Costa Blanca Walks Vol 2 East
Costa Blanca Walks Vol 2 East
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£12.00
2: Bernia Eastern Summit from Altea la Vieja
Grade: moderate/strenuous
Distance: 7km
Time: 3hrs 30mins
Ascent: 447m
Maps: Altea 848 (30–33)
The ascent of the Eastern Summit (961m) from Pinos is described as Walk 4. This route is a popular alternative ascent from the south.
Getting There
Leave the CN332 at Km.161, with signs for the motorway A7, and take the first turning to the right, the CV755 with signs to Altea la Vieja and Callosa de Ensarria. In 1.7km turn off to the right with signs for Don Cao Golf Club. The road to the club breaks off to the right in 1.5km and you continue to climb to the north through attractive villas, along Avinida Principal, until the road swings right to the east, with lots of side roads named after flowers and shrubs. Above you on the left is a Moorish-type development and the road Calle Costa Azahar. As the villas end you negotiate a barranca. After this the villas start again, and at Km.4.2 turn off to the left on Calle Costa Azul, parking your car at the first junction, where an unsurfaced road leads north towards the Bernia Ridge high above you.
An alternative, for those coming from the north, is to leave the CN332 at Km.163, with signs for Altea Hills, driving for 2.8km to Calle Costa Azul, passing the opulent development on your right as you climb.
Making a Start – to the Shelf
Your first objective is to climb above the lower band of cliffs to gain a broad shelf which runs the entire length of the ridge (nearly 10km) under the base of the southern crags (see Walk 1).
Start by following a broad, unsurfaced road which climbs north-east to reach a large stone-faced water tank, which you pass on the right. In a few minutes the road levels out and you turn off to the left on a narrow path at a smaller tank with a waymarker (a blue cupola placed by Altea Mountaineering Club).
It seems possible that this part of the route follows an ancient Mozarabic trail, but it is much decayed. The trail zig-zags upwards until it has gained sufficient height, then moves to the left (west) along the top of the lower band of cliffs. In windy weather be very careful near the edge, as not many years ago a young girl, admiring the view, was blown off the rocks to her death.
A variety of waymarkings now adorn the rocks on this section – red ones, blue cupolas and even black ones – and on this section too there are magnificent views already of the coastal plain, with Sierra Helada and the distant peaks of Puig Campaña and Ponoch towering over the vast huertos of the Guadalest and Algar valleys. At a junction (The Triangle), another path joins from the right. 1hr 2km
As the ascent steepens, the path climbs through decayed terraces to gain a broader track, which you follow to the left (west) to gain a very small well or nevera on the right of the path. I have put a cairn at the point where your route joins the broad track to help you on the return journey (as I once lost the route here for a short time).
In this area there are a number of tiny terraces which have been sown with cereals, for which there seemed, at first, to be no valid explanation. All was to be made clear, however, when we found feeding buckets (with a hole in the bottom) suspended from a tree, and realised that the local hunters were doing their best to encourage game birds, just as the gamekeepers did in Suffolk.
To the Lower Casita
A few paces beyond the nevera, a waymarker indicates a narrow path on the right-hand side, which is the old route to the lower casita. The path is still there, but after a recent fire a number of fallen trees have blocked the first section. An easier route is to continue west along the broad road until you reach a junction with a large rock pinnacle. The road ahead will take you to the ruins of the tiny Ermita Vicario and on to Fuente Ruñar in about 45 minutes (see Walk 1).
Double back to the right, in an easterly direction and on an equally good road, and pass through pines to arive at the lower casita, with its well, oven and era (threshing floor), complete with stone roller. The casita is being restored, and one can speculate on who the owner might be, perhaps a successful local business man who in his spare time, perhaps, likes to get back to his roots for a fiesta or to hunt. I am sure that he will not mind you resting on his era to admire the view. 1hr 40mins 3.5km
To the Upper Casita
Leave the casita and follow a good path to the east, passing a blue deposito and a fuente with drinking troughs. The views ahead now extend through the pines towards the last eastern crags of the ridge and to the final summit of Alt de la Pedrissa (431m), then to the Col de Fachuch with its transmitters. Finally the dramatic Mascarat Gorge, the remaining wall of Calpe castle and Sierra del Toix come into sight. Climb a short gully to reach the upper casita, complete with a corral for animals. Above you, to the north, is your next objective, the ridge of the Bernia and the Eastern Summit.
Up the Scree
Your route, which follows Walk 4 to the Eastern Summit, runs under the yellow-coloured crags of the Eastern Ridge, and you now follow a well-marked trail, north-east, until you reach the base of a steep scree run. 2hrs 4km
Scree-running, if you are wearing an old pair of boots, can be quite enjoyable and a swift way of descending mountains. Climbing up steep scree is never enjoyable, especially in Spain, and I confess that I have only descended this section, so my timing is provided by others. 2hrs 30mins
West to the Belvedere
Your first objective is a small ledge beneath a rock wall, and to get there keep first to the base of the crags on the southern side of the ridge and move west, descending a little before climbing up to it.
Your route now follows a broad groove in some smooth rock as you surmount an easy 5m wall. Above the wall scramble up some steep rocks to one of the impressive natural features of this ridge, the Rock Bridge, formed by a neat slab of rock breaking away and falling across a narrow fissure. Lower down, on the northern side of the ridge, is a yet more artistic feature, the delicate natural arch spanning a thin, steep scree chute, the last remnants of a decayed cave.
There are other interesting natural caves and fissures hereabout which are worth exploring by those equipped to do so. Move on to the west, climbing up to reach a small belvedere, with good views now to the west of Sierra Aitana and the Guadalest Valley. 3hrs 15mins
Arête and Summit
As you face the pinnacle, on the north side of the belvedere, you can see your route to the summit to the left of it, a traverse of the final arête. First tackle the pinnacle by turning it on the right and climbing a short, easy rock pitch, then address yourself to an easy rock staircase which leads to the crest of the arête. Make a mental note of the point at which you will leave the arête on your return from the summit. Ahead of you is a sheer rock wall on the southern side, with at least a 5 degree overhang and an impressive drop to the screes far below. We call this wall The Billboard: it can easily be identified from Altea la Vieja and pinpoints the Eastern Summit. The northern side of the ridge is less precipitious but is composed of sharp, upended flakes of limestone, which are not very pleasant to walk on. Traverse just below the crest, but do not forget to pop up now and then to savour the terrific drop on the south side.
In 5 minutes of easy walking you arrive at the summit cairn. 3hrs 30mins 7km
The Summit
The views in all directions are magnificent, especially those along the ridge. To the west, impressive arêtes and pinnacles lead towards the massive pinnacle of Risco del Portezuelo and on to the main summit. To the east, the ridge continues, dropping eventually to the sea at Morro del Toix, with the Peñon de Ifach and the attractive resort of Calpe between them. A little to the north-west is the modest peak of Peña Ovenga, overlooking the Paso de los Bandoleros, whilst to the south-west are the twin summits of Peña Severino, joined by a sharp arête. You can see the whole of the Aitana range, from Puig Campaña, with its attendant Cortinas, to the summit itself, the highest peak in Alicante province. There are also extensive views of extensive views of the Guadalest and Algar valleys.
Sadly, it is time for walkers to turn back. Although some parts of the next section of the ridge to Risco del Portezuelo can be explored by surefooted scramblers, the full traverse is reserved for well-equipped rock climbers.
On the northern side of the ridge, below you, the undercut cliffs which form the shepherds’ shelter, close to the path from the Fuente de Bernia, can be seen, but the forat itself is hidden from view.
Descents
Any alternative to retracing your steps needs careful planning, either by meeting up with another party or arranging for transport home.
To Pinos
From the summit, reverse Walk 4 to the hamlet of Pinos on the Benissa to Jalón road.
To Col De Fachuch
From the col where Walk 4 leaves the ridge, there is a natural line down the ridge to Col de Fachuch, where you will find yourself on Calle Escotia, of the exclusive Altea Hills Estate. There are some waymarkings at the start of this route, but I have not walked it so far.
To Fuente Ruñar
Reverse the ascent route by turning off to the right (west) at the junction with a rock pinnacle. In 30 minutes you can visit the ruins of Ermita Vicario and continue on a nice level road to reach the picnic area at Fuente Ruñar, at the end of a motor road from the valley. 1hr
To Alhama Springs
Finally, from Fuente Ruñar you can reverse the route to the main summit from Alhama Springs (Walk 1).
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