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Lourinha – Ventosa

96 km road cycling loop1,443 m climbing4½–6 hoursGPX

Atalaia, Lisbon, Portugal · Road

A mountainous 96 km road cycling loop from Atalaia, Lisbon through Lourinhã, Avenal and Cortegana, with 1,443 m of climbing over Vilar climb (324 m) and Montejunto. Most of it (53.9 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane. There is a 23 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 24–46).

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At a glance

Best for
Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
95.9 km
Loop
Elevation gain
1,443 m
15 m per km
Riding time
4½–6 hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Mostly paved
96% paved · 3% unpaved · 1% no data
Traffic
Mostly main roads
53.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane
Food & water
Longest gap 23 km
30 cafés and restaurants · 12 shops · 10 water points · 7 petrol stations · 2 public toilets
Best months
May to Sep
Atalaia climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Atalaia

Map and elevation profile

On the road: Lourinha – Ventosa, Atalaia

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,443 m
Distance
96 km
0200400600800m0 km2040608096 km651 m · highest, at 42.8 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Atalaia
  2. Lourinhãkm 3
  3. Vilar climb (324 m)km 24
  4. Avenalkm 25
  5. Montejuntokm 29
  6. Corteganakm 54
  7. Arneiro climbkm 59
  8. Casais Brancoskm 62
  9. Abrunheirakm 70
  10. Atalaiakm 96

Starting from Atalaia, the route passes through Lourinhã at 2.5km and travels mainly on 53.8km of main roads without cycle lanes, including parts of EN 115 and EN 361-1. The profile includes substantial climbing, especially after 23.6km, with a 2.5km climb gaining 170m at an average of 6.8%, max 14.8%. Another long climb of 11.4km begins at 29.1km, gaining 565m and reaching 652m elevation near Montejunto at 40.5km.

After cresting the highest point, the route descends for nearly 4km and continues through many small places including Vila Verde dos Francos at 32.6km and Maxial at 67.5km. Additional climbs include a 3.6km section starting at 59km with 180m gain, and several smaller climbs under 3km each near the end. The surface is 96% paved, with minor gravel and track sections. Food and drink options cluster early and late on the ride, with the longest stretch without café, shop or water lasting 22.6km between km 23.5 and 46.1. Bailout points with railway stations are at 17.9km and 71.4km.

Why ride this route?

  • The most climbing per kilometre of the 10 rides from Atalaia: 15 m per km.
  • Climbs Vilar climb (324 m) (3 km at 8 %), Montejunto (11.3 km at 5 %) and the Arneiro climb (3.6 km at 5 %).
  • Tops out at 652 m, 40.5 km in.

Highlights

  • Climb to Montejunto peak at 652m
  • Villages of Vila Verde dos Francos and Maxial
  • Longest descent of 3.9km dropping 247m
  • Several cafés and restaurants along the route

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Lourinhã 2.5 km
  2. Nadrupe 5.1 km
  3. Miragaia 6.6 km
  4. Ribeira de Palheiros 10.5 km
  5. Campelos 11.9 km
  6. Outeiro da Cabeça 17.7 km
  7. Vilar 23.6 km
  8. Avenal 25.2 km
  9. Vila Verde dos Francos 32.6 km
  10. Casais do Chorão 35.2 km
  11. Arieiro 42.1 km
  12. Portela 50.6 km
  13. Casais de Portela 50.9 km
  14. Ventosa 53 km
  15. Cortegana 54.3 km
  16. Penusinhos 54.6 km
  17. Freixial de Cima 55.6 km
  18. Merceana 57.5 km
  19. Arneiro 58.8 km
  20. Paiol 59.7 km
  21. Forno da Telha 60.3 km
  22. Casais Brancos 61.7 km
  23. Ereira 63.4 km
  24. Vila Seca 64.4 km
  25. Folgorosa 65.2 km
  26. Casais de Santo António 65.8 km
  27. Maxial 67.5 km
  28. Ermegeira 69.1 km
  29. Abrunheira 70.4 km
  30. Ramalhal 73.2 km
  31. Vila Facaia 76.1 km
  32. Pregança do Mar 84.4 km
  33. Barrocas 84.8 km
  34. Capelas 85.4 km
  35. Matas 86.2 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideFull ascentTop on this ride
Unnamed climb9 km2.8 km · 84 m · 3 % · max 5.3 %—108 m
Vilar climb (324 m)23.6 km2.5 km · 170 m · 6.8 % · max 14.8 %3 km · 242 m · 8 %251 m
Montejunto29.1 km11.4 km · 565 m · 5 % · steepest 500 m 8.2 %11.3 km · 565 m · 5 %652 m
Arneiro climb59 km3.6 km · 180 m · 5 % · max 9.6 %3.6 km · 180 m · 5 %312 m
Unnamed climb79.5 km2.1 km · 54 m · 2.5 % · max 4 %—115 m
Unnamed climb82.8 km1.9 km · 50 m · 2.7 % · max 4.7 %—149 m
Unnamed climb89 km1.9 km · 80 m · 4.2 % · max 8.1 %—94 m

High point 652 m at 40.5 km; low point 9 m. Passes beneath Outeiro da Cabeça, Cabeça Gorda, Montejunto.

On this ride: the part this route climbs, cut from its own elevation profile. Full ascent: the whole named climb, measured the same way on every ride that uses it (its climb page).

A point maximum far steeper than the climb’s average is usually an elevation-data spike, so the steepest 500 m of the profile is shown instead (or nothing, where the profile is too coarse).

Vilar climb (324 m) · full ascent, starts at 23.6 km

3 km at 8% · 242 m
100150200250300m14%0 km122.8 km324 msteepest 14.3%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Montejunto · full ascent, starts at 29.1 km

11.3 km at 5% · 565 m
100200300400500600m5.4%4.0%4.0%7.8%7.9%5.5%5.1%5.6%0 km1234567891011.1 km652 msteepest 7.9%

Arneiro climb · full ascent, starts at 58.9 km

3.6 km at 5% · 180 m
150200250300m8.6%6.4%0 km1233.6 km312 msteepest 8.6%

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

This is not a cycle-track route: 56% is on main roads without a cycle lane. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
59% main road · 26% minor road · 11% quiet street · 2% track · 3% other roads and tracks
Main roads
53.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Main roads used
EN 115 (13 km), EN 361-1 (10 km), Rua de Montejunto (6 km), EN 361 (4 km)
Surface
Predominantly paved: 96% is mapped as paved, 3% as unpaved or gravel.
Gradient
29% climbing · 28% descending · 43% flat
Steep sections
9.5 km over 5% · 2.9 km over 8% · 1.5 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 11.7% at 26.4 km
Longest descent
3.9 km from 45.2 km, dropping 247 m

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 23 km, from km 24 to 46. Along the route: 30 cafés and restaurants, 12 shops, 10 water points, 7 petrol stations and 2 public toilets.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 2.1 kmLOURICOOP · petrol station · 30 m off route
  2. 2.3 kmVilla Park · café · 90 m off route
  3. 2.7 kmDrinking water · 220 m off route
  4. 11.8 kmAdega da Vila · café · on the route
  5. 11.9 kmAmanhecer - Minimercado Zeca · convenience store · 40 m off route
  6. 17.7 kmCafé Central · café · 240 m off route
  7. 23.5 kmPrincesa de Alcântara · restaurant · 50 m off route
  8. 48.9 kmDrinking water · on the route
  9. 57.5 kmFrutaKores · café · 100 m off route
  10. 57.5 kmDrinking water · 150 m off route
  11. 57.5 kmPharmacy · on the route
  12. 58.2 kmIntermarché · petrol station · 80 m off route
  13. 63.2 kmWash House · drinking water · 110 m off route
  14. 67.3 kmDrinking water · on the route
  15. 75.9 kmK Bar · café · 60 m off route
  16. 75.9 kmMinimercado Santos · convenience store · 90 m off route
  17. 82.4 kmO Teimoso · restaurant · 140 m off route
  18. 88.5 kmDouble AM · café · 270 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 17.9 km — Outeiro (station), 280 m off route
  • 71.4 km — Ramalhal (station), 120 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 2.2 km — Baloiço adaptado da Lourinhã (attraction)
  • 35.2 km — Moinho de Avis (attraction)
  • 49.1 km — Fonte Medieval de Vila Verde dos Francos (attraction)
  • 68.7 km — Gruta da Ermejeira (archaeological site)

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 22.6 km after 23.5 km
  • 53.9 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • Roads with speed limits 80 km/h or higher
  • Gravel or unpaved sections 3%

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

1 photograph from the road

About this route

Date ridden
Route line
Built from a GPS recording of the ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Atalaia (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

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