Walk the GR221 Drystone Route with a Cicerone Guidebook

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Updates
• Reviews

At the time of writing the GR221 is neither signposted nor waymarked in its early stages, but it is very well marked later. This guidebook contains diagrammatic strip maps at a scale of 1:50,000 designed, along with the route description, to allow the route to be followed whether it is waymarked or not. However, these maps do not allow features off-route to be appreciated, so some walkers may wish to use additional maps. There are well over a hundred useful walking maps buried inside the Consell de Mallorca website, see www.conselldemallorca.net. Printing them all would create a hefty package.

The Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), www.cnig.es, publishes maps of Mallorca at scales of 1:50,000 and 1:25,000. These are part of the Mapa Topográfico Nacional (MTN) series. Throughout this guidebook, the reference ‘MTN25’ followed by a name, indicates the relevant 1:25,000 scale maps covering the route. A total of 11 maps are needed to follow all the routes in this guidebook. To avoid disappointment, please check the style and quality of these maps before making a purchase. They do not show the course of the GR221, nor do they show many of the paths and tracks that form the route.

The best maps of the GR221 are produced by Editorial Alpina, www.editorialalpina.com, at a scale of 1:25,000 and these are highly recommended for their detail and clarity.

Three sheets cover the entire route – Tramuntana Sur, Tramuntana Central and Tramuntana Nord. These maps are quoted throughout this guidebook. They don’t quite cover all the variant and alternative routes, but the only missing parts are short road-walks of no consequence that do not require a map.

Maps can be ordered in advance from British suppliers such as Stanfords (12-14 Long Acre, London WC2E 9BR, tel 020 7836 1321, www.stanfords.co.uk), The Map Shop (15 High Street, Upton-upon-Severn WR8 0HJ, tel 01684 593146, www.themapshop.co.uk) or Cordee (3a De Montford Street, Leicester LE1 7HD, tel 0116 2543579, www.cordee.co.uk)