From Hornachuelos thru Olive Carpets

If you’re the kind of rider who likes to settle into a climb, not fight it, this route feels like home. This 73 km road cycling loop from Hornachuelos to Las Navas de la Concepción starts the Andalusian way — uphill. The route rolls through olive groves, climbs into Sierra Norte de Sevilla, skirts the calm waters of Embalse de Retortillo, and loops back to Hornachuelos on quiet, scenic roads where speed matters less than views.

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If you start your ride in Hornachuelos and the first thing you see is more olive groves than houses, don’t worry — you’re in good company. This corner of Córdoba sits right on the edge of Sierra de Hornachuelos Natural Park, where the roads are quiet, the birds are plentiful, and the only rush hour involves vultures circling overhead.

We kicked off this ride with the kind of climb that makes you check your GPS not because you’re struggling, but because you’re genuinely impressed at how pleasant uphill can feel. The first 15 km alternate between gentle up, tiny down, and more gentle up — all through endless olive groves. In late December, the fallen olives carpeted the roadside like nature’s own confetti. You’ll find yourself smiling a lot here, even though you’re climbing.

On the way you pass San Calixto, a tiny settlement with a surprisingly quiet kind of history. The area grew around a former Carthusian monastery, built here centuries ago for people who really, really wanted silence. Riding through it today, that choice suddenly makes perfect sense.

Soon after, the landscape changes again and you cross into the Sierra Norte de Sevilla. The roads get wilder, the views open up and the riding becomes a little more serious — longer climbs, faster descents, proper mountain rhythm. This section carries you all the way to Las Navas de la Concepción, where the scenery really starts to shine. Rolling past the village, you’re rewarded with wide views, quiet asphalt and that feeling of being very far from anything busy.

Not long after leaving Las Navas, you catch your first glimpse of Embalse de Retortillo — and yes, that’s exactly where you’re heading. The return road winds along the reservoir for around 10 km, glued to the water’s edge. The surface here is best described as road pretending to be gravel, but honestly, for a stretch this scenic, nobody complains. Slow riding, big views, calm water.

The final part of the loop drops you back into Sierra de Hornachuelos Natural Park, where the wildlife makes a last appearance. Griffon vultures, black kites and eagles circle overhead, completely unfazed by cyclists puffing their way home. The descent here is long, quiet and deeply satisfying.

Just before reaching town, the landscape softens again — orange and mandarin trees line the road, adding a sweet winter smell to the last kilometers. And because this is still Andalusia, the ride finishes with a final 5 km climb back up to Hornachuelos, just to keep your average speed humble and your coffee fully earned.

From Hornachuelos thru Olive Carpets

Distance: 73 km

Elev Gain: 1300 m

Time: 3.30 h

Type: Road loop

Strava link: https://www.strava.com/routes/3443939864362686752

Hornachuelos · Las Navas de la Concepción.gpx

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