☻ Mallorca has a huge trail network: some of the trails were built during the time of the Arabs (902-1229), other trails cross the forests to places where charcoal was produced, others lead to inaccessible places on the coast. These were built by tobacco- smugglers around 1920 or for the watchtowers against pirates (built in the 16th century). Around Valldemossa the Austrian Archduke Lluis Salvador also built panoramic trails.
☻ A big problem is private trails being closed. However recently, the Departament de Medi Ambient (the dry-stone wall building college) and the GEM (Majorcan mountain club) have opened and signposted a wide range of "lost" or overgrown trails.
☻92% of the mountain range "Serra de Tramuntana" is private property. Free access is only possible on public land and on public trails. And even in these, some owners don´t recognize free access and apply to the courts to close public trails.
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They are plenty of reasons to close a trail and sometimes the owner has been provoked by "hooligans" who have crossed his land. Lighting of fires, leaving rubbish, noisy people, hikers who forget to close gates, are also other reasons for closing a trail. |
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We list here some of the closed trails: |
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Around Banyalbufar: |
- Banyalbufar- Estellencs: It´s a public trail and part of the trail GR 221 which crosses the island. Since 2001 there has been a sign on the gate of Es Rafal. You could open the gate and cross the land. At the end of 2006, the courts declared that they owner could close the trail. At the beginning of 2007 it was closed. The government is dealing with this case and will try to open the trail again.+ Information
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Around Sóller: |
- S´Arrom- Es Cornadors
- Coll de Sóller- Puig des Teix
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Around Orient: there isn´t any open trail between Orient and Sóller |
- Comasema,
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Around Alaró: |
- The direct trail between Es Verger and Castell d'Alaró is closed
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Around Lluc: |
- The hike "Around the Puig Roig": open only on Sundays.
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Around Pollença: |
- Castell del Rei: it was open on Saturdays. Now it´s always closed.
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Around Sóller: |
- Binis- "Camí des Cingles" : It is a public trail but the owner has put up signs forbidding entry.
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A couple of landowners are charging a fee for crossing their private property. |
- Massanella: It is the second highest mountain of Mallorca. Since February 1996, if you take the normal route, you have had to pay 4 € (2008)
- Solleric: between Orient and Tossals Verds, 3 €. The watcher is rarely there.
- In the recent years, the Balearic Government has bought land (Albarca, S´Alqueria Vella) in the northeast, in the north (Son Real) and in the southwest (Coma d'en Vidal, near Estellencs, Galatzó and Planícia) and several trails has been signposted
- The GEM (Majorcan mountain club) has organised clearing an overgrown trail every year sine 1997 (Sa Costera, the trail between Estellencs and Banyalbufar, the one between Esporles and Port des Canonge)
- The dry stone wall building college is responsible for renovating public trails. They are working on the trail GR 221 which is going to cross the island from Port d'Andratx to Pollença. Other trails where they have worked are: Castell d´Alaró, the trail from Esporles to Banyalbufar, the trail from Deià to Sóller, the Barranc de Biniaraix, the trail to Puig de Maria near Pollença, the old trails from Caimari to Lluc and from here to Pollença. From 2004 the Department of Environment of the Mallorca Council has overtaken the functions of the college.
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Between 1920 and 1960 tobacco smuggling created an important network of steep, difficult trails across isolated coastal areas. The tobacco came from northern Africa on big ships and,12 miles from the coast, it was loaded ionto fishing boats. Afterwards it was hidden inside small coastal caves until it was transported on foot to the nearest road. It´s fascinating to find walls and steps carved in the steep cliffs. Only the expert hiking guides can lead you there. |
- Smugglers were very active in the coastal region around Puig Roig (northwest of Lluc) . You can still see one former police station, "Quarter des Carabiners" .
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The key sections along these steep trails are known as "passos". The pictures are from the "Pas des Pinetons" not far from Mortitx. Other important "passos" are: the trail to the Cova Tancada (Alcúdia), "Pas de s´Argamassa" (Sa Calobra), "Pas des Recó" (Deià), "Pas des Pescadors" (Cala Sant Vicenç), "Pas de Na Cordellina" and "Pas de s'Heura" (Port de Sóller). |
►Signposted trails Information and maps from the website of the Department of Environment
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Southwestern area of Serra de Tramuntana (Andratx, Estellencs, Banyalbufar, Esporles) |
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Central Area of Serra de Tramuntana (Valldemossa, Deià, Bunyola, Alaró) |
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Southwestern Area of Serra de Tramuntana (Andratx, Estellencs, Banyalbufar, Esporles) |
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Pas Vermell | - | ||
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Camí de la Trapa | - | ||
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Camí de
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Camí de Calvià a Estellencs* |
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Pas des Cossi |
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Camí des coll des Carniceret |
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Camí de ses Serveres |
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Camí de Puigpunyent a Calvià | + | |||
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Camí vell de Puigpunyent a Estellencs** |
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Camí des Grau |
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Camí de sa Campaneta |
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Camí vell d'Andratx a Estellencs |
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Camí vell d'Estellencs a Banyalbufar Camí des Rafal |
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Camí des Correu |
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Volta des General |
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Camí des Pescadors |
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Vidal till Estellencs
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Central Area of Serra de Tramuntana (Valldemossa, Deià, Bunyola, Alaró) |
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