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Atouguia da Baleia – Alcoentre via Campelos

135 km road cycling loop1,446 m climbing5–7 hoursGPX

Atouguia da Baleia, Leiria, Portugal · Road

A hilly 135 km road cycling loop from Atouguia da Baleia, Leiria through Serra d'El-Rei, Seixal and Alcoentre, with 1,446 m of climbing over Vilar climb (540 m). Most of it (99.5 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 7.5 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.

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At a glance

Best for
Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
135.3 km
Loop
Elevation gain
1,446 m
11 m per km
Riding time
5–7 hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Mostly paved
95% paved · 4% unpaved · 1% no data
Traffic
Mostly main roads
99.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 7.5 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more · 2.7 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water
Regular
129 cafés and restaurants · 38 shops · 12 water points · 13 petrol stations · 7 public toilets · 4 bike shops
Best months
May to Sep
Atouguia da Baleia climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Atouguia da Baleia

Map and elevation profile

On the road: Atouguia da Baleia – Alcoentre via Campelos, Atouguia da Baleia

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,446 m
Distance
135 km
0200400600m0 km50100135 km539 m · highest, at 56.4 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Atouguia da Baleia
  2. Serra d'El-Reikm 6
  3. Seixalkm 21
  4. Vilarkm 45
  5. Vilar climb (540 m)km 45
  6. Alcoentrekm 70
  7. Mata de Baixokm 93
  8. Ribeira dos Ameaiskm 101
  9. Caldas da Rainhakm 109
  10. Atouguia da Baleiakm 135

This 135.3 km loop route starts and finishes at Atouguia da Baleia. Early climbs include a 1.8 km ascent at 2.2% average gradient gaining 40 m, followed by a 3 km climb at 2.3% with 68 m gain near km 12.8. Another climb from km 29.8 is 3 km at 2.8%, with a max gradient of 7.2% and 84 m gain. The major climb begins at km 44.8, lasting 8.9 km, averaging 5.1% and reaching a height of 538 m. Other climbing parts are smaller but include a 4 km ascent at 3% near km 85 and shorter climbs later in the route. The highest point lies around 53.7 km. The route features 95% paved surfaces, 76% on main roads and 9% on quiet streets. There are 99.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes, and 7.5 km are on roads with speed limits over 80 km/h.

The route passes through many places including Serra d'El-Rei, Lourinhã, Campelos, Vilar, Caldas da Rainha, and others. Cafés are available at km 6.3, 11.5, 23.5, 33.1, 61.3, 80.7, 96.8, 108.9, and 120.3 with shops and supermarkets along the way, notably in Lourinhã and Caldas da Rainha. There are bike shops near the start and at 80.7 km, and two railway stations at 39 km and 109.7 km offer bailout points. The longest stretch without café, shop or water is 10.4 km from km 70.3 to 80.7. Water taps and springs are available at multiple points including km 2 and 58.1. Toilets can be found near km 22.1 and 108.9.

The profile features 23% climbing and 23% descending with 54% flat sections. Steep gradients over 5% span 5.5 km with short sections over 8%. The steepest 500 m section reaches 8% gradient near 54.6 km, descending 325 m over 4.8 km starting just after 56.4 km. Peaks near the road include Outeiro da Cabeça (180 m) and Cabeça Gorda (165 m) around km 39 to 42.

Why ride this route?

  • Climbs Vilar climb (540 m) (9 km at 5.1 %).
  • Tops out at 538 m, 53.7 km in.

Highlights

  • Climb to 538 m near km 53.7
  • Pass through Lourinhã at 23 km
  • Longest climb 8.9 km at 5.1% avg
  • Peaks Outeiro da Cabeça and Cabeça Gorda near km 40

Along the route

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

Places passed

  1. Serra d'El-Rei 6.3 km
  2. Coimbrã 10.3 km
  3. Atouguia da Baleia 11.2 km
  4. Geraldes 14.1 km
  5. Alto Veríssimo 15.8 km
  6. Alto Foz 16.3 km
  7. Casal da Murta 18.9 km
  8. Seixal 20.6 km
  9. Lourinhã 23 km
  10. Nadrupe 26 km
  11. Miragaia 27.9 km
  12. Ribeira de Palheiros 31.8 km
  13. Campelos 33.1 km
  14. Outeiro da Cabeça 39 km
  15. Vilar 44.5 km
  16. Vila Verde dos Francos 48.4 km
  17. Casais do Chorão 50.9 km
  18. Arieiro 54.7 km
  19. Pragança 58.1 km
  20. Cercal 65.7 km
  21. Alcoentre 70.3 km
  22. Asseiceira 80.7 km
  23. Rio Maior 85.3 km
  24. Freiria 86.8 km
  25. Senta 88.3 km
  26. Alto da Serra 88.8 km
  27. Casalinho 93 km
  28. Mata de Baixo 93.4 km
  29. Venda da Costa 94.3 km
  30. Comeira 94.9 km
  31. Almofala 97.6 km
  32. Calçada 97.6 km
  33. Paraíso 99.9 km
  34. Ribeira dos Ameais 100.7 km
  35. Zambujal 101.5 km
  36. Casal dos Carvalhos 102 km
  37. Malasia 103.1 km
  38. Imaginário 106 km
  39. Crocha 107.5 km
  40. Nossa Senhora do Pópulo 107.8 km
  41. Caldas da Rainha 108.6 km
  42. Salgueirinha 111.1 km
  43. Bairro Nossa Senhora da Luz 112.2 km
  44. Trás do Outeiro 113.3 km
  45. Carregal 114.4 km
  46. Santa Rufina 114.9 km
  47. Casais do Moinho da Praia 126 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 climb0.2 km1.8 km · 40 m · 2.2 % · max 3.9 %—78 m
Unnamed climb12.8 km3 km · 68 m · 2.3 % · max 3 %—103 m
Unnamed climb29.8 km3 km · 84 m · 2.8 % · max 7.2 %—107 m
Vilar climb (540 m)44.8 km8.9 km · 457 m · 5.1 % · max 10.1 %9 km · 459 m · 5.1 %538 m
Unnamed climb85.3 km4 km · 123 m · 3 % · max 5.5 %—186 m
Unnamed climb105.7 km1.8 km · 46 m · 2.6 % · max 5.3 %—127 m
Unnamed climb120.5 km2 km · 62 m · 3.1 % · max 6.8 %—94 m

High point 538 m at 53.7 km; low point 2 m. Passes beneath Outeiro da Cabeça, Cabeça Gorda.

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).

Vilar climb (540 m) · full ascent, starts at 44.7 km

9 km at 5.1% · 459 m
100200300400500m2.8%6.7%2.2%6.6%10%6.6%0 km123456789.0 km540 msteepest 10.5%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

This is not a cycle-track route: 74% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 7.5 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
76% main road · 9% quiet street · 5% minor road · 3% path · 7% other roads and tracks
Main roads
99.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
7.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
2.7 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
EN 1 (14 km), EN 361-1 (10 km), EN 247 (9 km), EM 603 (7 km)
Surface
Predominantly paved: 95% is mapped as paved, 4% as unpaved or gravel.
Gradient
23% climbing · 23% descending · 54% flat
Steep sections
5.5 km over 5% · 0.4 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 8% at 54.6 km
Longest descent
4.8 km from 56.4 km, dropping 325 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.

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 129 cafés and restaurants, 38 shops, 12 water points, 13 petrol stations, 7 public toilets and 4 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 2 kmFonte dos Cabreiros · spring · 200 m off route
  2. 6.3 kmA Serrana · café · 60 m off route
  3. 7.1 kmMoeve · petrol station · 130 m off route
  4. 11.5 kmEntre Amigos · café · 80 m off route
  5. 22.1 kmLidl · supermarket · 130 m off route
  6. 22.4 kmDrinking water · 150 m off route
  7. 23.5 kmDouble AM · café · 90 m off route
  8. 33.1 kmAmanhecer - Minimercado Zeca · convenience store · 60 m off route
  9. 40 kmLusoceram · supermarket · 160 m off route
  10. 61.3 kmAlter Café, Rochaforte · café · on the route
  11. 80.7 kmCafé os Padeiros · café · on the route
  12. 82.1 kmDrinking water · on the route
  13. 85 kmPingo Doce · supermarket · 80 m off route
  14. 89.6 kmDrinking water · 210 m off route
  15. 96.8 kmTaverna Zé Raul · café · 30 m off route
  16. 108.9 kmLocal Café · café · on the route
  17. 108.9 kmToilets · 60 m off route
  18. 109.3 kmAuchan Supermercado · supermarket · 40 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 39 km — Outeiro (station), 280 m off route
  • 109.7 km — Caldas da Rainha (station), 540 m off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 11.2 km — Parque de merendas (picnic site)
  • 23 km — Baloiço adaptado da Lourinhã (attraction)
  • 82.1 km — Parque do Peregrino (picnic site)
  • 108.9 km — Chapéus (attraction)
  • 122.8 km — Cabeço da Serra (peak, 108 m)

Know before you go

  • 99.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 7.5 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
  • Longest 10.4 km stretch without café/shop/water km 70.3–80.7
  • Short gravel and track sections totaling 8.4 km

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 Atouguia da Baleia (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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