Leaving Montgó… and Cycling to Xàbia
In the last 24/7 issue, we told you about cycling up and around the magical mountain of Montgó in Denía. Following on from here, we lead you to Xàbia (Jàvea) and there are two options, the short, hard route or a longer, easier one. Both are equally pretty, in their own ways. First, the hard way. You can get down from the mountain on the Colonia road, taking the Assagador de Santa Lluçia, then the Camí de Gamba until you come to the Camí Vell Alt from Denia to Xàbia. Once you’re on this, cycle until you come to the CV 736, the Denia to Xàbia road that runs along the final length of Montgó, stretching into the sea and turning into the headland, the Cabo de Sant Antoni. It’s a curvy ascent – take it up to the top, and once you’re there it’s worth going up to the cape of the headland along a path that is still a part of the natural park of Montgó.
There are amazing views, and with Moorish ruins, too, it’s worth taking some time here to get off your bike and have a little walk around. On the way to the cape, turn right once you pass the recreational area; this little road will take you close to these old towers, with an incredible view above Xàbia and the pretty bay. Afterwards, cycle back down towards Xàbia discovering the incompatible blue bay that skirts the town. With this descent from Montgó, you arrive in the pretty town centre of Xàbia, very close to the church and the high street (Carrer Major).
There is also the other way. From Montgó, go down towards La Pedrera from the Colonia road, and from La Pedrera head towards Denia on the Camí de Coll de Pous. When the road comes to an end, look for the Camí del Saladar that runs into the CV 735, or carretera de La Xara. La Xara is a little village which you’ll come to on your right, and continuing ahead, we will circumvent El Montgó on the Xàbia side. As soon as Xara is behind you, you enter a beautiful part of the journey, with the natural park to your left, in an area totally unspoilt by construction.
More classic Mediterranean countryside, with some orange groves to your right, and pines and matorrales, indigenous bushes, to your left. The pines then give way to carob trees and almond trees, with unforgettable views all the way. Further on, on the right, is Jesús Pobre, a small village in the outskirts of the mountain, and the road continues towards Xàbia, now further from mountain, giving us a different view of Montgó itself. Houses start to pop up along the side of the road, which means you are almost in Xàbia. Once you are in the town, it is worth visiting the Carrer Major and the surrounding streets, the church, and then going towards the sea to have a look at the port with its mixture of fishing boats unloading their catch alongside sailboats, and then yachts, which have their own separate port. Both are protected by the final part of the headland, el Cabo de Sant Antoni, which gives it its special charm. In the next 24/7 issue, we’ll cycle in the south area of Xàbia, discovering new landscapes.
Orange Bikes
Editor Manuel Aguilar,1
Valencia 46001
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