directions_bike by Chris Riches -

Tamariu to Cala Llevadó

Having spent 2 nights in Tamariu, it was time to cycle further down the Costa Brava towards Barcelona. Travelling south the landscape became more green, then I passed through the built up town of Palamós, with it’s long beach overlooked by high rise buildings. Later, the resort of Platja D’Aro was similar, with an array of bars and restaurants on the seafront and then several residential blocks behind the main promenade.

The second half of the route was mainly inland – I followed the cycling route and then joined a minor road which was adjacent to the motorway. There was a stretch of path with Eucalyptus trees either side of it and the orange coloured earth was similar to that found in Australia.

Looking at the vertical ascent beforehand, I knew there would be some substantial climbs. Turning back towards the coast meant going over some hills and some of the highest terrain that I had encountered so far outside of the Pyrenees / border regions. There were some good views from the highest section at around 800 feet of the hills to the north, and then a long descent back down towards Tossa de Mar.

After briefly stopping in Tossa de Mar, with it’s fortified medieval town, I arrived at the steeply sloping campsite at Cala Llevadó, which overlooked the Mediterranean and several beaches below.

Distance: 41 miles

Maximum temperature: 24 degrees C

Tamariu

Palamós

Eucalyptus near Llagostera

Cala Llorell

directions_bike by Chris Riches -

Cala Llevadó to Barcelona

Really enjoyed the tranquility of Cala Llevedó which was an extremely relaxing location. It was situated upon a hillside and some of the construction of the surrounding buildings perched on the cliffs appeared to defy gravity. Someone pointed out the bats in the evening flying amongst the trees, and the beaches at the bottom of the cliffs were unspoilt with clear water for snorkelling with many fish. The beach shelved quite steeply and there was a noticeable current but it was possible to swim easily, and the water was pleasantly warm.

On the journey to Barcelona I passed through several resorts including Lloret de Mar, Calella and Mataró. I only stopped briefly at a few and there was a train line running alongside the beach in the latter part of the route. Often a graffitied train passed by with a loud rumble.

It was hard to ignore the politics of the area when the yellow ribbon, a symbol used by Catalan independence supporters to demand freedom for Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez, couldn’t be missed: it was often seen painted on the road, and was attached to fences and railings for miles, especially in Vilassar de Mar. Around Lloret de Mar, the Spanish flag was occasionally displayed in people’s windows / balconies.

After El Masnou, the scenery became much more built up and it became obvious I was entering the Barcelona area as some very tall buildings appeared on the horizon. The beach to the left continued to look pleasant and surprisingly empty from what I could see.

Around Montgat and Badalona some of the buildings started to look much older and more decorative. There was a good cycle path and large pedestrian areas that meant entering the city by bike was easier than I was expecting, and overall an easterly tailwind was welcomed.

Distance: 52 miles

Maximum temperature: 27 degrees

Cala Llorell

Barcelona