Route 66 Almodôvar (MTB XC 4 - Black)

Route of very high difficulty, that crosses the rural paths in the surroundings of the village of Almodôvar and extends to the mountainous area to the south of the municipality. It is a very demanding route, suitable for those looking for a great challenge. The degree of difficulty is mainly attributed to the distance covered and the high accumulated unevenness, as the paths are generally wide and have a good terrain, except for a short path with a slightly more technical profile that accompanies the course of the River Mira. The mountainous area is marked by a constant “up and down”, with slopes that are sometimes quite steep and that require a good physical shape. On this route, the transition from the landscape between the northern zone, where the cork oak and holm oak forests dominate, and the mountainous area to the south of the county dominated by extensive Mediterranean scrublands is well marked. The route crosses the bed of the Mira river and the Odelouca stream several times, and these crossings may be conditioned during periods of higher flow. The main crossing points are Pico do Mú, the highest point in the municipality of Almodôvar and one of the highest in Serra do Caldeirão, and the villages of S. Barnabé and Santa Clara-a-Nova where there are support services such as cafes , restaurants and public toilets. In Santa Clara-a-Nova you can visit the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum “Manuel Vicente Guerreiro”. There is typical brandy "aguardente de medronho" still traditionally produced in the mountain area and is often found in any tavern or cafe in the region. This route coincides with other routes of this Cycling Center, with different distances and degrees of difficulty, allowing you to choose a different route during the activity.