Road · Portugal
Atouguia da Baleia – Rio Maior
A hilly 109 km road cycling loop from Atouguia da Baleia, Leiria through Casais do Moinho da Praia, Bairro Nossa Senhora da Luz and Imaginário, with 946 m of climbing. Most of it (69.7 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 4.1 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 108.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 946 m
- Riding time
- 3½–5 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- May to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Atouguia da Baleia
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 946 m
- 109 km
Route description
- Atouguia da Baleia
- Casais do Moinho da Praia
- Bairro Nossa Senhora da Luz
- Imaginário
- Anteporta
- Senhora da Luz
- Vidais
- Gaeiras
- Sobral da Lagoa
- Atouguia da Baleia
This 108.7 km loop begins at Atouguia da Baleia and passes through Casais do Moinho da Praia, Santa Rufina, Carregal, and Caldas da Rainha before reaching Gaeiras at 81.2 km, then returning via Óbidos and Serra d'El-Rei. The route climbs a total of 946 m, with five main climbs ranging from 1.8 km to 3 km long, averaging around 3% gradient, and peaking at 7.2%.
The roads consist mostly of main roads (67%) with 69.7 km lacking a cycle lane, and include some minor roads, quiet streets, paths, tracks, and a short cycle path segment. The surface is overwhelmingly paved (95%), with a small amount of gravel or unpaved sections (4%). There is a longest descent of 3.7 km dropping 81 m between km 70.8 and 74.5. The ride reaches a maximum altitude of 163 m near km 66.5 and drops as low as 2 m near km 12.6.
Facilities along the route include many cafés, shops, water points, toilets, and occasional bike shops and petrol stations. The longest stretch without café, shop or water is 10.5 km from km 23.9 to 34.4. Bailout points with stations are available at Caldas da Rainha (km 20.7) and Dagorda - Peniche (km 87.8).
Highlights
- Five climbs up to 3 km with gradients up to 7.2%
- Passes Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos
- Peak near Cabeço da Serra at 108 m
- Longest descent 3.7 km dropping 81 m
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 2.4 km | 2.3 km · 63 m · 2.8 % · max 4.5 % | 79 m |
| Unnamed climb | 19.1 km | 3 km · 95 m · 3.2 % · max 7.2 % | 127 m |
| Unnamed climb | 32.4 km | 1.8 km · 59 m · 3.4 % · max 6 % | 160 m |
| Unnamed climb | 74.8 km | 2.8 km · 88 m · 3.2 % · max 4.5 % | 130 m |
| Unnamed climb | 92 km | 3 km · 95 m · 3.2 % · max 4.7 % | 126 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 64% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 4.1 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 67% main road · 14% minor road · 8% quiet street · 6% path · 5% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 69.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 4.1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 1.8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- EN 114 (45 km), EM 603 (8 km), EM 575 (4 km), EM 583 (4 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 95% is mapped as paved, 4% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 23% climbing · 22% descending · 55% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.9 km over 5%
- Longest descent
- 3.7 km from 70.8 km, dropping 81 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 172 cafés and restaurants, 37 shops, 16 water points, 12 petrol stations, 10 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 8.9 kmO Covão dos Musaranhos · café · 70 m off route
- 14.6 kmCafeteria · café · 210 m off route
- 20.9 kmToilets · on the route
- 21.3 kmBiológicos da Rainha · supermarket · on the route
- 41.9 kmPingo Doce · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 42.6 kmPastelaria Belária · café · 50 m off route
- 42.8 kmBP · petrol station · on the route
- 55.9 kmGalp · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 58.8 kmFarmácia Almeida · pharmacy · on the route
- 59.3 kmDrinking water · 90 m off route
- 70.5 kmGestroil · petrol station · 50 m off route
- 71.1 kmFarmácia Vidais · pharmacy · on the route
- 83.9 kmBebedouro · drinking water · 70 m off route
- 85.2 kmToilets · 80 m off route
- 86.1 kmContinente Bom Dia · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 91.5 kmConvenience store · 30 m off route
- 96.7 kmMeu Super · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 96.9 kmFarmácia Serra · pharmacy · 90 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 20.7 km — Caldas da Rainha (station), 650 m off route
- 87.8 km — Dagorda - Peniche (halt), 90 m off route
Worth a stop
- 6.6 km — Cabeço da Serra (peak, 108 m)
- 20.9 km — Chapéus (attraction)
- 36.6 km — Gruta em Nossa Senhora da Luz (archaeological site)
- 64.8 km — Capelinha da Senhora da Luz (attraction)
- 85.2 km — Miradouro da Porta da Vila (viewpoint)
- 97.7 km — Parque de Merendas Serra D'El Rei (picnic site)
Know before you go
- 69.7 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 4.1 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- 10.5 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from km 23.9 to 34.4
- Approximately 4% gravel or unpaved surfaces
