Montseny to the Turó de l'Home

The Montseny is a biosphere reserve an hour from Barcelona, and the BV-5114 is the road through it. From Sant Celoni it climbs 20 km to Santa Fe del Montseny through chestnut and then beech, in a rhythm of medium-speed corners that never straightens out. There is no village on the way, no traffic light and, on a weekday, very little traffic.

From Santa Fe a paved spur climbs 9 km and 580 vertical metres to the Turó de l'Home, the highest point of the massif at 1,708 m, with a meteorological observatory that has recorded since 1880. On a clear day the view runs from the Mediterranean to the snow on the Pyrenees. The last section is narrow and can be closed in winter; check before you go.

Rather than descending the way you came, continue over the top on the BV-5301 to Viladrau, a road with longer bends and open views over the Vic plain, and return on the C-17 motorway. That makes the day a loop of about 170 km.

The road is a cycling classic, so keep the speed civil on weekend mornings. Sport mode on the climb, Normal on the descent, and a coffee at Santa Fe in between.