Mountain Walking on the Costa Blanca, Spain
Moraira, Javea,
Calpe, Altea and Oliva
The Costa Blanca mountains are ideal for year-round walking. However the best time for walking is March to May and September and October when the temperatures are cooler.
The Costa Blanca Mountain Friends are a small and friendly Mountain Club with activities in the Costa Blanca area of Spain.
A membership of mixed nationalities who participate in various mountain activities which take place on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. |
The Costa Blanca's mountains, with their dark rugged silhouettes, dominate this landscape - an irresistible attraction for walkers.
Drive just a short distance inland from the Costa Blanca beaches, and you will find market gardens, orchards and orange groves, filled with wild herbs and flowers, from daisies to exotic orchids.
The fertile valleys are smothered in blossom or sweet-scented fruit and you will come across delightful inland villages. Windmills, waterfalls and 'snow wells' feature among the picnic settings.
The Bernia Ridge
Recommended map:
Cartografia Militar de Espana:
1;50 000 BENIDORM AND BENISSA
The Bernia Ridge rises from the sea from the Moro de Toix between Altea and Calpe. The first part of this ridge is known as the Toix ridge but may be marked on the map as "Mar y Villa".
The ridge then descends to become the Mascarat Gorge through which the main road, the motorway and the railway all pass. The ridge then rises as a great cliff eventually easing to the first summit at the eastern end. From here it continues and can be seen as a very jagged skyline from both the north and south sides for about 4 kilometers. The highest point lies well to the western end at 1126 metres. It is possible to walk along some sections of this ridge with a certain amount of scrambling.
There are also popular walks both around the ridge and through it. It can be approached from either the Altea side (to the south of the ridge) or from the north which is the natural starting point at the Bernia restaurant at a height of approximately 650 metres.
Six walks are possible, all starting from the car park behind the restaurant:
The ascent of the highest accessible point at the eastern end.
The popular short circuit.
The complete circuit.
The western summit approached from the east.
The western summit approached from the west.
The ascent of Pena Severino
The Rock of Ifach
The Phoenicians called the Rock of Ifach the "Northern Rock" to distinguish it from the "Southern Rock" at Gibraltar, since these were the only spectacular promontories they encountered in their travels throughout the western shores of the Mediterranean.
Ifach is indeed a large rock, rising to 332 metres. Today the Rock of Ifach has been transformed into a nature park to protect its unique vegetation and over 300 species of animals, including colonies of sea birds that use it as a nesting area.
Located here is a nature school where local carnations and even original Robertonian orchids can be admired.
The peak itself can be climbed up a zigzagging track which is compulsory climbing for anyone anxious to get a panoramic view over the entire Marina Alta coastline.
Mountaineers use the southern face for practice, as it drops straight down to the sea.
To visit the nature park telephone 0034 96 597 2015.
