EARC
Visit to Mallorca September 2015 – Part 1
On 4 September 20 members of East Antrim
Rambling Club left Belfast International Airport for a week in Mallorca.
Gerard and Teresa had suggested the trip
12 months previously and had rashly offered not only to organise it but to lead
us on 4 walks. The response was enthusiastic and within weeks, G & T had
sorted out both our travel and our accommodation in Puerto de Pollensa, which made life very easy for everyone else.
Our arrival was a little later than
planned due to an unscheduled stopover in Ibiza for several hours – we were
diverted there because of a tornado in Palma! That evening it rained heavily
and spirits were a little dampened. However the next morning, the sky was blue
and remained so for most of the week, with only a little drizzle the afternoon
before we left. Temperatures were very pleasant for walking and the terrain we
walked on was considerably drier than the rather soggy conditions we sometimes
have to contend with in the Glens of Antrim or in the Sperrins!
For our first
walk, G & T led us from our hotel - situated 100 metres from the beach - along
the promenade, to the far end of the town, so that we could get our bearings
and from there we followed the Pine Walk next the water, until we reached the
start of a rocky trail, which took us through the Boquer
Valley and eventually to the Cala Boquer.
During lunch on the beach we were befriended by a very inquisitive goat! When
we got back to Puerto Pollensa, we discovered a very
convenient beach bar just across the road from our hotel, which enabled us to
ensure nobody suffered from dehydration after the exercise!
The next day we
set off in sunshine again to walk over the Siller
Pass to the pretty little resort at Cala San Vicente.
From there we climbed a stony path past an old stone quarry and eventually to
the opening to an old gunnery tunnel, which those who had come prepared with
torches, were able to explore. On this walk we had wonderful, dramatic coastal
scenery and the views from the summit were spectacular. This area has
associations with the Spanish Civil War and part of our route took us along a
wide track built by Republican prisoners.
On our third day
of walking, we caught a bus to the old town of Alcudia,
to spend a day walking on the Alcudia peninsula,
overlooking Pollensa bay on one side and Alcudia bay on the other.
Our last day of
walking started with a short bus journey inland to the old town of Pollensa, where we climbed the 365 steps of the Calvari staircase and were rewarded with wonderful views
back to Puerto de Pollensa on the coast and over to
the Formentor peninsula. After descending again,
another hour’s climb took us to the Sanctuary on the Puig
de Maria, an 18th century chapel, refectory and cells within a
fortified courtyard, which was a lovely setting for our last outdoor lunch.
With 2 free days and a wide choice of
restaurants to choose from each evening, we had plenty of time and space in
which to recover after our exertions. Our week in Mallorca was an unqualified
success, thanks to Gerard and Teresa’s meticulous organisation, their local
knowledge and their outstanding abilities as walk leaders.
