Sierra Bernia circuit (Clockwise) via the Forat (hole through the ridge) and Fort (PRV-7 Benissa)
See "Mountain Walks on the Costa Blanca (Bob Stansfield 1995) for description of anti-clockwise route
See http://www.dip-alicante.es/medioambiente/senderos/ for Route description from Altea side (in Spanish). Be prepared to wait. This site is very slow!

Waymarks: Yes, green and yellow
Location and map reference; The junction between the Marina Alta and the Marina Baixa regions of the Costa Blanca. The Sierra Bernia is a 9 km limestone ridge running west to east from the Algar valley above Bolula to Calpe.Walk starts 14 Km from Benissa; 12 Km from Jalon on northern side of ridge.
Mapa Topografico Nacional de Espana 1:25000 822-IV- Benissa (actually on the junction between a few maps) Also: Benidorm: L30-33 (848)
For further information click on the following links:
Route description
Natural History and Geology
Historical Interest
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Distance, approximate time and degree of difficulty:
8 + Km (Bob Stansfield says 14 Km!); 4.5 to 5 hours. The Benissa Tourist Office official guide ranks this walk as “moderate” to be done in 3.5 hours. The Alicante Senderos web site rank its difficulty as "low". Please note it requires some agility with quite a bit of rock scrambling. The path is steep and slippery in some place and there is scree to cross. It's not a route for folks with bad backs, since you have to bend double or squat to get through the “forat”.
People with a fear of heights may experience discomfort when flanking the gully.

What to look out for en route:
Contrasting panoramic views from the north and south faces of the ridge; the marked change in climate as you pass through the forat from the north to the south. Explore the Fort de Bernia. No point in doing this walk on a cloudy day!

How to get there by car:
From Benissa approx 20 to 30 minutes. If traveling from the north, leave Benissa on the N332, soon after starting downhill on leaving town look for a sliproad on the right signposted Xalo/Jalon. At 50 metres this meets an offset crossroads. Turn right then immediately left onto the CV749, signposted Pinos and Sierra Bernia. Follow this (very scenic) road 14Km to a T junction . The right turn is signposted Jalon/Xalo. Ignore this, turn left and drive a few hundred metres to park near the Bar/Restaurant de la Sierra Bernia or at the parking space just past the bar near a large sign which indicates the start of the walk.

Notes supplied by: Derek and Joan Franklin; David and Ann Parton, Chris Betterton-Jones. Other sources acknowledged in the text.

Right click here and select "Save Target As" to download Video Clip (The Clip is actually of the short, anti-clockwise walk to the Fort; supplied by Fabio Bezoari
To see the video clip you need Windows Media Player installed on your computer

Marina Alta Walks