Cycling Sierra Nevada | Trevelez, Sierra de Lujar and Goat’s Path Climbs

In this eleventh episode I take a short winter break in late February to Sierra Nevada and tackle three iconic cycling climbs.

The Climbs
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Trevelez (https://www.sierranevada.cc/andalucia/climbs/Trevelez)
Trevelez, resting at 1,486 metres above sea level, is one of the highest villages in Spain. The village is famous for the quality of its air-cured Iberian hams. Because of the cooler climate- due to the altitude and the village’s position within a gorge; conditions for curing ham are ideal. This approach from Órgiva is 34km in length. While long, Órgiva to Trevelez is not a hard road by any means. Gradients are relaxed the whole way up, not to mention the frequent sections of flat or downhill which provide excellent recovery. Once you find your rhythm you can really relax and take in the views of the valley floor below you.

Sierra de Lújar (https://www.sierranevada.cc/andalucia/climbs/sierra-de-lujar)
You can approach Sierra Lujar from a number of directions, such as from Orgiva or Castell de Ferro, but the approach coming from the Castell de Ferro stunning. This 28.7 km climb, averaging 6%, was a feature in Roadtripping Sierra Nevada, where Szymon beautifully described it: “There is one place here that I keep thinking about — the antennas at the top of Sierra de Lujar. I haven’t spotted a road leading to them, so we haven’t yet made an approach. I ask locals how to get to them but they’re not sure if it is possible at all by car, let alone by bike. It seems that nobody goes there, but surely there must at least be an access path leading to them. Eventually we find an old, narrow road full of holes. Looks like an adventure, and a challenging one at that.”

The Goat’s Path (https://www.sierranevada.cc/andalucia/climbs/carratera-de-la-cabra)
This is probably the most spectacular climb in the area. With 36 kilometres of steady gradient, the climb tops out at 1,358 meters above sea level. This is the old road from the coast to Granada city, locally named La Carretera de la Cabra or The Goat’s Path. In the past, the road was used by mule drivers taking fish from the coast to the markets in Granada city, taking almost two days and traversing the mountain at night to avoid the daytime sun.

Routes on Strava
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Trevelez (https://www.strava.com/activities/8708385588)
Sierra de Lújar (https://www.strava.com/activities/8712755764)
The Goat’s Path (https://www.strava.com/activities/8723655864)

CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
0:48 Trevelez Climb
4:03 Sierra de Lujar Climb
8:57 The Goat’s Path Climb

good afternoon yes it’s sunny yes I’m driving on the wrong side of the road so that means I’m somewhere different yes I’m in Spain I’m in the Sierra Nevada uh favored by the pros for the big climbs and I’m going to spend a week’s worth of cycling here I made the the long journey down from Valencia uh last night about 500k no problem there at all enjoyed that drive and today is all about the first round and here’s the thing I’ve not done any cycling not only road bike anyway since uh my trips from Geneva to nice in the summer so this is going to be interesting but anyway I’m sure I’ll be fine so uh let’s get up to the start and then I’ll check in once I get going I’m about 10 minutes into this ride and it’s up up up all the way 1500 meters up over 35k to a village Cole trevally apologies to any Spanish speakers out there anybody who’s watched any of my videos will know that my pronunciation is shocking whether it’s Scottish French or Spanish anyway this is one of the Apparently one of the highest villages in in Spain it’s a long climb up 35k with a 1500 meters of ascent then I’ve got a big descent back down and a few bumps that are back at the start so a good start to the week but wow these views are just amazing amazing [Music] big climb coming up big climb coming up [Music] wow what a climb epic epic [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Ty 76 kilometers something 1700 meters of of ascent most of that being that big first climb up to up to the Village it would have been an amazing descent coming down into this town but unfortunately the wind was crazy it really really crosswind I think it was ripping through the valley and it’s something I had to practically walk down I’ve never cycled in wind like that before I’ll see what the weather’s like it might be that the wind just picks up in the afternoon and if so I’ll probably have to go out earlier rather than in the afternoon but anyway super route really enjoyed this I’m gonna get back and I’ll get some to it and then we’ll we’ll go again tomorrow okay till next time a place called Castel de foro I think and today I’m going to climb up to Sierra delicious some will do some big um radio mass or something at the top of this it’s a really cheeky climb it’s 2 000 meters from sea level um about 30 kilometers so just one big long slog and yesterday was tough so this is going to be even more difficult but I’ve got an earlier start today which is which is positive I’m hoping for more favorable wind conditions because it was a bit rough uh descending down yesterday anyway it’s lovely here on the coast so I’m just going to jump on the back and stuff and I’ll check in with you when I’m on the way well we’re off my wrong turning straight out from the car totally wrong direction oh I suppose it gave me a an excuse just to warm up and not go straight into it because it’s straight out straight up as usual here what if we’ve got two garment scene 2051 meters 30 kilometers to the top that’s a big long climb so well you can see where we’re going up there somewhere probably that Village just in the outskirts now I’m just going to take it easy have a few stops on the way up and kind of enjoy it lovely day warm warm already so let’s get going thank you [Music] a question my sanity for that first thousand meters it was really tough but holy smokes wow you get all this high and you get these views it’s well worth it this is the rough track it’s 5K to the to lose your all the the actual telecommunications Towers at the top up there so I’m just going to take my time up here switch backs about 500 meters to go to the summit this is a road I could have done with being on my gravel bike wow oh [Music] thank you [Music] thank you so that’s me uh that’s me back now I think that’s that was about 70k in about 2 000 meters of elevation obviously is that extra 600 meters to get actually up to the radio towers on that rough Gravely track and should have done it yeah I know me I had white Ties on they were tubeless I would like to have done it on skinny tires but the view up there was awesome another great climb it just climbs here it’s great for training but really stuff it’s either up or down the ascent was amazing and The Descent was even better so that was gone back at the car now so I’m going to go back and finish a lot earlier then um yesterday so I’m gonna just chill out for the rest of the day and I’ll decide whether I’m going back out tomorrow or have a rest day or or what but anyway we’ll see what happens next and I’ll catch you next time good morning good morning last day here in the Sierra Nevada uh heading back to Valencia this afternoon so I’m going to squeeze in one last a big climb this morning gonna do the the goats path it’s supposed to be one of the most scenic routes available it’s the the old road that goes to Granada I think it’s a another I think it’s 30k again another 30k climate sets the the this scent isn’t as much I think it’s about 13 or 1400 earliest start and lovely Sunrise clear sky two reasons for that one so I can set off early but B to avoid the heat because it was brutal the other day but anyway looking forward to this one and then it’s uh back to reality so let’s do it so we’re on our way I’m probably about 10K in it’s been a nice start actually through the town center it’s a bit busy but got through it’s quieting down now and it’s just been climbing aggressively with lots of little downhill bits as well so nice warm up a little bit different the other previous rides that were just full on straight out so just working my way up here and uh I’ll look forward to getting a bit of high I’ve got my wind jacket on but it’s uh definitely warming up now the sun’s popped up so this will be coming off soon but anyway I’m gonna push on a bit higher and I’ll get some shots and I’ll check in later [Music] [Music] at least halfway up now wow wow wow the views are unbelievable [Music] [Music] so I’ve made it I’m at the top well I think it’s the top definitely starting going back downhill now so it’s time to turn it around and have some fun there is a couple of kicks on the way down unfortunately that I’m gonna have to play with nothing major but this is gonna be good [Music] [Music] [Music] so that’s me done I’m down now um that was the best ride at the three then it was it was still it was still a 30k ride but it wasn’t as um steep as any of the other ones the grade was a lot less and The Descent was lovely with just the swinging hair pins and the views dropping down absolutely amazing so I’m back now and I’m gonna head up to Valencia and then travel back to to Edinburgh so a really good four days down here in the Syrian Sierra Nevada three great bike climbs and um and a super trail run as well it’s a place that definitely be interesting coming back again and doing some more uh cycle no doubt about that there’s loads of climbs around there and the hiking’s amazing as well but anyway can’t complain it’s snowing back home it’s redder here so let’s get back to reality let’s catch you later [Music]