Mallorca (Balearic Islands) Author Update
From Charles Davis, author/researcher
20 February 2014 17:39
Bit of vital information for our updates pages:
Anybody planning on walking the Dry Stone Way, Mallorca (GR221) has a slightly surreal and stunningly irritating headache coming their way.
The refuge at Tossals Verds is closed on safety grounds and won’t be open before October if then. There is no comparable accommodation between Soller and Lluc. The ‘alternatives’ (such as they are) proposed by the authorities can be found here:
http://www.conselldemallorca.net/media/34483/alternatives_tossals_ANG.pdf
Taxiing back and forth between Cuber and Lluc rather spoils the point of doing a LDP*. Staying at Cuber would be lovely, though it might be a bit Spartan for some tastes and implies carrying extra weight. To get an idea of what this unmanned refuge is like, see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwweVJtw1fE or google ‘refugio cuber’ for photos.
*LDP = Long Distance Path
The map section above shows a section of Walk! Mallorca Tour & Trail Map to illustrate the relative locations of Tossals Verd and Cuber. For more information on Mallorca maps and walking see http://www.dwgwalking.co.uk/mall.htm
Walk Around The Malverns – a change to Walk 25
Author/researcher Bob Greaves has re-walked a section of Walk 25 ‘Old Storridge Green’ to resolve an access issue:-
From: Bob Greaves, researcher and author of Walk around the Malverns.
The gate at Wp.14 now has a sign ‘Private No Public Right of Way’ so the route is blocked. This is such a shame as this has been a through route for decades, maybe even centuries; you will see that I actually describe it as ‘an ancient way’ in the text. However that doesn’t guarantee that it’s a public right of way!
There is a straightforward alternative which is to follow the ‘Geopark Way’ from Wp.12 to Wp.16,
unfortunately not so attractive and missing out on the ‘North Hill from Birchwood’ view. An alternative description might be:-
“….up a beautiful, sun-dappled track through woodland. Where a footpath crosses ours we turn right and follow the frequent signposts for the ‘Geopark Way’, out of woodland and up the left hand side of a couple of fields. With orchards and the courtyard development we passed earlier down to our right we turn left up a track back into woodland.
Out of the woods the path, smaller now, is through long grass to an updated black and white farmhouse. We skirt this anti-clockwise following yellow paint daubs then head straight on between fences to a lane. Here we have a brief opportunity to look across Birchwood Common before turning right. Finishing our dalliance with the ‘Geopark Way’, where the lane swings left and a track goes straight on……”
Bob
More information on Walk! Around The Malverns can be found here: http://www.dwgwalking.co.uk/malverns.htm
7 Hours of sun a day in February? That’s Lanzarote For You
It’s little wonder that Lazarote, part of Spain’s Canary Islands, is so popular as a winter escape. Even in February, there’s an average of seven hours of sunshine a day.
The image (right) was taken on a walking route in Haria, in the island’s north.This region receives the lion’s share of rainfall which, added to the rich volcanic soil, makes for an area rich in wild and endemic plant life.
Want to see a sample route? Click here for a pdf download of http://www.dwgwalking.co.uk/lanzsamplewalk26.pdf
And if you like that, there’s an entire book-full of 39 walks complete with full descriptions, maps and images for £4.99 to download http://www.dwgwalking.co.uk/lanzWalkSpec.htm
Andorra? Winter sports? No – walking, of course!
Andorra? Winter sports? No – walking, of course!
As the Winter Olympics fills the news, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’d caught the skiing bug; after all, isn’t that why you’d take an adventure holiday to the tiny yet mountainous Principality of Andorra?
With plenty of snow most winters, it’s easy to see the attraction for skiers. But when they’ve all gone home and Spring arrives, the ski lifts are quiet and so are the mountains. Now it’s the walker’s turn to enjoy some of those 300 per year sunny days. Use those ski lifts to gain altitude and walk on top of the world.
Take a look at Walk! Andorra, available as a pdf download for £4.99.
http://www.dwgwalking.co.uk/andorra.htm
There’s also a sample route here to download for free:-
Madeira – the Garden Isle
If you were standing, right now, on the Pico do Ruivo, Madeira, and looked west, this is the view you’d be seeing. After one of the gloomiest, darkest northern European winters on record, wouldn’t this do your soul good, not to mention your fitness 🙂 ?
Madeira has long been an A-grade walking destination, offering levada walking along man-made water canals as well as trails for the most adventurous mountain hiker. Then there’s the wonderful endemic plant life too. The best thing is – simply go and see for yourself.
Here’s the map that goes with the photo.
There’s more information here :- http://www.dwgwalking.co.uk/mad.htm
Europe’s 10 Best Adventure Destinations? What’s Your Opinion?
According to the Huffington Post, these are the 10 best adventure destinations in Europe.
We’re pleased to see two of our top favourites, the Canary Islands (Spain) and Madeira (Portugal) included.
Take a look – which destinations would make your top ten?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minube/europes-10-best-adventure_b_4315349.html



