineered in to make the ride even better.
Route map, Download the GPX file

46 CUENCA LOOP 1

Start/finish Cuenca
Distance 210 miles
Riding time 6.5 hours
Cuenca is an absolute gem: it’s a small city that is packed with history. Better still, it’s surrounded by amazing roads. This route – which has been developed from another popular ride in the 2014 guide – swoops out through the Serranía de Cuenca national park and the rolling foothills beyond.
Route map, Download the GPX file

47 CUENCA LOOP 2

Start/finish Cuenca
Distance 210 miles
Riding time 6.5 hours
With so many great roads in the Serranía de Cuenca, one route isn’t enough… This one uses many of the “you should have ridden…” suggestions we received after the first guide was published.
Route map, Download the GPX file

48 VALENCIA ROUTE 1

Start/finish Valencia
Distance 210 miles
Riding time 6.5 hours
There’s some truly staggering riding to be found in the hills inland from Valencia. This first route uses mostly broad, flowing roads that curl across the rugged hillsides, between olive and orange groves.
Route map, Download the GPX file

49 VALENCIA ROUTE 2

Start/finish Valencia
Distance 170 miles
Riding time 6 hours
This alternative route through the wild hills inland from Valencia includes some of the more challenging single-lane roads as well as the broader, faster and more flowing ones. Must-ride road CV-580 Dos Aguas to Bicorp There are so many brilliant roads but this long, beautiful gorge-road south of Valencia is truly mind-blowing.
Route map, Download the GPX file

Please note: This page contains the route files for The RiDE Guide to motorcycle touring in Spain and Portugal which came free with RiDE magazine in July 2018. These website page are not regularly updated, so please check all critical information before you travel. All route files are in .gpx format. Garmin and BMW users can download the main file, which contains all the routes and our recommended hotels as separate waypoints. TomTom users can download the individual routes and use the Tyre software to convert them. For many routes we also have Google Map links. However, as Google Maps will not plot routes over seasonally closed high Alpine passes (such as those in the Pyrenees) when they’re shut, these may not work for every route all year round.