Walking, Hiking and Scrambling Routes in the Costa Blanca

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Walking, Hiking & Scrambling Routes 1

Serra del Montgó. Height 753m. Resembling an elephants head El Montgó

is an excellent landmark when sailing from Ibiza to Dénia. It’s overall size

offers a variety of hikes ranging from moderate to challenging. Steeped in

history one can view the ancient water cave Cova de l’Aigua, the Roman

Legion inscription from AD 238, the Roman road Cami de la Colonia, the

huge Montgó eye and it’s caves and some of the 600 forms of plant life

that exist in El Parque Natural de Montgó. From the summit excellent views

can be seen of the Gulf of Valencia and Ibiza on a clear day.

Route 1. Plana to Summit. The most popular tourist route and accessed from the Xábia to Dénia CV736

road. An easy traversing track leads to the main summit and the Creu de Xábia. Return via the same track.

Car parking is best at the shooting range entrance on the CV736 to avoid car break ins.

Distance 9km. Duration 4hrs. Ascent 528m. Moderate hike and easy scramble

Route 2. Eye to Summit. Parking at the Campo de Tiro and just before the main ascent track we follow

a small trail to the Eye on the south face. From the Eye we scramble up a ridge which eventually leads

to the main summit. Our return is via one of several barrancos on the north face which leads to the Cami

de la Colonia and back to the Campo de Tiro.

Moderate hike and grade 2 scramble. Distance 9.5km. Duration 5hrs. Ascent 670m.

Route 3. Eye and Cortinas. East to West. Parking at the Campo de Tiro we pick up the small track

leading to the Montgó Eye on the south face. After viewing the Eye we continue west along animal tracks

keeping high just below the rock face. Exit at the Jesús Pobre Km 6.5 path. A two car shuttle will be

required for this route. Moderate hike and grade 1 scramble

Distance 9km. Duration 5hrs. Ascent 560m.

Route 4. Jesús Pobre to Summit. Parking off the CV753 Xábia to La Xara road the track starts in a small

path at Km6.5. The track is signposted and we veer north east to the Barranc de l’Hiedra. With the large crag

on our right we scramble up a short barranco and then hike north to pick up the main summit path viewing the

Creu de Dénia on our left. From the Creu de Xábia main summit we descend the tourist Plana track and then

veer west to join the Cami de la Colonia. A small track off this Cami leads to the Cova de l’Aigua and

continues to a barranco that leads back to the summit. Heading west brings us back to our car park via the

summit path. Strenuous hike and grade 2 scramble.

Distance 16km. Duration 7hrs. Ascent 1100m.

Route 5. El Inolvidable. Similar to route 4 except that the crag at the Barranc de l’Hiedra is scrambled with

rope assist. Instead of heading for the main summit we visit the Cova de I’Aigua first and then ascend the

long Barranc del Brúfol. A scramble at the summit brings us very quickly to the Creu de Xábia. Our return

route is via the main summit path to our Jesús Pobre park area.

Distance 15km. Duration 7.5hrs. Ascent 1100m. Challenging hike and grade 2 scramble

El Puig Campana. Height 1408m. A conspicuous mountain from land or

sea the Puig offers a variety of activities ranging from hiking to scrambling

and serious rock climbing. At 66 metres higher than Ben Nevis and

325m above Snowdon it’s main features are the large steep barranco and

square gap called El Tall de Roldán. Spectacular views can be seen along

the whole coast including the Isla de Benidorm. The Puig is encircled by

the Cami de la Serra Senda Lola which gives good access to all areas and

routes. All our Puig routes start and end in the car park at Font Moli which

is easily accessed through Finestrat.

Route 1. Summit via Barranco. The well marked main tourist route is from the font straight up the large

barranco. Once in the barranco we keep to the right to avoid much of the scree. At the col the summit is

reached by veering right. Return to Font Moli via the same route. Strenuous hike and grade 1 scramble

Distance 9km. Duration 5hrs. Ascent 1025m.

Route 2. Same ascent as route 1. For the descent we return to the col and then head north down a path

that leads to a scree run. At the bottom of the scree a track leads to the circular path Senda Lola. From

there we have a choice of returning to Font Moli via the west or east. The distance for both routes is similar.

Strenuous hike and grade 1 scramble

Distance 13km. Duration 6hrs. Ascent 1025m.

Route 3. El Tall de Roldán. Half way up the barranco we commence our scramble on the left hand side

crag. There are no tracks and this route is used by rock climbers when descending Espolón and other Puig

routes. At El Tall the views are different and it’s like standing on a large stage. On descending to the

barranco we then ascend to the col. At the col our descend is north via a scree run that leads down to the

Senda Lola where we head west or east. Strenuous hike and grade 2 scramble

Distance 13km. Duration 6hrs. Ascent 1050m.

Route Alvi. Summit via the East. From Font Moli we take the Senda Lola path east of the Puig.

At an easterly point we scramble up a large arete. This sustained scramble continues for two hours until we

reach a crag. From here it’s just a short slightly exposed scramble to the summit. Return is via the Senda

Lola path west of the Puig. Strenuous hike and grade 2 scramble

Distance 14km. Duration 6.5hrs. Ascent 1045m.

Serra del Bérnia. Height 1125m. A beautiful looking mountain reminiscent

of the Sierra Nevada in Andalucia. It offers hikes, scrambles, abseils, rock

climbing and a forat joining the north and south faces. The forat is about

1 metre high by 24 metres long and with mist on the north face and sun

on the south it’s like stepping into another world. The views from either side

of the forat are estupendo. Goats frequent the Bérnia and to the south west

there are ruins of an old fort. On the north Approach path there is a font

where you can refill your bottles. See our abseil routes page for more Bérnia

activities. All our routes start from the restaurante Bérnia car park area.

Route 1. West Summit via the Forat. Heading south east on the approach path we join our ascent track

just behind the font. This track eventually leads to the forat and the south face. From there we head west

along a marked track until a large barranco. Here we head up to the col. At the col on our left is a rock

face which we scramble up. At the ridge we continue heading north west until the main summit is reached.

From the summit a series of red spots lead down to a scree run and the fort. From the fort we continue our

route anti clockwise back to the Bérnia restaurante. Moderate hike and grade 2 scramble

Distance 13km. Duration 5hrs. Ascent 840m.

Route 2. East and West Summits. Using the same route to the forat we continue south east passed the

forat along a goat track. This leads to a barranco with a rock arch at the col. At the col we scramble up to

the ridge and continue north west for about 0.5km. At this point it’s not possible to continue without an abseil.

Our return route is back to the forat and continue as per route 1. Strenuous hike and grade 2 scramble

Distance 14km. Duration 7hrs. Ascent 1040m.

Route 3. Forat and Fort. Pass through the forat as per the other routes heading north west until a larger

well marked track is seen below. Descend to this track and follow until the fort is reached. After the fort the

return route is the same as routes 1 and 2. Route 3 avoids the west summit scramble. Moderate hike

Distance 10km. Duration 4hrs. Ascent 495m.

Route 4. Bérnia Orbital. Starting from the Bérnia restaurante car park we commence our route anti clockwise

using the PR.V-7. Our first stop is at the fort ruins followed by a descent to font del Runar. A further descent brings us to the recreation picnic area. Now we leave the PR.V-7 and head east on a broad track and continue to the end of it. At this point a narrow track leads to an old ruin. From here we start ascending to the most easterly ridge of the Bérnia, Penyas del Portixol. A final scramble brings us to the two arcs. The eastern summit can be accessed from this point. Descent from here can be through the first arc or bypass to the right.

Our route is now on the north face of the Bérnia heading west passing a scree run and towards the forat. Continuing passed the forat we gradually descent to font de Bérnia and return to the car park.

Moderate hike and grade 2 scramble. Distance 13km. Duration 5.5hrs. Ascent 829m.

1. A hike is a long walk.

2. Ascent figures are accumulative starting from the car park.

3. Duration of the event includes short stops, a short lunch break and brisk pace.

4. Distance and ascent figures have been derived by GPS.

5. GPS coordinates. Position Format UTM UPS. Map Datum European 1950.

6. Spanish names are entered in the Castellano or Valenciano form.

7. All ascent, distance and other information listed on this page are as experienced by

the author but may include errors. Anyone attempting these routes should verify the

information before commencing the activity in case of errors or change.

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