Sierra del Penyo - Short Route

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Route: Caballo Verde Ridge (Sierra del Penyo, Caball Vert) from Benimaurell (short and long routes) Sketch Map
also known as the "Serra del Penyal de Laguart"

Landmarks

Description

Time

Start

0 Bar Oasis to
1 Signpost to Collado de la Garga
Leave your car and continue along the road for a few metres until it turns sharp right out of the village. Turn left into the village, and then immediately right; take the first left again and first right. (You are effectively skirting the southern side of Benimaurell). You now join a concrete lane which leaves the village and heads in the direction of the ridge. The road leads uphill. After about 50m note a sign post marking PRV 181 . This points in two directions. Left to the Cavall Vert (your return route) and right to the Collado de Garga. Turn right onto a narrow footpath.

0 hours, 5 minutes

1 Signpost to 2 link with road.
The path, which is a mozarabic trail, climbs gently up through cherry and almond orchards. It zig-zags up beneath crags of the shady side of the ridge (the Umbria). In the autumn see the flowers of Autumn crocus, Smilax, Sea squills, Ivy, Mediterranean Mezereon and hawthorn. As you climb look right for views of the Val de Laguart and the gorge of the Barranco del Inferno. After 35 minutes the path is eroded and may be slippery after rain. It then levels off along a terrace and rejoins the road. ( In the spring look out for the yellow spikes of Agrimony and the huge puffy seed heads of Salsify.)
0 hours 45 mins

2 Link with road to 3 Signpost at the Col
Turn left up the road. After about 10 metres turn left again onto a footpath at a signpost to Collado de Garga. The path climbs and crosses a terrace wall to join a broader track near a house guarded by dogs. Turn right onto this track and then up through almond groves. After about 15 minutes you reach the top of the ridge and another signpost. This is a good place to take a break and enjoy the views to the south over the Val de Pop (Jalon river valley) to the high peak of Cocoll with radio masts on top.
1 hour 0 minutes

From 3 - the signpost at the Col to 4 the lone tree on the peak.
The signpost shows 4 directions: Benimaurell; Font de Carrasques; Collada da Garga and Cavall Verd. This time take the path to the Cavall Verd which leads back along the ridge. The track initially follows the southern side of the ridge. Follow the yellow and white waymarks and ignore a small path which go off to the left towards a peak above with a cross on the top. The path dips slightly and crosses a terraced gully, then climbs the south face of the ridge. The village of Benichembla and the wider Jalon valley come into view. There is bit of rough and unstable path to the ridge top, then you have views in all directions. Continue for a few more minutes until you reach a lone tree on a low peak . Here is an ideal place to rest and enjoy the panoramic views: Ahead the twin peaks of the Penya Roig (still over 2km away); and in the distance the Mediterranean and Montgo.

2 hours

From 4. The tree to 5. Turnoff for return path of short route . The good footpath ends here. Continue along the ridge top, taking note of waymarks so that you follow the correct route. Some agility is required in this section. The ridge is quite broad, so there should be no problems with vertigo, however the track is indistinct in places and very rocky. In the autumn you may see the flowers of wild asparagus, and thyme. After a short scramble the path dips into a wide rocky area where there are two or three cairns. These mark the return route for the short walk which branches sharp left (pretty much a U turn) 2 hours 40 minutes

A: SHORT ROUTE
From 5. The turnoff to 1. Signpost The path zig-zags down. In places it is rather steep and a bit unstable underfoot. In the autumn see the flowers of Aromatic inula, After 30 mins it joins a concrete track. If you have time for a detour there is a path off to the left which leads to a cave ( 10 minutes). Otherwise follow the concrete track down towards Benimaurell. Within 10 mins you reach the signpost at the start of the walk. A further 10 minutes brings you back to the car (and a beer at Bar Oasis). 3 hours 30 minutes

B: LONG ROUTE
From Turn off of short route to 6. Penyo Roig Continue along the ridge following yellow and white waymarks carefully. The path sometimes follows the ridge along the top, but usually skirts it to the right or left. In some places it is necessary to do a bit of rock scrambling. Finally you reach a col at the base of the Penyo Roig. This col is home to a carpet of Autumn crocuses in the late autumn. 4 hours 10 minutes

From 6. Penyo Roig to 7 Junction with minor road The path descends to the left of the peak, zig-zagging down. It is rather loose underfoot and skittery, so take care. At the bottom it meets an unsurfaced road. To the left a no entry sign, to the right it leads to a quarry, and opposite there is a copse of oak trees. Our path crosses this unmade road and passes between the oak trees to enter woodland. It zig-zags down the hillside eventually joining a concreted road. Turn right, the concrete gives way to an unsurfaced road. Continue past a wire fenced field on your left and turn left onto a tarmac minor road. 4 hours 40 minutes

From 7. Junction with minor road to Benimaurell Continue on this minor road. You pass a small house "Caseta de Adolfo" then cherry orchards. After about 10 minutes you arrive at a spring, the Font del Penyo and 20 minutes later the Font del Cambesot. Soon after the minor road joins the main road from Fleix. Turn left and continue back to Benimaurell 5 hours 40 minutes

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Marina Alta Walks

Landmarks	Description	Time
Start 0 Bar Oasis to 1 Signpost to Collado de la Garga	Leave your car and continue along the road for a few metres until it turns sharp right out of the village. Turn left into the village, and then immediately right; take the first left again and first right. (You are effectively skirting the southern side of Benimaurell). You now join a concrete lane which leaves the village and heads in the direction of the ridge. The road leads uphill. After about 50m note a sign post marking PRV 181 . This points in two directions. Left to the Cavall Vert (your return route) and right to the Collado de Garga. Turn right onto a narrow footpath.	0 hours, 5 minutes
1 Signpost to 2 link with road.	The path, which is a mozarabic trail, climbs gently up through cherry and almond orchards. It zig-zags up beneath crags of the shady side of the ridge (the Umbria). In the autumn see the flowers of Autumn crocus, Smilax, Sea squills, Ivy, Mediterranean Mezereon and hawthorn. As you climb look right for views of the Val de Laguart and the gorge of the Barranco del Inferno. After 35 minutes the path is eroded and may be slippery after rain. It then levels off along a terrace and rejoins the road. ( In the spring look out for the yellow spikes of Agrimony and the huge puffy seed heads of Salsify.)	0 hours 45 mins
2 Link with road to 3 Signpost at the Col	Turn left up the road. After about 10 metres turn left again onto a footpath at a signpost to Collado de Garga. The path climbs and crosses a terrace wall to join a broader track near a house guarded by dogs. Turn right onto this track and then up through almond groves. After about 15 minutes you reach the top of the ridge and another signpost. This is a good place to take a break and enjoy the views to the south over the Val de Pop (Jalon river valley) to the high peak of Cocoll with radio masts on top.	1 hour 0 minutes
From 3 - the signpost at the Col to 4 the lone tree on the peak.	The signpost shows 4 directions: Benimaurell; Font de Carrasques; Collada da Garga and Cavall Verd. This time take the path to the Cavall Verd which leads back along the ridge. The track initially follows the southern side of the ridge. Follow the yellow and white waymarks and ignore a small path which go off to the left towards a peak above with a cross on the top. The path dips slightly and crosses a terraced gully, then climbs the south face of the ridge. The village of Benichembla and the wider Jalon valley come into view. There is bit of rough and unstable path to the ridge top, then you have views in all directions. Continue for a few more minutes until you reach a lone tree on a low peak . Here is an ideal place to rest and enjoy the panoramic views: Ahead the twin peaks of the Penya Roig (still over 2km away); and in the distance the Mediterranean and Montgo.	2 hours
From 4. The tree to 5. Turnoff for return path of short route .	The good footpath ends here. Continue along the ridge top, taking note of waymarks so that you follow the correct route. Some agility is required in this section. The ridge is quite broad, so there should be no problems with vertigo, however the track is indistinct in places and very rocky. In the autumn you may see the flowers of wild asparagus, and thyme. After a short scramble the path dips into a wide rocky area where there are two or three cairns. These mark the return route for the short walk which branches sharp left (pretty much a U turn)	2 hours 40 minutes
A: SHORT ROUTE From 5. The turnoff to 1. Signpost	The path zig-zags down. In places it is rather steep and a bit unstable underfoot. In the autumn see the flowers of Aromatic inula, After 30 mins it joins a concrete track. If you have time for a detour there is a path off to the left which leads to a cave ( 10 minutes). Otherwise follow the concrete track down towards Benimaurell. Within 10 mins you reach the signpost at the start of the walk. A further 10 minutes brings you back to the car (and a beer at Bar Oasis).	3 hours 30 minutes
B: LONG ROUTE From Turn off of short route to 6. Penyo Roig	Continue along the ridge following yellow and white waymarks carefully. The path sometimes follows the ridge along the top, but usually skirts it to the right or left. In some places it is necessary to do a bit of rock scrambling. Finally you reach a col at the base of the Penyo Roig. This col is home to a carpet of Autumn crocuses in the late autumn.	4 hours 10 minutes
From 6. Penyo Roig to 7 Junction with minor road	The path descends to the left of the peak, zig-zagging down. It is rather loose underfoot and skittery, so take care. At the bottom it meets an unsurfaced road. To the left a no entry sign, to the right it leads to a quarry, and opposite there is a copse of oak trees. Our path crosses this unmade road and passes between the oak trees to enter woodland. It zig-zags down the hillside eventually joining a concreted road. Turn right, the concrete gives way to an unsurfaced road. Continue past a wire fenced field on your left and turn left onto a tarmac minor road.	4 hours 40 minutes
From 7. Junction with minor road to Benimaurell	Continue on this minor road. You pass a small house "Caseta de Adolfo" then cherry orchards. After about 10 minutes you arrive at a spring, the Font del Penyo and 20 minutes later the Font del Cambesot. Soon after the minor road joins the main road from Fleix. Turn left and continue back to Benimaurell	5 hours 40 minutes