Walking Holiday in Spain
WALKS FROM YOUR FRONT DOOR Coll
de Rates = Moderate Mountain Walk
Coll de Ferrer = Demanding Mountain Scramble
Maserof
= Easy Scenic Ramble
Les Murtes = Easy Scenic Stroll
Alcalali and Jalon
= Moderate Town and Country Walk
Caserío del Mirador
is located amongst some of the most spectacular scenery you will find, many guests
find it quite unnecessary to go anywhere else as there is so much to see and do
right on your door step. Here we list some of the most popular walks with
a brief description to give you a flavour. Coll de
Rates Moderate Mountain Walk
Distance 10km Ascent 350m Time 4hrs
The
Coll de Rates presides over the historic mountain pass that separates the Marina
Alta from the Marina Baja regions. From this point on the old main road from Pego
to Benidorm you can see the shimmering sea in the south interrupted by skyscrapers
on the coast, and in the north the rustic Jalon Valley with the hilltop town of
Parcent immediately below. This is a popular spot as the views are so magnificent
and people drive for miles to have lunch at the Coll de Rates Restaurant, which
looks as though it would be as much at home in the Alps. There is variety of landscapes
to experience on this walk, from rocky mountain gullies to panoramic vistas to
small cultivated groves. Coll de Ferrer Demanding Mountain
Scramble
Distance 9km Ascent 450m Time 5 hrs
This is a challenging
route where you need a head for heights, it is not for the feint hearted as you
will need to use all fours at times for a little rock work below rock climbing
grades. The rewards are outstanding as you traverse a ridge at nearly 900
meters that gives a vantage point over the surrounding mountain landscape and
coastline. To the north is the Coll de Rates with its radio masts and alpine restaurant,
the villages of Murla and Benichembla. To the south is the Serralla Massif, the
nearby Sierra Bernia and in the distance the famous Aitana. If you have a clear
day there is no missing the Balearic Islands out to sea. Maserof
Easy Scenic Ramble
Distance 4-8km Ascent 50m Time 1 - 2 hrs
20 minutes
walk from Caserío del Mirador is the small settlement of Maserof with a
couple of restaurants, a bar and an old finca (home of the local wine club). Maserof
has seen better days, many of the vines were killed off by disease in the early
20th century when most of its population emigrated to Argentina. The legacy is
a wonderful oasis of terraces cultivated by devoted farmers, old goat tracks and
the odd smallholding in the peaceful mountain landscape. The road continues up
to the foot of the Sierra Bernia where there are some more restaurants popular
with Sunday lunchtime visitors, but at other times this area is deserted. Les
Murtes Easy Scenic Stroll
Distance 2-4km Ascent 50m Time ½ - 1 hr
If
you have enjoyed a lazy day by the pool a short stroll is the ideal way to round
off the day in the cool evening sun. Our little valley has many different points
of interest and a surprising number of tracks. Not far is a small spring populated
with frogs, and there are old ruins and ancient terraces built by the Moors to
explore. Donkey rides can be organised at the nearby (5 minutes walk) donkey sanctuary,
which also serves drinks and food at lunchtime. Alcalali
and Jalon Moderate Town and Country Walk
Distance 8km Ascent 200m Time 2½
hrs
The road up the Les Murtes Valley was only built in the 1990's but
there is still the ancient network of tracks that follow gullies between mountains
and along dry river beds. The path down to Alcalali was the beginning of an important
route through the mountains that goes straight past the front of Caserío
del Mirador. It almost takes the same time to walk these routes as it does by
car on the road as they cut out much of the extra distance modern roads need to
negotiate the mountain climb. Market day in Alcalali is Thursday and Jalon Tuesday.
On Saturdays the Jalon Rastro is another attraction if you enjoy wandering around
a mixture of curiosities. The return journey past the Jalon town hall is 4.5km
up the Bernia road back home. | 
