The Bike Packers' Paradise
A hidden wilderness in the North East of Spain, the Serranía Celtibérica, (Spanish Lapland) is practically designed for bikepacking. It's dreamy gravel tracks – once occupied by horse and carriage – twist up high mountain plateaus, intersect with mediaeval towns and flow through infinite pine forests. At twice the size of Belgium, the region encompasses 10 provinces. However, despite occupying over 13% of Spain’s overall landmass, in the last fifty years it's population has been steadily draining away. Faced with dwindling job prospects, poor access to education and the worst public transport in the country, many of the region's residents have set up new lives in the neighbouring cities of Madrid and Valencia.