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Atouguia da Baleia – Caldas da Rainha via Bairro Nossa Senhora da Luz

56 km road cycling loop538 m climbing2½–3 hoursGPX

Atouguia da Baleia, Leiria, Portugal · Road

A hilly 56 km road cycling loop from Atouguia da Baleia, Leiria through Carregal, Bairro Nossa Senhora da Luz and Caldas da Rainha, with 538 m of climbing.

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At a glance

Best for
Short, climbing-heavy rides
Distance
55.7 km
Loop
Elevation gain
538 m
10 m per km
Riding time
2½–3 hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Moderate
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Mostly paved
92% paved · 5% unpaved · 2% no data
Traffic
Some main roads
26.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane
Food & water
Longest gap 20 km
82 cafés and restaurants · 22 shops · 5 water points · 2 petrol stations · 4 public toilets · 5 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

Elevation profile

Total ascent
538 m
Distance
56 km
020406080100m0 km204056 km96 m · highest, at 48.7 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Atouguia da Baleia
  2. Carregalkm 16
  3. Bairro Nossa Senhora da Luzkm 18
  4. Caldas da Rainhakm 21
  5. Casal do Brejokm 24
  6. Covõeskm 30
  7. Casais da Fontekm 33
  8. Casal Novokm 33
  9. Santa Rufinakm 39
  10. Atouguia da Baleiakm 56

This 55.7 km loop begins at Atouguia da Baleia and heads towards Carregal at 15.5 km, then passes Bairro Nossa Senhora da Luz, Salgueirinha and reaches Caldas da Rainha at 21.3 km. From Caldas da Rainha, the route continues through Casal do Brejo, Casal dos Chãos, Covões and Nadadouro at 30.8 km. It then proceeds past Casais da Fonte, Casal Novo, Trás do Outeiro, Santa Rufina before reaching Casais do Moinho da Praia at 51 km and returning to Atouguia da Baleia.

The route has a total elevation gain of 538 m. Key climbs include an early ascent starting at 2.6 km gaining 66 m over 2.2 km, a moderate climb beginning at 32.2 km gaining 43 m over 1.7 km, and a final steeper climb starting at 45.7 km gaining 69 m over 1.6 km, with a maximum gradient recorded at 6.8%. The highest point is 96 m at 47.4 km. Almost half the climbing occurs in the first half, with the longest descent of 1.8 km from 50.8 km.

The surface is mainly paved (92%) with some gravel or unpaved sections (5%) and a small part unmapped (2%). The route comprises 49% main roads, 24% minor roads, and smaller portions of quiet streets, paths, and tracks. Notably, 26.6 km are on main roads without cycle lanes. Cafés, shops, water, toilets, bike shops, and fuel are mostly available only after 19.6 km, with the longest stretch without amenities at the start lasting 19.6 km. Bailout is possible at Caldas da Rainha station at 22.8 km.

Highlights

  • Climb to 96 m near km 47
  • Passes Caldas da Rainha at 21.3 km
  • 55.7 km loop with 538 m climbing
  • Three notable climbs along the route

Along the route

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

Places passed

  1. Carregal 15.5 km
  2. Bairro Nossa Senhora da Luz 17.8 km
  3. Salgueirinha 18.8 km
  4. Caldas da Rainha 21.3 km
  5. Casal do Brejo 24.4 km
  6. Casal dos Chãos 29.7 km
  7. Covões 29.8 km
  8. Nadadouro 30.8 km
  9. Casais da Fonte 32.6 km
  10. Casal Novo 32.8 km
  11. Trás do Outeiro 37.5 km
  12. Santa Rufina 39.1 km
  13. Casais do Moinho da Praia 51 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideTop on this ride
Unnamed climb2.6 km2.2 km · 66 m · 3 % · max 4.4 %80 m
Unnamed climb32.2 km1.7 km · 43 m · 2.7 % · max 4 %62 m
Unnamed climb45.7 km1.6 km · 69 m · 4.3 % · max 6.8 %96 m

High point 96 m at 47.4 km; low point 2 m.

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (26.6 km in all) between quieter sections.

Roads
49% main road · 24% minor road · 12% quiet street · 11% path · 4% other roads and tracks
Main roads
26.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Main roads used
EM 603 (10 km), EM 575 (9 km), EM 573 (6 km), CM 1408 (3 km)
Surface
Predominantly paved: 92% is mapped as paved, 5% as unpaved or gravel and 2% has no surface data.
Gradient
27% climbing · 25% descending · 47% flat
Steep sections
1.7 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6.7% at 47.8 km

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 20 km, from the start. Along the route: 82 cafés and restaurants, 22 shops, 5 water points, 2 petrol stations, 4 public toilets and 5 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 19.7 kmBuddha Garden Café · café · on the route
  2. 21.3 kmWater tap · 60 m off route
  3. 21.3 kmToilets · 120 m off route
  4. 22 kmPingo Doce · supermarket · 40 m off route
  5. 22.3 kmLaboratório Analises Beatriz Godinho · hospital · on the route
  6. 23.1 kmGalp · petrol station · 50 m off route
  7. 23.6 kmSuperadrenalina · bike shop · 30 m off route
  8. 25.9 kmToilets · 70 m off route
  9. 26.3 kmO Buraco · café · 150 m off route
  10. 30.8 kmCafé · 100 m off route
  11. 30.8 kmConvenience store · 110 m off route
  12. 30.8 kmWater tap · 120 m off route
  13. 38.9 kmCafeteria · café · 180 m off route
  14. 45 kmO Covão dos Musaranhos · café · 70 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 22.8 km — Caldas da Rainha (station), 330 m off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 21.3 km — Rainha Dona Leonor (attraction)
  • 47.6 km — Cabeço da Serra (peak, 108 m)

Know before you go

  • 26.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 19.6 km from start
  • 1.7 km with gradient over 5%
  • Some gravel or unpaved sections (5%)

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

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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