Brač island, in Dalmatia, offers gravel terrain shaped by centuries of terraced farming and stone quarrying: a landscape of dry stone walls and historic quarries, far from the bustle of the coastal beaches.
An island interior between stone walls and quarries
From Supetar, the island’s main port, the tracks head into the interior toward Pučišća, a historic stonemasonry town, and then toward Bol on the south coast. Expect around 40 km and 600 m of elevation gain for a loop representative of the island, on rocky terrain flanked by kilometres of dry stone walls marking out former farming plots.
Getting the ride right
Rugged gravel tyres, around 40-45mm, hold up better against the sharp-edged limestone found on some of the interior tracks. A puncture repair kit is worth carrying on the more remote sections, where help and shops are scarce.
When to go
April to June and September to October, as Dalmatian summer heat and the lack of shade over much of the interior make the ride gruelling in high summer. Spring also brings still-lush Mediterranean vegetation.
Good to know
Supetar, well served by ferry from Split, and Bol, famous for its Zlatni Rat beach, offer a decent choice of accommodation, with convenient access to the neighbouring islands of Hvar and Šolta for extending the stay in the Dalmatian archipelago.
