Route - Two Fonts

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Route: Two Fonts Sketch Map This is part of PRV 181, one of the official short walks of the Comunidad Valenciana ("Senderos de pequeño recorrido" - literally "path of small journey"). For a list and details of all the routes in Alicante province see:
http://www.cma.gva.es/areas/montes/viasverdes/vias/prsl/alicante/index.pdf.
The PRV181 has a total length of 24km, but is divided into several loops which link up with each other. This is but one of the 4 loops.

Landmarks

Description

Time

Start 0 Parking place at Collada de Garga to 1 Signpost

Park on the right or left just before the Bar/Restaurant Venta el Collao at the crossroads on the Collada de Garga. Turn to face the way you came and take the waymarked footpath going off to the right through a copse of stunted trees. This path takes you along the northern side of the Sierra del Penyo ridge. You pass some finca conversions (including a wooden chalet) and good views of the Val de Laguart on the left. In the spring watch out for the delicate white flowers of Meadow Rue and purple Wild Peas. The path curves up to a wooden signpost at the crest of the ridge. All directions are PRV 181!
0 hours, 15 minutes

1Signpost to 2 large oak
Take the path signposted "Font de Carrasques". This takes you over the ridge and down the southern side with views over the Val de Pop towards the peak of Cocoll and the airstrip nearby. The path winds down through agricultural terraces, eventually merging with an unsurfaced road. Look out for a wire fence on the left opposite a large oak on the right. Waymarks and a green flash of paint on a rock tell that this is where you leave the road and turn left onto a footpath.
0hours, 40 minutes

2Large Oak to 3 Oak wood and 4 Font de Carraques
The footpath leads steeply down beside the fence through stunted oaks and shrubs. After 20 minutes it joins an unsurfaced road at a cairn. Turn left and after 20 metres turn right off the road and onto a footpath again. The path continues down into a stunted oak wood ; emerging from the oak wood the path winds down the gully of the Barranc de Carrasques and to the Font which flows into a trough beside the path.
1 hour 30 minutes

4 The font to 5 delapidated Finca
The path emerges from the thick vegetation of the gully. It slopes downwards, with rocky cliff faces on the right and good views of the Val de Pop on the left. There are steep terraces clad with pine trees . In the spring look out for Sea Mallow and Bladder Vetch and pink Catchfly. After 10 minutes it joins a concrete road. Turn right (red arrow and waymark). After 20 metres stop at an old run-down finca with a large fig tree in front. A good place for lunch.
1 hour 45 minutes

5. The delapidated finca to 6 Paco's house After lunch take a path which passes behind the finca and runs along some terraces. After a few minutes the path passes close to the front door of a modernised finca - this house belongs to a chap called Paco who is having a running battle with the authorities. He insists the land is private, but the path (PRV181) clearly goes through it. (Note: waymarks and signposts have "mysteriously" disappeared in the vicinity of this house over the past few years). Be prepared for some strong verbal protests as you pass! 1 hour 50 minutes

6. Paco's house to the Font de la mata Having safely negotiated Paco's house you join an unsurfaced road. Turn left heading downhill. In the spring time note the yellow flowers of Hoary Mullein beside the road. After about 100 metres note a signpost on the right indicating a foot path to the "Font de la Mata". Take this path which climbs up a gully to reach the font. 2 hours 30 mins

The Font de la Mata to the Terraces
After taking a refreshing drink, follow the path which leads straight up the gully. Listen for the songs of Nightingales. This area has a variety of wild flowers in the spring, including Love-in-a-mist, and Rock soapwort. After about 10 minutes the path meets an unsurfaced road. Turn left. After A further 10 minutes the road reaches a house, take the footpath past the front of the house, climbing upwards. The path passes through scrub and into almond terraces. In the Spring yellow snapdragons and Valencian Peas can be seen on the terraces..

3 hours

Terraces back to Collado de Garga The path runs along the terraces climbing gradually and eventually merges with an unsurfaced road. You are now heading east again, back towards the Collada de Garga. This road passes through open scubland. Wild flowers include White Mignonettes. After about 1Km look for a rather indistinct footpath off to the left. There is a red circle on a rock near the path and a lone oak tree opposite.( Click here for further details). The path climbs steeply then levels off to pass behind a house and join another unsurfaced road. Turn right to rejoin your cars. (Note if you miss this footpath the unsurfaced road also returns to the cars) 3 hours 30 mins.

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Marina Alta Walks

Landmarks	Description	Time
Start 0 Parking place at Collada de Garga to 1 Signpost	Park on the right or left just before the Bar/Restaurant Venta el Collao at the crossroads on the Collada de Garga. Turn to face the way you came and take the waymarked footpath going off to the right through a copse of stunted trees. This path takes you along the northern side of the Sierra del Penyo ridge. You pass some finca conversions (including a wooden chalet) and good views of the Val de Laguart on the left. In the spring watch out for the delicate white flowers of Meadow Rue and purple Wild Peas. The path curves up to a wooden signpost at the crest of the ridge. All directions are PRV 181!	0 hours, 15 minutes
1Signpost to 2 large oak	Take the path signposted "Font de Carrasques". This takes you over the ridge and down the southern side with views over the Val de Pop towards the peak of Cocoll and the airstrip nearby. The path winds down through agricultural terraces, eventually merging with an unsurfaced road. Look out for a wire fence on the left opposite a large oak on the right. Waymarks and a green flash of paint on a rock tell that this is where you leave the road and turn left onto a footpath.	0hours, 40 minutes
2Large Oak to 3 Oak wood and 4 Font de Carraques	The footpath leads steeply down beside the fence through stunted oaks and shrubs. After 20 minutes it joins an unsurfaced road at a cairn. Turn left and after 20 metres turn right off the road and onto a footpath again. The path continues down into a stunted oak wood ; emerging from the oak wood the path winds down the gully of the Barranc de Carrasques and to the Font which flows into a trough beside the path.	1 hour 30 minutes
4 The font to 5 delapidated Finca	The path emerges from the thick vegetation of the gully. It slopes downwards, with rocky cliff faces on the right and good views of the Val de Pop on the left. There are steep terraces clad with pine trees . In the spring look out for Sea Mallow and Bladder Vetch and pink Catchfly. After 10 minutes it joins a concrete road. Turn right (red arrow and waymark). After 20 metres stop at an old run-down finca with a large fig tree in front. A good place for lunch.	1 hour 45 minutes
5. The delapidated finca to 6 Paco's house	After lunch take a path which passes behind the finca and runs along some terraces. After a few minutes the path passes close to the front door of a modernised finca - this house belongs to a chap called Paco who is having a running battle with the authorities. He insists the land is private, but the path (PRV181) clearly goes through it. (Note: waymarks and signposts have "mysteriously" disappeared in the vicinity of this house over the past few years). Be prepared for some strong verbal protests as you pass!	1 hour 50 minutes
6. Paco's house to the Font de la mata	Having safely negotiated Paco's house you join an unsurfaced road. Turn left heading downhill. In the spring time note the yellow flowers of Hoary Mullein beside the road. After about 100 metres note a signpost on the right indicating a foot path to the "Font de la Mata". Take this path which climbs up a gully to reach the font.	2 hours 30 mins
The Font de la Mata to the Terraces	After taking a refreshing drink, follow the path which leads straight up the gully. Listen for the songs of Nightingales. This area has a variety of wild flowers in the spring, including Love-in-a-mist, and Rock soapwort. After about 10 minutes the path meets an unsurfaced road. Turn left. After A further 10 minutes the road reaches a house, take the footpath past the front of the house, climbing upwards. The path passes through scrub and into almond terraces. In the Spring yellow snapdragons and Valencian Peas can be seen on the terraces..	3 hours
Terraces back to Collado de Garga	The path runs along the terraces climbing gradually and eventually merges with an unsurfaced road. You are now heading east again, back towards the Collada de Garga. This road passes through open scubland. Wild flowers include White Mignonettes. After about 1Km look for a rather indistinct footpath off to the left. There is a red circle on a rock near the path and a lone oak tree opposite.( Click here for further details). The path climbs steeply then levels off to pass behind a house and join another unsurfaced road. Turn right to rejoin your cars. (Note if you miss this footpath the unsurfaced road also returns to the cars)	3 hours 30 mins.