Gravel in Navarre's Zona Media from Olite: Beire, Pitillas and the foot of Ujué

Gravel loop through Navarre's Zona Media starting and finishing in Olite, next to the royal palace, with parking at the entrance to the town. The route drops among vineyards and cereal fields towards Beire and Pitillas, turns east along the farm-consolidation tracks leading to the Sierra de Ujué, rolls along its foot among almond trees and dry farmland, and returns to Olite on the lanes coming down from San Martín de Unx.

Surface: mostly wide, easy-to-read dirt and gravel farm tracks, with stretches of paved lane between fields and the odd short link on local roads. The elevation is moderate and comes in short rises, with no long climbs. A gravel bike with medium-width tyres is ideal.

Water and food: Olite, Beire and Pitillas have fountains and bars; between villages there is no shade or water, so take two bottles. Near Pitillas is the lagoon, a nature reserve: if you go closer, stick to the open paths and respect the signs.

When to go: spring and autumn. In summer the heat bites on the plain from mid-morning, and after rain the clay tracks get heavy: wait a day or two. The cierzo often blows from the north-west; if it's strong, ride the loop so you have it at your back on the way back to Olite.

Track designed by our editorial team on OpenStreetMap (ODbL).