Walking on the Costa Blanca

50 circular walks and scrambles that explore the Costa Blanca mountains, around the resorts of Alicante, Benidorm and Calp, a popular European winter sun adventure destination. From 1500m peaks and knife edge ridges to deep gorges, the walks range from gentle strolls to demanding days with steep climbs, and from 3 to 20km in distance.

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Overview

This guidebook describes 50 circular walks and scrambles exploring the Costa Blanca mountains, around the resorts of Alicante, Benidorm and Calp. These routes range from gentle strolls to demanding days with steep climbs, and from 3-20km in distance.
The Mediterranean coast is one of Europe's most popular winter sun adventure destinations. In general UK visitors are best suited to the heat from late autumn to early spring. Beyond the beaches and high rises lies a completely different world of accessible, rocky mountains and knife-edge ridges that stretch away in long chains of gleaming white limestone pinnacles, and the range of walks ensures that everyone can enjoy this spectacular Spanish landscape.
Walking on Costa Blanca also includes background information on local geology, wildlife and history, and planning details on where to go, where to stay and what to take.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
Geology
Wildlife
Plants and flowers
History
Getting there
Getting around
When to go
Where to stay
What to take
Water
Safety and insurance
Paths
Waymarking
Maps and language
Using this guide
The North
Walk 1 Traverse of Montgo
Walk 2 Tossal Grau
Walk 3 Serra Segaria
Walk 4 Fonts de Pedreguer
Walk 5 Castell d’Aixa
Walk 6 Tossal del Moro and the Serrillas
Walk 7 Castell de Granadella
Inland from Calp
Walk 8 Penon de Ifach
Walk 9 Serra de Olta
Walk 10 Circuit of the Serra Bernia
Walk 11 Bernia East Summit
Walk 12 Bernia West Summit
Walk 13 Serra Ferrer South Ridge
Walk 14 Serra Ferrer North Ridge
Walk 15 Cau Ridge
Walk 16 Alt de L’Ample
Walk 17 Carrascal de Parcent
Walk 18 Penya Talai (Rates)
Walk 19 Penyo Roig
Walk 20 Cavall Verd Ridge
Walk 21 Collado de Garga
Walk 22 10,000 Steps
Walk 23 Barranc de Racons or 5000 Steps
Walk 24 Almadic Ledge Circuit
Walk 25 Barranc de Malafi
Walk 26 Serra Forada
Inland from Benidorm
Walk 27 Serra Gelada
Walk 28 Head of the Algar Valley
Walk 29 Bolulla Castle
Walk 30 Bolulla Circuit/Raco Roig
Walk 31 Cim de Aixorta
Walk 32 Els Arcs
Walk 33 Embassament de Guadalest
Walk 34 Aitana
Walk 35 Penya Mulero
Walk 36 Alt de la Penya de Sella
Walk 37 Barranc de l’Arc and Barranc del Xarquer
Walk 38 Tour of Xanchet
Walk 39 Monte Ponoig
Puig Campana
Walk 40 Volta del Puig Campana
Walk 41 Coll del Pouet
Walk 42 Puig Campana Summit from the Coll del Pouet
The Serrella
Walk 43 Penya del Castellet
Walk 44 Mallada del Llop
Walk 45 Pla de la Casa
Walk 46 El Recingle Alt (Pic de Serrella)
Alcoi and the West
Walk 47 Cabeco d’Or
Walk 48 Penya Migjorn
Walk 49 Barranc del Cint
Walk 50 Montcabrer

Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Valenciano–Spanish–English glossary
Appendix C Useful contacts

Updates

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April 2022

Walk 23 Barrac de Racons or 5000 Steps

The path, never as popular as the neighbouring 10,000 Steps (Walk 22), has fallen into disuse and become harder to follow and more precarious.

March 2022

Walk 23 Barrac de Racons (or 5000 Steps)

The path, never as popular as the neighbouring 10,000 Steps (Walk 22), has fallen into disuse and become harder to follow and more precarious.

March 2022

Author updates

Walk 28

Head of the Algar Valley

A fence has appeared on the final section of the walk where the route passes between the ruins of farm buildings onto terraces. Fortunately, it can be avoided by turning right for a few steps to access the terraces. Gates at the far end can also be avoided by turning uphill and scrambling down a banking.

Walk 36

Alt de la Penya de Sella

Fences and gates which appeared at the start of this walk now seem to be permanently locked. So from the parking area walk along the now unsurfaced road for about 500m to where it turns sharply uphill.

On a left hand bend look out of a small cairn with red, white and gold waymarkers. Turn onto the narrow path along a short terrace. At its end follow the narrow path through trees to reach the corner of a new fence, which is followed steeply uphill.

At the top follow the fenceline horizontally to a gate near the far end. Here turn left uphill on a narrow path to a higher terrace. You are now back on the original route making for the col above.

September 2021

Route 30

It is possible to drive to the col where the walk starts but if you do so please park considerately off the road.

February 2020

Walk 10 Serra de Bernia

The approach road has now been repaired and resurfaced.

February 2020

Walk 15 Cau Ridge

The Lady Elizabeth School has moved and is no longer signed from the Xalo road though a small 'Colegio Internacional' sign remains. Parking arrangements are unchanged.

February 2019

Route Updates and corrections

Walk 17 page 89: Carrascal de Parcent

A new path, marked with green and white flashes, has been opened on the descent from the ridge to the Coll de Rates. This avoids the long concrete road and is a blessing for tired knees.

Jan 2019

Walk 30: Bolulla Circuit
The rough dirt road from the suggested parking area has recently been concreted and it is now possible to drive all the way to the col where there is space for a a handful of cars. This creates a pure circular walk and knocks about 30 mins off the total time.

Walk 7: Castell de Granadella
The damage caused by the major fire has largely healed and in fact the loss of the scrub trees has opened up the views along the coast.

February 2017

Walk 10 Circuit of the Serra Bernia.
Distance quoted 14 kms
Actual distance 9.5 kms

This is a 'tricky' route and so the time of 4/5 hours should be considered sensible, although shorter times can be achieved.

January 2017

Walk 7 Castell de Granadella

In September 2016 arsonists set fire to the nature reserve, destroying more than 800ha (2000 acres) as well as some villas, leaving a hideous wasteland. Sadly this once-beautiful walk is now best avoided.

October 2016

Walk 8 Penon de Ifach

The gate that had been put up across the path above the tunnel, while repairs and improvements to the path were carried out, has now been removed and the path to the summit is now open.

December 2015

Walk 2 Tossal Grau

The upper slopes above the refuge have been affected by a fire and some of the signposts are now charred stumps. It is not clear when they will be replaced.

Walk 3 Serra Segaria

Descent from the picnic area. The steep path is becoming very overgrown (perhaps through lack of use because of the steepness) and many walkers currently prefer to follow the road down to the house with the large concrete water tank.

Walk 8 Penon de Ifach

The park authorities. have placed a gate across the path above the tunnel because of fears the paths were becoming dangerously polished. The gate is easily (and frequently) avoided but signposts on the upper section have been removed to further deter visits to the summit. If you do go beyond the gate take extra care on the paths (though nowhere on the upper path is as polished as the section through the tunnel immediately below the new gate).

Walk 16 Alt de l'Ample

The pole and power lines where the path leaves the PRV to Cases de Bernia have gone. All that remains is a sawn-off pole.

Walk 23 Baranc de Racons or 5000 Steps

Some readers have suggested this merits a grade of Moderate/Strenuous rather than merely Moderate.

Walk 30 Bolulla Circuit/Raco Roig

The red arrow marking the spot where the path leaves the initial approach road has been repalced with a new dark blue one.

Walk 44 Mallada del Llop

The clearest – and best – path from the 'flatter area' at the top of the cultivated terraces above Famorca now attacks the slope more directly. It climbs the slopes and then contours round the heads of barrancs to reach the main ridge by the cairn which makes the start of the descent into the Barranc de la Canal. This is now the recommended route.

Reviews

"A great little guide that will easily fit into my pack and provide plenty of excitement if I want it. If you are a holiday maker and don’t venture far from the coast when you are visiting Spain you are missing out on a real experience and Spain has so much to offer... Spain is more mountainous than you would realise with many summits much higher than you will find in the UK.

Walking on the Costa Blanca is a great guide. It is well written, informative and at £14.95 is an inexpensive accompaniment to any holiday in the region, as you can’t really spend all week on beach can you?"

Climbing Gear Reviews

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"From what we’ve seen so far – your guides look to be the “bibles” of hikers. They look great, read great, they’re a great size, and contain loads of extra stuff that would benefit anyone. Even my other half was impressed and he’s seriously tough to please."

Spain Buddy

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"A true taste of everything the area has to offer. The book is as valuable for experts as it is for near-beginners."

The Post, Spain

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