The plan was to have a cheese-fueled weekend in the Bajo Maestrazgo region of Valencian Community. We explored the trail around the towns of Catí and Sant Mateu. Here's how it went.
Day Hikes
The Hanging Bridges of Chulilla
One of the 'must do' hiking routes of the Valencian province is The Hanging Bridges of Chulilla. This is a route along the Turia river, through the impressive canyon to Charco Azul, the Loriguilla Reservoir and of course, across the famous hanging bridges. The route started in Chulilla, the weather was cloudy and a little chilly … Continue reading The Hanging Bridges of Chulilla
Snow Hike!
We went to the snow. Snow is fun! Dmitry (allegedly)* beats up small children. That is all I am allowed to remember. The end. *To stay safe from polonium poisoning, we must use the word allegedly. P.S. Dmitry said that I make good jokes and that I could write that here as well. Thank you … Continue reading Snow Hike!
Maús Castle
Maús Castle is located in the Sierra Espadán and has commanding views across the area. The trip involved a hike through a magical forest before an ascent to the castle in the hopes of finding a mouse. The hike began in the village of Sueras. Fuelled by Allen's Christmas chocolates (thanks Allen), we started uphill … Continue reading Maús Castle
The Peak of Bernia
Bernia is a mountain in that you can go both up and through! Although it is within Alicante provinces there are epic views along all of the Mediterranean coastline. Our hike began at Casas de Bernia, which is a restaurant with a great view of the area towards the sea. Although it took some convincing … Continue reading The Peak of Bernia
The Rocks of Cullera
The Rocks of Cullera in the Sierra Espadán is one of the best vantage points in the area. From the rock formation it is possible to see all the way to Valencia and the sea. The 15km circular route we did from Almedíjar had a wide variety of trails, including some very wet ones! We … Continue reading The Rocks of Cullera
The Ascent to Benicadell
Benicadell (1104m) is the tallest peak in the Benicadell Mountain Range in the south of Valencia province. We went for a 14km hike following a mostly circular route and we even did some scrambling to reach the peak. The views from the mountain are incredible and you can see both Valencia and Alicante province. We … Continue reading The Ascent to Benicadell
Espadán Peak
The Sierra Espadán has some of the most epic routes in Communitat Valencia. We did the classic Pico Espadán route via Gurugú Peak (also known as Peña del Pastor). The route was challenging but very fun. It included ropes, inclines of over 30%, a lot of scrambling and some human sacrifices. We started in the village … Continue reading Espadán Peak
The Acorn Peak and Puntal de l’Aljub
We did a challenging 12km route to two peaks, Puntal de l’Aljub and the Acorn Peak (Pico Bellota). These peaks have the best views of the Sierra Espadán and further afield. The route goes through the municipalities of Eslida and Chóvar via the pine and cork tree forests that are typical of the Sierra Espadán. … Continue reading The Acorn Peak and Puntal de l’Aljub
Alpuente Gorge
We went to Alpuente, in the north-east of Valencia Province, to explore the trails through the gorge and visit the castle and Medieval aqueduct. The route was about 10km long with 350m of elevation gain. Our first destination was the castle. We walked up through the town whilst admiring the bright crochet decorations on the … Continue reading Alpuente Gorge