Is the beach over when summer comes to an end? Here are 15 reasons why the sea is healthy in autumn
Cycling holidays in Huelva: 10 unmissable cycling routes
Huelva is a place worth discovering. This province is home to many corners of unparalleled beauty just waiting to be enjoyed. The province’s inhabitants know only too well that it has high value natural areas. One of the best ways to enjoy them is on a cycling holiday, an outdoor activity that allows you to not only keep fit, but also to see spots that you would probably ordinarily not encounter.
Cycling in Huelva is one of the activities with more fans. The feeling of freedom, the physical benefits, being able to stop when you feel like it to delight in the landscape and enjoying the company of friends and family are just some of the advantages of cycling. All this has led cycling to become ever more fashionable. Furthermore, cycling in Huelva is an amazing way to travel and unlike what many might say, you don’t need to cycle for long periods or have the latest in technology to enjoy this adventure.
Cycling rules to bear in mind
While we all know it is quite different travelling by bike in the city, the countryside or on a main road, it is no less true that there are a series of rules and above all recommendations that we should all take into account when it comes to doing this sport safely for us and for those around us. Here are the most important ones:
- Fully respect the rules of the road. As soon as we get on our bike and are travelling on a public road, we are driving another vehicle, so we must respect all the traffic rules.
- Wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet, even though there are situations when it is not obligatory, it is highly advisable for safety reasons, since it protects us from any impacts that, even at low speeds, can be quite serious.
- Be seen. Whether during the day or at night, you must wear and use reflective and brightly coloured items. And if we are talking about nighttime, lights (front white light, rear red light, an approved vest, etc) are totally obligatory.
- Indicate your movements. Remember that bikes have no flashing lights, so it is very important to let the other drivers know (since you are another driver) of any movements you are going to make. Just sticking your arm out to the side where you are going to turn in advance and in a visible manner is enough. It is a small thing given how important it is to do it.
- Do not drink and ride a bike. As we have mentioned several times, you are another driver, so the permitted alcohol limit is the same as for everyone else (0.5 g/litre of blood, 0.25 mg/litre of air).
What you should check before you set off on your bike
- Handlebar: a loose handlebar can mean that our trip quickly goes downhill, since we may lurch from one side to the other while pedalling, making us focus much more on controlling the bike rather than cycling at a constant rhythm.
- Gears: poorly adjusted gears are annoying when we are cycling all day, so it is extremely important to check them before you set off to make sure there are no sudden gear shifts.
- Tyre pressure: just as it is important to check car tyre pressure when we travel, we also need to do this when we travel by bike.
- Helmet: Before you start each route, check your helmet to make sure it fits properly.
ROUTES
After reading the recommendations that you need to bear in mind before starting your route, here is a selection of 10 routes for all tastes and levels to inspire you to discover Huelva in general and El Rompido and its surroundings in particular.
Islantilla – El Rompido
This 48-mile cycling route designed for mountain bikes starts in Islantilla and runs along rural paths near places as emblematic as El Terrón, Lepe, Cartaya and El Rompido. To do this route, you do not need to be really fit, but you do need some experience, since it is quite long.
Hotel Fuerte El Rompido – Huelva
While this route is 31 miles long, it is very accessible to do slowly since it is suitable for all levels. It starts at the Hotel Fuerte el Rompido and allows you to enjoy areas as beautiful as El Odiel Salt Marshes.
Islantilla – Río Piedras
This 37-mile route starts in Islantilla and runs along several sections of the River Piedras, arriving at the river’s reservoir. It is worth mentioning that it passes by the Puente de La Tavirona (old bridge of the railway line that connected Huelva with Ayamonte).
Islantilla – Sendero Litoral – Lepe
This route is one of the shortest of them all at just 14.3 miles. It starts in Islantilla and arrives at Lepe via a route that visits places like Playa de Nueva Umbría and Puerto del Terrón. We recommend you make a mandatory stop so that you can enjoy views like the River Piedras Salt Marshes Natural Site and Flecha del Rompido.
Aljaraque- Portil – El Rompido – Río Piedras
Another relatively short route is this one that runs between Aljaraque and the River Piedras. It is an 18-mile circuit that is fairly simple and very enjoyable, although we do advise that when you pass through Caño de la Culata you get off the bike and do this section on foot.
Ruta El Portil – Pinar – El Rompido
Now let’s talk about a route around 22 miles long that crosses the pine forest and arrives at the River Piedras Salt Marshes. If you opt for this route, you will enjoy stunning landscapes that will make quite an impression.
El Rompido – Pinares de Cartaya – Mirador Flecha del Rompido
This route is the shortest of all the ones we recommend at just under 10 miles long. It starts at the Hotel Fuerte El Rompido itself and we have to cycle in the direction of the petrol station located at the El Rompido exit, continue along Cañada de Velasco that will take us through the pine forests to Malpica, where the path transforms into a trail until it reaches El Portil. After a brief urban tour, we arrive at the viewpoint of the River Piedras Salt Marshes Natural Site and Flecha del Rompido.
Islantilla – Final playa Flecha del Rompido
Now let’s talk about an 18.6 miles route which is one of the most particular ones we will show here, since it can only be completed at low tide, which is when you can cycle to the end, except in one section where you have to get off your bike since the sand is too soft. Over time you will also be able to confirm that the beach gets bigger each year, so it is a route that will be longer each year (one year by up to 328 ft). When you finish this route you must wash your bike thoroughly so that its components do not get ruined, since sand mixed with seawater can erode your bike.
El Rompido – San Bartolomé de la Torre – Aljaraque – Portil Circular Route
A very easy main road cycling route, even if it is almost 50 miles long. It is ideal for starting the season, and since it is a figure of eight, it can be shortened in the second stage through Cartaya. Another option is to do it on two separate occasions. It crosses pine farming fields and ends parallel to the coast, from where you can enjoy the amazing views of Flecha del Rompido.
El Rompido – Isla Cristina Circular Route
This 50 mile route starts at El Rompido and runs in the direction of Cartaya. We will cross the River Piedras Natural Site and return to the coast via Lepe in order to return again via the motorway to Cartaya and El Rompido.
Ultimately, Huelva province is an ideal place to get into cycling, since its routes are pretty, comfortable, doable at all levels and, above all, fun, which is what doing sport is all about.
Huelva: 22 beautiful villages with a special charm
WHERE TO STAY
Fuerte Hoteles is the best accommodation option if you decide to take a cycling tour of Huelva province. The Hotel Fuerte El Rompido is one of the most beautiful hotels in the area due to its spectacular location on a hill that dominates the entire River Piedras Natural Site, in addition to an Andalusian aesthetic architecture that is in harmony with its environment. An ideal spot for relaxation and sport surrounded by nature.
