MICHAEL'S WALKS: Sierra Bernia Circuit

This is a popular walk and deservedly so. It is a circuit encompassing the main part of the Sierra but excluding its Eastern end. Starting at an altitude of 650 meters gets you into easy contact with the higher part of the mountain. Yet the walk is quite challenging involving some easy short rock scrambles, short traverses across or slightly up scree, some steep climbs and a 30-meter long semi stoop/ crawl through the "Forat”. Views are magnificent especially from the Fort onwards. The ruined Fort is interesting and the "Forat” is a curious feature. This is a tunnel through the "rock spine" of the Sierra some 30 meters long and in part approx a meter high and wide, not claustrophobic as daylight shines through and taken with care, no hazards. Sometimes muddy.

In my opinion the better way around this walk is clockwise but an equally convenient stating point is from The Bernia Inn at Bancal Larga. This has the advantage of several restaurants at the end. The way described has the bars and restaurants of Altea La Vieja to look forward to.

Click here for map and directions
Click here for photos

WELCOME FROM MICHAEL

My purpose is to pass on these walks so you can enjoy them as much as I have. I want you to use them freely for non commercial purposes. Perhaps a donation to your favourite charity? The normal hazards in mountains apply but generally the conditions are benign, some cold and wet in winter, possibly the heat in summer is more dangerous. My personal advice is not to leave the paths as ground can be covered with spiky bushes concealing ankle breaking rocks. By "road" I mean surfaced, by "track" an unsurfaced one,(often rough). Paths vary from beautifully engineered mozarabic "muleways" to very rough hunters or goat paths. Updates are welcome.I am very grateful to Terry, my wife, who has helped to explore all the paths and often helped to clear them. Of course I owe much to my predecessors, especially my early mentor, Cristl. Batnick,who helped to found the excellent Costa Blanca Mountain Walking group. Also the early explorers, Roger Massingham, Bob Stansfield, (all on the web), and Eric Wright,(www.openlibrary.org/b/OL11958879M).Many walks are made possible by the generosity of the landowners, especially the Spanish, who allow walking on their land,please treat their property with respect. Being computer illiterate this website would not exist but for the enthusiastic, energetic and expert work of Jean and Bob Hall. Many thanks to them. Their website ,which complements this one, plus, is: www.costablancamountainwalks.com. Mike Davies. Dec 2009.

1 comment:

tompatAugust 16, 2013 at 1:32 PM
Fantastic. Just completed this with my wife and children (10 yr old and 7yr old boys). Pretty challenging for the kids (10 km hike and steep/rocky in parts), but they loved it...especially encountering mountain goats and the tunnel through the mountain. What a great day out. We feel totally exhillarated!! P.s. i'm not suggesting this walk is suitable for young children unless they are pretty hardy and carefree!!