El Mirabo - Route

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Route: El Mirabo (counter-clockwise) Sketch Map This is one of Bob Stansfield's walks which appeared in the Costa Blanca News in June 1995. He described the walk in a clockwise direction. The description given here is Bob's walk in reverse. Some of his landmarks have changed, but the Barranc d'Almadich remains largely unspoilt.

Landmarks

Description

Time

Start 0 Parking place in Benichembla to 1 Turn off

Cross the main road and turn right, walking away from the village. In March to June on the roadside you can see many Hollow-stemmed Asphodels After about 5 mins turn left onto a broad, concrete surfaced road. On your left you will see some roughly built cattle pens.

0 hours, 5 minutes

1Turnoff to 2 start of footpath

Follow this track (now rather rough underfoot) through stands of Pricky Pear Cactus on either side. On the right you pass a large rock and carob tree. A ruined finca is seen on the left. Look for a footpath which goes off sharp right just before the finca. A red arrow painted on a rock indicates the footpath.

0hours 15 minutes

2 Start of footpath to 3 Barranc de Bous
The well defined, rocky footpath (a Mozarabic trail) climbs gently, zig-zagging upwards and heading west up the valley of the Jalon river (Val de Pop) away from Benichembla. The path flattens off and passes through a small terraced gully with pine and gorse on either side, then turns left into a larger gully. This is the "Barranc de bous" (cattle gully).

1 hour 0 minutes

3.Up the Barranc de Bous to the 4 Spring
The path now follows the left side of the gully, climbing very gently if at all. Ignore side paths which shoot off to the right (down) or steeply to the left (up) and keep going more or less horizontally. To the right, the 1048m mountain peak of Cocoll with radio mast on top can be seen in the distance. At the "V" of the gully the path crosses a spring which issues from a terrace (Not sure if this is the location of the Moorish well described by Bob Stansfield - the Font del Barranqet de Dalt )

1 hour 45 minutes

4. The Spring to 5 the Casita After the spring, the path now climbs and zig-zags through abandoned terraces. In April and May these terraces are home to Sawfly and Dull orchids. Look up ahead of you to see the ruins of a casita (small house) which is your next destination. The path leads upwards to some 30 meters the right of this ruin where it intersects another well defined path. Turn left towards the ruin (the right turn goes to Cocoll) 2 hours 15 mins

5. The Casita to 6 the col (pass) Continue past the casita. The path now climbs steeply up towards the col (pass). It may be muddy in places and there is evidence of cattle about. In the spring time look out for Early purple orchids. At the top of the col is a brown rocky outcrop (iron?) . A good place to sit and rest. Ahead is the Almadich valley (Barranc D'Almadich) and the mountain range of Las Cordilleras on the far side. 2 hours 45 mins

6. The Col to 7 Summit of El Mirabo and back. to 6
From the brown rock look left (north east) to see the start of the path to summit of El Mirabo. After 20 metres or so it passes over some rocks and through a wire fence. Two of the posts have been dislodged and the fence is not difficult to negotiate. The path then follows a gentle slope up to a flat grassy area which is the summit of El Mirabo. Plants here include, rosemary, thyme, juniper, dwarf palm, asphodels and stunted oak trees. The summit is is marked with a cairn.
Take time to admire the views to the North over the Val de Pop; to the North East to Montgo and the sea; To the East, the Cordilleras mountains and south, the peak of Cocoll topped with a radio mast. Return to the brown rock at the col the same way you came.

3 hours 30 mins

6. The col to 8. ruins and car wreck From the brown rock follow the path south west down into the Almadich valley. The path passes through a copse of pines and zig-zags down to join an unsurfaced road close to two ruined casitas and an abandoned car . 3 hours 45 mins.

8. car wreck to 9. tarmac road At the car wreck turn left and follow the unsurfaced road down into the valley. Note views up the valley , with Tossalet peak in the distance. After the second hairpain, the unsurfaced road becomes tarmac. 4 hours

9. tarmac road to start Keep on this road, the "Camino Mirabo" which eventually joins the CV 720 just west of Benichembla. Rejoin your car. 4 hours 15 minutes

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Marina Alta Walks

Landmarks	Description	Time
Start 0 Parking place in Benichembla to 1 Turn off	Cross the main road and turn right, walking away from the village. In March to June on the roadside you can see many Hollow-stemmed Asphodels After about 5 mins turn left onto a broad, concrete surfaced road. On your left you will see some roughly built cattle pens.	0 hours, 5 minutes
1Turnoff to 2 start of footpath	Follow this track (now rather rough underfoot) through stands of Pricky Pear Cactus on either side. On the right you pass a large rock and carob tree. A ruined finca is seen on the left. Look for a footpath which goes off sharp right just before the finca. A red arrow painted on a rock indicates the footpath.	0hours 15 minutes
2 Start of footpath to 3 Barranc de Bous	The well defined, rocky footpath (a Mozarabic trail) climbs gently, zig-zagging upwards and heading west up the valley of the Jalon river (Val de Pop) away from Benichembla. The path flattens off and passes through a small terraced gully with pine and gorse on either side, then turns left into a larger gully. This is the "Barranc de bous" (cattle gully).	1 hour 0 minutes
3.Up the Barranc de Bous to the 4 Spring	The path now follows the left side of the gully, climbing very gently if at all. Ignore side paths which shoot off to the right (down) or steeply to the left (up) and keep going more or less horizontally. To the right, the 1048m mountain peak of Cocoll with radio mast on top can be seen in the distance. At the "V" of the gully the path crosses a spring which issues from a terrace (Not sure if this is the location of the Moorish well described by Bob Stansfield - the Font del Barranqet de Dalt )	1 hour 45 minutes
4. The Spring to 5 the Casita	After the spring, the path now climbs and zig-zags through abandoned terraces. In April and May these terraces are home to Sawfly and Dull orchids. Look up ahead of you to see the ruins of a casita (small house) which is your next destination. The path leads upwards to some 30 meters the right of this ruin where it intersects another well defined path. Turn left towards the ruin (the right turn goes to Cocoll)	2 hours 15 mins
5. The Casita to 6 the col (pass)	Continue past the casita. The path now climbs steeply up towards the col (pass). It may be muddy in places and there is evidence of cattle about. In the spring time look out for Early purple orchids. At the top of the col is a brown rocky outcrop (iron?) . A good place to sit and rest. Ahead is the Almadich valley (Barranc D'Almadich) and the mountain range of Las Cordilleras on the far side.	2 hours 45 mins
6. The Col to 7 Summit of El Mirabo and back. to 6	From the brown rock look left (north east) to see the start of the path to summit of El Mirabo. After 20 metres or so it passes over some rocks and through a wire fence. Two of the posts have been dislodged and the fence is not difficult to negotiate. The path then follows a gentle slope up to a flat grassy area which is the summit of El Mirabo. Plants here include, rosemary, thyme, juniper, dwarf palm, asphodels and stunted oak trees. The summit is is marked with a cairn. Take time to admire the views to the North over the Val de Pop; to the North East to Montgo and the sea; To the East, the Cordilleras mountains and south, the peak of Cocoll topped with a radio mast. Return to the brown rock at the col the same way you came.	3 hours 30 mins
6. The col to 8. ruins and car wreck	From the brown rock follow the path south west down into the Almadich valley. The path passes through a copse of pines and zig-zags down to join an unsurfaced road close to two ruined casitas and an abandoned car .	3 hours 45 mins.
8. car wreck to 9. tarmac road	At the car wreck turn left and follow the unsurfaced road down into the valley. Note views up the valley , with Tossalet peak in the distance. After the second hairpain, the unsurfaced road becomes tarmac.	4 hours
9. tarmac road to start	Keep on this road, the "Camino Mirabo" which eventually joins the CV 720 just west of Benichembla. Rejoin your car.	4 hours 15 minutes