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Castillo de Loarre s(u)/(ow)

The next best thing to a road over the mountains is a road along the mountains (I think). Sometimes it is even better, like when a storm is in the mountains but it is friendly, sunny and windy on the downslope side. This is such a road along the mountains. A one-way summit climbs up to an impressive and touristically important castle and delivers far sweeping views onto the receding foothills of the Pyrenees until they disappear completely and dissolve into a plain.

1.START-END WEST:Ayerbe
2.profile turns left into village Loarre
3.TOP: shortly before reaching access road to castillo, 830m
4.profile rejoins A1206
5.low point, immediately before reaching Bolea


Approaches

From West. From Ayerbe a fairly narrow, but well paved road follows what could be described as the boundary between foothills and plain. But it climbs high enough for great views. Rather than taking  the signed main turnoff to the castle, this side of the profile follows a route signed "for tourists only -in Spanish" through the village Loarre and meets the main road after a small narrow climb above the village. It is easier to find this from the other side.


From East. Actually this is the road you are most likely to go up, when you follow the signs for the castle. The highest point of the two way summit is the junction with the other approach, really the only paved turnoff from the climb (at least that I can remember)


Out and Back to Castillo de Loarre one-way summit


1.START-END WEST:Ayerbe
2.turnoff to village Loarre, profile continues straight
3.profile turns left on Castillo access road
4.alternate route through Loarre joins from left
5.TOP:parking lot before castillo, 1080m

This climb is signed for cyclists with upcoming average grade data each km. But you might miss a few because of distraction by amazing views of the village below, grouped around the church tower, or the castle above with an unusual solitary tower inside the mighty castle walls. This is quite a steep climb with several switchbacks, and tourist traffic on the weekends can be considerable. But drivers seem to be very cycle friendly and like to cheer them on.

At the summit are many possibilities for mountain or gravel bikers, including going down to the village Aines


cLiCk on image , arrows , or thumbnails to advance slideshow

Dayride with this point as highest summit:

COMPLETELY PAVED

( < Alto de Zuriza | Puerto Sierra Major > )

Castillo de Laorre s(u) : a short distance east of Ayerbe > A1206 east <> out and back to Sarsamacuello <> separate out and back to Linas Sarsamacuello >> A1206 east > Castillo de Laorre s(u) via main road <> out and back Castillo de Laorre(ow) >> Laorre > A1206 east > Bolea > Pulibulea << turnaround point in Linea > A1206 west > Aines > back A1206 via different access road > A1206west back to starting point east of Ayerbe: 48.7miles with 4800ft of climbing in 5:32hrs (garmin etrex30 r5:22.09.25)
Notes: quite a bit of time spent walking around Castillo de Loarre, Bolea and Pulibulea



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