Walking, Hiking and Scrambling Routes in the Costa Blanca

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Walking, Hiking & Scrambling Routes 3

Penya del Migdia. 705m Located next to the village of Tormos on the CV715

Sagra to Pego road. Our route starts at the base of the first Alt del Cavall ridge on the Vall de Ebo track. The ridge scramble to the Penya del Migdia 704m takes just under 4 hrs. Rope protection might be necessary for the slab grade 3 pitch.

The return route can be via the Barranc de la Palla or by returning to the main Caval 708m summit and then descending the col on the north side to Pla dels Poets.This is the Pla dels Poets to Ebo track and returns us to Tormos.

Park at the Tormos cemetary 30S 0754224 4299103.

Strenuous hike and grade 3 scramble.

Route 1 returning via Palla. Distance 12km. Duration 6hrs. Ascent 650m

Route 2 returning via Poets track. Distance 13km. Duration 7hrs. Ascent 800m

Monte Castellet West. 699m Accessed from the CV758 Finestrat to Relieu

road this scramble starts at the first ridge and then descends to pick up a goat

track to the second ridge. A short scramble up the Portall de Lopez leads to

further goat tracks on the north side. The view from the first ridge is spectacular.

A 20 metre rope is advisable for protection on two sections but anyone with a

fear of heights should not attempt this route.

Moderate hike and grade 3 scramble. Distance 6km. Duration 5.5hrs. Ascent 400m

Monte Castellet East. 806m This unusual scramble commences from a col in

the first easterly Castellet. The route follows goat tracks just below the ridge at

the same height as the cols. Descent is via a scree barranco several Castellets

before the Portal de Lopez. The return route takes 45 minutes via some

bancales and good paths. Rope protection is not necessary but be prepared

as several of the numerous scrambles are exposed.

Moderate hike and grade 2 scramble Distance 5.5km. Duration 5hrs. Ascent 593m

Monte Ponoch. 1180m Approached from the CV70 near Polop. The shape of

this mountain resembles a sleeping lion and can be climbed via various routes.

Route 1. Distance 14km. Duration 5.5hrs. Ascent 890m

Strenuous hike and grade 2 scramble.

Route 2. Ruta del Diablo. Distance 6km. Duration 4hrs. Ascent 500m

Moderate hike and grade 1 scramble.

Serra de Segária. 508m With easy access from the N332 just north of Ondara

this mountain resembles Sierra Bernia but much smaller. A short walk takes

you to the main col via a cave with stalactites. Descend down the north face and

then ascend to the west. Then traverse back to the col. From there the ridge

leads to the east offering some scrambles and good views. Alternatively the

western ridge can be accessed from the south side by following a track from the

car park and then scrambling up to the antennas.

Moderate hike. Grade 2 scramble. Distance 10km. Duration 6hrs. Ascent 770m

Serra de Aixorta. Height 1216m Parking on the north side of the Guadalest

embalse we commence our ascent via the Barranc Fort towards La Font Major.

Goat tracks then lead to a ridge which avoids thick gorse. At the Xortá summit

and short of Penya Alta we head west and descend towards Serrella Castle with

beautiful views of the embalse. A 115m steep walk takes us to the castle with

even more spectacular views. Return is via the embalse road. By using a two

car shuttle to Serrella Castle the route can be shortened by 6km and 1.25hrs.

Strenuous hike. Grade 2 scramble. Distance 16km. Duration 6.75hrs. Ascent 975m

Serra del Ferrer. Height 856m This ridge scramble starts from the Maserof

area on the CV749 Jalón Xaló to Bérnia road. Ascent to the north ridge is steep

but short. Descent is just after the Pic. At this point the scramble can be

extended by following the ridge over rough ground to the Bandoleros and Bérnia

area. A car shuttle will be required for the long route.

Short route. Distance 7.5km. Duration 4hrs. Ascent 640m

Moderate hike and grade 2 scramble.

Long route. Distance 10km. Duration 7hrs. Ascent 1167m

Strenuous hike and grade 2 scramble.

Serra de la Foradá. Height 854m Commencing from the village of Benissivá

on the CV700 Vall de Gallinera follow a camino that passes El Convento de los Padres Franciscanos. An ancient track leads to the summit where a short walk to the east brings us to an Iberian cave dwelling. Heading west we soon arrive at the conspicuous La Foradada or rock arch. Continuing west we ascend the arrive at the Castillo de Benissili where the hike ends. Car shuttle required.

Moderate hike with optional arch short grade 3 scramble.

Distance 13km. Duration 5.5hrs. Ascent 840m

Cala de Llebeig. One of our best coastal routes and ideal for the summer.

After an optional scramble down the Barranc dels Testos we commence our

walk from Cala Moraig and view the water caves. Route 1. To the isolated

and beautiful Cala Llebeig. “Smugglers Cove”. Return to Cala Moraig by the

same path. Easy hike. Distance 8km. Duration 4hrs. Ascent 586m.

Route 2. Exit via Barranc de la Cala and Viuda. Car shuttle.

Easy hike. Distance 6km. Duration 3.5hrs. Ascent 250m.

Route 3. Continue from Cala Llebeig along the coast until Punta de Moraira.

Then descend to El Portet. Car shuttle. Moderate hike and grade 1 scramble.

Distance 10km. Duration 5.5hrs. Ascent 670m

Serra del Maigmó. Height 1296m Accessed from the A36 Alicante to Alcoi

road Maigmó presents a wide range of natural routes without encountering

paint and numerous cairn markings which are becoming all too common on the

coastal mountains routes. After leaving the Balcón de Alicante we commence our

final climb to the summit via a simple safety wire. One final scramble and we

arrive on the summit with spectacular views of Alt de la Xumenera and El Cid to

the west and Penya Migjorn to the east. Car shuttle.

Moderate hike and grade 2 scramble

Distance 13km. Duration 5hrs. Ascent 865m

Serra de Cabezón del Oro. Height 1208m From the village of Busot follow

signs to Cuevas de Canalobre and then park near the PRV-2.

The popular route to the summit is indicated by white and yellow markers.

The descent is made by following the markers in a clock wise direction which

sweeps round to the Cuevas de Canalobre. From here to the car is 10 mins.

Route 1. Moderate hike. Distance 13km. Duration 5hrs. Ascent 970m

Route 2. Grade 2 scramble to forat and return via second ridge.

Distance 10km. Duration 4.5hrs. Ascent 848m.

Barranc del Cau. This circular route starts from Jalón Xaló and enters the

Cau from the north. A good parking area can be found at the following map

coordinates 30S 0760408 4291097. Our ascent is normally from the west

bank of the barranc and by following the Mozarabic trails we reach the

Alt del l’ Ample at 603m. 30S 0759745 4290072. During the ascent one can

view the amazing network of bancales and mozarabic trails on both sides of the

barranc. From the Ample we continue south and follow a marked trail which

eventually heads north and returns via the east bank of the barranc.

Easy hike. Distance 11km. Duration 4.5hrs. Ascent 430m.

Serra de Mondúver. Height 847m. Apart from being the highest mountain in

the Gandia region the Mondúver offers spectacular views all round.

Starting from Xeresa we follow one of the many marked routes on the PRV-153.

After passing Font de Mondúver the ascent becomes steep all the way to the

summit marked by the TV repeater aerials. Our descent is northwards enabling

us to take a figure of eight route which finally ends through the quarry.

Strenuous hike.

Route 1. Distance 16km. Duration 6hrs. Ascent 1015m.

Route 2. Distance 13km. Duration 5hrs. Ascent 723m

Serra de Relleu. Height 490m. Located near Orcheta the Relleu mountain

ridge provides an excellent scrambling route with superb views of the Monte

Castellets, Aitana, Puig Campana, Embalse de L’ Almadório and the coastline.

The route follows a horseshoe circuit and there are various ridges offering

a range of exposures with good hand holds and exciting climbs.

Moderate hike. Grade 2 scramble. Distance 6km. Duration 4hrs. Ascent 538m.

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.

Algar Valley Circuit. A beautiful route with varying terrain and offering views of many peaks in Marina Alta and Marina Baja. From Fonts del Algar our ascent starts on the south side of Peña Severino. At the col of Severino and Serra del Bérnia we scramble to the east peak of Severino at 880m. From the col we traverse north to the peak of Peñon de la Ovenga at 780m. Now we descend the plunging steep Barranc del Curt to Paso de los Bandoleros. Just before the Bandoleros we enter the Pas del Raco Ample and a steep scree run which leads to a dry river bed. Our return to Algar through this valley is via an easy track which eventually crosses the Río Algar.

Strenuous hike. Grade 2 scramble. Distance 21km. Duration 6hrs. Ascent 866m

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Sanchet Summit. 1058m Located near Polop on the CV70 Polop to Guardalest.

A long walk up a steep concrete track followed by a short but easy scramble up

a rock face and then up a steep barranco. Beyond the col there is a moderate

scramble. The descent down to a track is rocky but easy. From there the return

circuit Is almost 2 hrs on an easy track.

Strenuous hike and grade 2 scramble. Distance 18km. Duration 6.5hrs. Ascent 930m

Rio Serpis from Lorcha. A beautiful route along the banks of the Rio Serpis. Our hike starts from the old disused railway station and hotel in L’Orxa/Lorcha.

Following the banks of the Serpis we pass through a series of railway tunnels, a weir and two Hydro electric stations. At the last station we leave the Serpis and ascend the 1012 metre Azafor. Our return route is via a marked rough trail leading to the east of L’Orxa/Lorcha.

Strenuous hike. Distance 20km. Duration 6.5hrs. Ascent 1040m