23 Mar 2009 - Monday Club Pinos walk

March is one of the best months for walking in this part of Spain, warm sunny days but not too hot. And Pinos is a lovely spot to walk from. This walk took us around the lower slopes of Bernia and takes about 5 hours - including a considerable stop for a picnic lunch!

As always we stopped for a drink after the walk, but this time we were in for a treat. At a nearby table a group suddenly started to sing, or rather to yodel. They turned out to be a group of Austrians, and they had an even greater treat for us. As we were about to leave, one of them asked us to wait a few minutes. Four of them went to the car park, and returned with these huge alpine horns. They played a couple of tunes, to the great entertainment of all the customers in the restraurant.

A lovely end to a lovely walk.

16 Mar 2009 - Monday Club 2000 Steps

If I had to pick one favourite walk of all those we do with the Monday Club it would have to be this one. Its actually a 2000 Steps Plus walk, as it involves an extension to the bottom of the Inferno Barranco.

This walk is led by Peter, and starts from Benimaurell. We walk down a path towards Fleix, then turn down a steep track which leads to an impressive short tunnel. Then down more steps to the barranco (dry river bed). We follow this river to a large rock cairn, where the 2000 steps begins the return journey.

Here we do an extension for another half hour or so, which takes us to the bottom of the Inferno Barranco, a huge cave like area. Really, really impressive.

Then its back again to the cairn, where we usually have our picnic lunch. Then up the very steep climb to yet more steps. The path goes up, and up and up. Eventually we reach Benimaurell and the cafe for a well deserved beer.

An excellent walk, which we have done twice now. Its a quite strenuous walk, and I think some of our group find it pretty hard going. However its such an enjoyable, and challenging, walk that it would be a pity if we did not attempt it at last once a year.

11 Mar 2009 - Granadella Recce

Another recce of the Combre del Sol to Granadella beach walk. This time in reverse, so that we could walk down the steep, winding hill. We started from the hipicia as usual, across to the mirador, up and over the ridge and down to the ruined tower for a break. Then along the coastal path to Granadella beach for lunch. Avoiding the baranco we climbed the hill to rejoin the path to Combre del Sol. All agreed it was a much better walk, particularly in the hotter months when the steep winding road can be a reall killer.