Road · Portugal
Lourinha – Caldas da Rainha via Lourinhã
A rolling 75 km road cycling loop from Atalaia, Lisbon through Seixal, Geraldes and Serra d'El-Rei, with 584 m of climbing. Most of it (55.1 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 7.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 75.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 584 m
- Riding time
- 3–4 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- May to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Atalaia
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 584 m
- 75 km
Route description
- Atalaia
- Seixal
- Geraldes
- Serra d'El-Rei
- A-da-Gorda
- Casal do Zambujeiro
- Roliça
- Gamelas
- Moita dos Ferreiros
- Atalaia
The route starts at Atalaia and heads through several places including Seixal, Alto Veríssimo, Atouguia da Baleia, and Gaeiras before reaching Caldas da Rainha at 36.6 km. It then continues through Óbidos, Bombarral, and Lourinhã before returning to Atalaia. The route totals 75.3 km and involves 584 m of elevation gain with a highest point at 129 m near 19 km and a lowest at 4 m near 3.4 km.
Climbing is spread in four main segments: a 3.9 km climb from 4 km rising 104 m with an average gradient of 2.6%, a 2.3 km climb from 14.9 km gaining 66 m at 2.9%, a 2 km climb from 57.2 km with 50 m gain at 2.5%, and a final climb of 1.7 km from 72 km climbing 85 m at 5% average. The longest descent is 3.3 km dropping 72 m from just over 8 km. The road surface is 97% paved, with some gravel or unpaved sections totaling 2%. The ride includes 48 km on main roads, 11.3 km on minor roads, plus stretches on major roads, quiet streets, tracks, and paths. There are 55.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane and 7.3 km on roads with an 80 km/h speed limit.
Food and drink options are available around 6 km, 24 km, 31 km, 36 km, 43 km, 47 km, 55 km, 65 km, and 72 km. Shops and supermarkets are found at 9 km, 23 km, 29 km, 44 km, 55 km, and 71 km. Toilets and drinking water points are scattered mostly near towns. Bailout points with halts or stations exist at 27, 37, 48, and 55 km. The longest stretch without access to café, shop, or water runs for 14.5 km between 8.9 and 23.4 km.
Highlights
- Loop ride around Atalaia in Lisbon region
- Climb to 129 m near Serra d'El-Rei
- Through Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos
- Longest descent 3.3 km dropping 72 m
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 4 km | 3.9 km · 104 m · 2.6 % · max 4.4 % | 111 m |
| Unnamed climb | 14.9 km | 2.3 km · 66 m · 2.9 % · max 5 % | 115 m |
| Unnamed climb | 57.2 km | 2 km · 50 m · 2.5 % · max 2.9 % | 122 m |
| Unnamed climb | 72 km | 1.7 km · 85 m · 5 % · max 8.2 % | 94 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 73% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 7.3 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 65% main road · 15% minor road · 9% major road · 6% quiet street · 5% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 55.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 7.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 1.1 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- EN 8 (18 km), EN 361 (13 km), EN 247 (8 km), EN 114 (8 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 23% climbing · 21% descending · 56% flat
- Steep sections
- 1 km over 5% · 0.3 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 7.9% at 74.1 km
- Longest descent
- 3.3 km from 8.6 km, dropping 72 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 111 cafés and restaurants, 16 shops, 11 water points, 8 petrol stations and 6 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 5.9 kmRestaurante O Moleiro · restaurant · 50 m off route
- 8.9 kmConvenience store · 70 m off route
- 23.4 kmConvenience store · 30 m off route
- 24.2 kmAlcaidaria-Mor · restaurant · 130 m off route
- 28.9 kmPingo Doce · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 30.7 kmOs Filipes · café · 30 m off route
- 33 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 42.2 kmFonte · drinking water · 90 m off route
- 43.2 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 43.6 kmPrio · petrol station · on the route
- 44 kmContinente Bom Dia · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 54.7 kmDrinking water · 200 m off route
- 55 kmCafé Portugal · bakery · on the route
- 61.3 kmGalp · petrol station · on the route
- 62.1 kmFarmácia Correia Mendes · pharmacy · 30 m off route
- 71.3 kmMercado Municipal da Lourinhã · market · 70 m off route
- 71.3 kmFarmácia Quintans · pharmacy · 290 m off route
- 71.6 kmVilla Park · café · 80 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 27.2 km — Dagorda - Peniche (halt), 110 m off route
- 36.6 km — Caldas da Rainha (station), 790 m off route
- 48.1 km — São Mamede (station), 100 m off route
- 55 km — Bombarral (station), 510 m off route
Worth a stop
- 25 km — Baloiço na Serra da Amoreira (attraction)
- 29.8 km — Miradouro Jogo da Bola (viewpoint)
- 43.2 km — Miradouro da Porta da Vila (viewpoint)
- 71.6 km — Baloiço adaptado da Lourinhã (attraction)
Know before you go
- 14.5 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 8.9 km
- 55.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 7.3 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limit
- 2% gravel or unpaved sections
