Countryside cycling routes presented
CYCLING routes to explore the Vega Baja have been presented by the consortium for the economic development of the area (Convega).
The network of five routes covers a total of 120 kilometres through 16 different municipalities, taking in around 50 places of interest.
These itineraries have been developed by Convega in collaboration with town halls, with support from the provincial government and as part of the regional government’s plan to boost and organise tourism in the Vega Baja.
This work involved designing, planning and signposting, as well as preparing an explanatory video and a virtual tour of each route with 360º images, which required a total investment of about €150,000.
The details were presented at Santa Aguéda hermitage in Catral, a municipality where several of these routes converge. Those attending the presentation included the mayor of Catral, Juan José Vicente; Convega president Sebastián Cañadas; and regional director general of tourism, Herick Campos; along with other mayors and councillors from other town halls in the surrounding area.
Sr Cañadas hailed the importance of these ‘tourist products
in order to get to know the attractions of the area, encourage experiences connected to nature, and promote sustainable tourism in the Vega Baja’.
“We are all responsible for looking after our natural surroundings in order to help maintain one of the area’s principal identifying traits, its farmland, which comprises a culturally green landscape distinguished by important hydraulic heritage,” he explained.
The mayor of Catral also highlighted the importance of connecting places around the area, investing in sustainability and continuing to pursue the strategic policies of the local trademark, ‘Vega Baja del Segura, tu tierra y la mía’ (your
land and mine).
Sr Campos explained that the tourism plan helps to promote tourist products and involves the regional and provincial governments, and municipalities through Convega.
“The Vega Baja has many resources and with this plan we are working to give shape to these products in order to offer a distinctive experience,” he said.
The routes run next to the channels and water wheels of the area’s traditional hydraulic irrigation system, and also enable cyclists to absorb the smells and colours of the countryside, observe the diverse landscapes, appreciate their environmental value and visit points of interest, he stated.
The five routes are called: ‘Sotos del Segura’ (groves of the Segura), covering over 20km through Daya Vieja, Daya Nueva, Almoradí, Formentera del Segura, Benijófar and Rojales; ‘Los Azarbes’ (the drainage channels), 28km through Bigastro, Orihuela, Callosa de Segura, Rafal and Catral; ‘Los Almarjales’ (the marshes), over 30km through Orihuela, Callosa, Granja de Rocamora, San Isidro and Catral; ‘Los Canales’ (the channels), over 13km between Dolores and Catral; and ‘Las Veredas’ (the trails), 26km through Catral, Dolores, Daya Nueva, Daya Vieja, San Fulgencio and Guardamar del Segura.