COSTA BLANCA MOUNTAIN WALKERS - WALK DESCRIPTION

Walk description originally prepared by:- Jean & Bob Hall hallbobandjean@aol.com

Last Updated Nov. 2012

Title of Walk Passet del Golero from Rincon de Pepe

Location of Start Rincon de Pepe Restaurant on CV70

Key Statistics for walk - Distance in km 15.3km.

Key Statistics for walk - Ascent in m 803mtrs.

Key Statistics for walk - Walking time and total completion time including any stops

4 ½ hrs. 5 ½ hrs.

Key Statistics for walk - Grade S/A

Grid reference of start point 38.654853 0.176357

Directions to Start From La Nucia drive along the new road CV70 towards Benimantell to the restaurant & bar of Rincon de Pepe on the RHS near Km 35 which is about 2 km past the

house on the left with a big snail on the roof'. Park in the ample car park.

Short walk description Circular walk from Restaurant Rincon de Pepe, through Contador, down Passet del Golero, passing casa La Carrasca, through Buddhist colony and finally passing

Rooms of God to arrive back at restaurant.

Full Walk Description

This circular walk is very hard to beat for its variety of scenery. Although classified as hard, due to its length, it is all on good paths and tracks. It starts with a steep climb up to the Paso Contador. Once this has been achieved the rest of the walk is fairly gentle. A lovely stroll along the east side of the peaceful Arc Valley reaches the impressive zigzag of the Passet de Golero. Before descending take advantage of a rocky lookout which makes an ideal rest stop. Although the descent is not very long this old path should be taken slowly to admire the spectacular views. A long track walk, made pleasant with very varied scenery, reaches the old Farmhouse ‘La Carrasca’. The scenery changes once more, offering glimpses of the Buddhist Colony down in the valley before passing through the narrow pass of the Mas de Sanxet and below the impressive cliffs known as the ‘Rooms of God’. A long but easy stretch of path returns to the outward route and back to the start.

COSTA BLANCA MOUNTAIN WALKERS – WALK DESCRIPTION

THE WALK Elapsed Walking Time/ Note that times quoted are walking time only and do not include any rest stops or Distance so far lunch breaks. Underlined letters represent map references

START FROM RINCON DE PEPE A

Either walk 400meters up the CV-70 and take the first surfaced road sharp L B, or better cross road and go up the short concrete road passing to the R of Restaurant Ponderosa on to a casa and pass close along its N side to find a path zig zagging up (W) to a green cylindrical water tank C visible ahead. (6min .3km) 6min .3km Turn L (S) along surfaced road to a deposito/fuente on RHS D. (3min .2km) 9min .5km On the LHS of the Fuente find path going up to meet a track E .(This path is a little difficult to follow as it is sometimes very overgrown. When you reach a large bolder bear L by climbing over it. The path then becomes a little more distinct.) (7min .2km) 16min .7km Turn R up track (ignoring track off L) to reach a casita with steel garage door F. (3min .2km) 19min .9km Just before casita find track off L going up. Follow this track (path?) until it ends and find path continuing up until it meets a crosstrack G. (10min .5km) 29min 1.4 km

Turn L(S) up this main track to the Paso de Contador H, a narrow gap in rock cliffs. (14min.8km) 43min 2.2km

Continue down this main track and just after the second sharp bend find on the L a clear path (marked by 2 cairns) going down S J. (6min .5km) 49min 2.7km Follow this path passing a casita on your RHS. Near here it joins a wider path. Turn L along this path and continue to where it joins a track k. (16min 1.0km) 1h 5min 3.7km Turn L up track passing casa with solar panels on R. Continue to end of track at small field L. (13min .9km) 1h18min 4.6km Straight on find path. Take path to a shallow col. Continue straight on ignoring 2 paths off R to arrive at the amazing mozarabic path leading down the Passet del Galero M. (22min 1.3km) 1h40min 5.9km (Before descending continue a few meters to a rocky lookout which makes a lovely rest stop). Descend this zig-zagging path and soon after reaching the bottom ignore a path going down R. Continue along path (marked by blue dots) to arrive at area littered with lumber and junk. Continue pass an old casita on your LHS to reach a track N (15min .7km) 1h 55min 6.6km From here there are 2 options to reach the Farmhouse “La Carrasca”. Option A is the shorter but more difficult option via a steep often ill defined path. Option B is 1km longer via good tracks. OPTION B: Turn L and walk up to a sign R for the Buddhist Community .(8min 0.5km) 2h 3min 7.1km 25 mtrs. past the sign find path to the picturesque Font del Morer P.(2min 0.1km) 2h 5min 7.2km From near the Font find a path going SW. Take this faint path which can be overgrown down the S side of the barranco. At a tree in the path continue straight on (do not go up). Soon the path widens and passes some walnut trees to reach an olive bancale. Continue to SW corner where there is a pear tree Q. (4min 0.2km) 2h 9min 7.4km

COSTA BLANCA MOUNTAIN WALKS

PASSET DEL GOLERO (Cont’d.) From the pear tree scramble some 25 meters up a poor path towards the sheer cliffs to reach a better lateral path. This lateral path continues up SE skirting the base of the cliff to reach the Col de Basses between two peaks R.(8min 0.4km) 2h 17min 7.8km

The rather feint path (which can be overgrown in places) continues up passing the peak on its S side to reach a track with cairn S. (3min 0.1km) 2h 20min 7.9km

Turn L up this track and continue to a sharp bend. (4min 0.3km) 2h 24min 8.2km On the LHS of bend find a cairn and feint goat path leading up to Casa de la Carrasca. This path is very steep and rough but walk up keeping to the LHS of old bancales to reach a font T. (7min 0.2km) 2h 31min 8.4km This bad “path” can be avoided by; from the sharp bend continue walking along the track to reach a Y with large pine and

pile of stones and taking the LH track up to Casa de Carrasca.).

At the font take the path L which soon bears R and then L again before becoming a track which leads to

Casa de la Carrasca. (6min 0.3km) go tobelow 2h 37min 8.7km

OPTION B: Turn R. At barrier turn L following sign to Finistrat. At beginning of nicely treed area find track off L with chain and Y/W “X” U. (10min .8km) Take this track passing a casita on your L to arrive at another chain. Cross chain and continue up track to Y junction with tree in middle of junction. (26min 1.9km) Take track L to Casa La Carrasca. (8min .5km)

With your back to the door of the Casa Carrasca turn L. Straight ahead find path down which crosses terrace to reach a Y junction. (Option A will be retracing their steps for a little way) (3min .2km) 2h 40min 8.9km

Take path up R. Path rises to col. Continue down other side. Path becomes old track which arrives at an old cross track on the edge of a field V with large new building. (21min 1.3km) 3h 1min 10.2km Take track off sharp R which eventually passes a ruined casita on your L and becomes a path – continue to the lip of Sanxet W . (13min .9km) 3h 14min 11.1km The path now zigzags down and L (NNW) to pass below "waterfall” cliff. (8min .4km) 3h 22min 11.5 km Continue beneath the colourful cliffs of "Rooms of God" and reach a path off R and cairn X. (24min 1.3km) 3h 46min 12.8 km

Ignore this path and continue straight on. (From here on, when in doubt, follow black water pipe.) Arrive at a track Y. (21min 1.4km) 4h 7min 14.2km Turn R(E) and soon arrive at cross track Z. (2min .1km) 4h 9min 14.3km Turn L to Fuente and retrace outward path down to Rincon de Pepe. (15min .6km) 4h 24min 14.9km