Somo Circuit

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Route: Somo Circuit (with original and variant return routes) Sketch Map This is number 4 of Eric Wright's "On the Right Track" walks. We have also included a slightly more challenging variation for the return route which avoids any tarmac walking, but involves a 200 m ascent. Click here for detailed GPS map.

Landmarks

Description

Time

Start 1 Parking place at KM 7 to 2 turnoff.

Take the forestry track (signposted Font dels Teixos 8Km) uphill with pine woods on the left and the fruit orchards on the right. Note the circular shape of a disused Era on the right. After 10 mins you pass a track off to the right. Continue on the main track.
0 hours, 10 minutes

2 Turnoff to 3 "T" junction

Follow this track noting a new house on the right, after 50 metres you meet a "T" junction. Turn Left following signpost Aljibe Chorquet - ida y vuelta PR151 . (There is also a signpost pointing right to "Font dels Teixos 7.2Km" This is your return path if following Route B )

0 hours 20 minutes

3 "T" junction to 4 Almond Terraces
Continue 100m, and on the right, among pine trees, just off the track you will see an ancient Moorish well (Aljibe Chorquet). The access to the well is covered with a grill which can be opened; though you will have to peer closely to see the old arched ceiling. Continue on the main track ignoring tracks off to the left and right. After 250m the main track bends sharply to the left and downhill in a "U" turn. Leave the main track here (note a red waymark) and turn right along the edge of almond terraces.
0 hour 30 minutes.

4. Almond Terraces to 5 Stone shed
Keep to the right hand edge of the almond teraces and where the terrace drops down, turn right and up onto the mule track (original mule track from Bolulla to Castells). It climbs gently following the natural contours. To the left is the deep gully of the Barranco de Chorquet / Barranc de Xarquet . Note: There are places where the path is narrow; there is only a 1 metre drop but you could land in scratchy bushes. After 1.5km you reach an old stone shed on the right. Soon after this shed there is an abandoned cultivated area on the roght where you can see where wild boar have been rooting up the ground.

1 hour

5. Stone Shed to 6. Paso Tancat Continue on this path and suddenly the spectacular Paso Tancat ( Valenciano= Closed Pass) comes into view. The path turns south along the western side of the pass. You can see Bollula Castle on its rocky peak (the Penya del Castellet) to the right as you face the Paso Tancat 1 hour 30 mins

6. Paso Tancat to 7 Bolulla Castle Continue on the footpath heading gradually towards the castle rock . The footpath links up with a broad forestry track at the foot of the Castle ruins. Stop here to rest and lunch. Note: If you walk a bit further over the rise you have views of Albir and the Sierra Helada. (There is also a scrambly path up to the castle which starts behind a large pine tree on the left. Traverse across until you are behind a house which is being refurbished, then follow the cairns up to the top. Ascent - about 150metres: time to get to top around 30 minutes) 2 hours (30 mins lunch)

RETURN ROUTE A (Less strenous).7 Bolulla Castle to A8 Irrigation tank.
To return the less strenous (though longer) way, retrace your steps along the forestry track away from the castle, but this time follow the forestry track down into the bottom of the pass; after about a Km you begin to climb quite steeply, then after another Km the road flattens off and becomes metalled. On the right, note a concrete building and then a square, open concrete irrigation tank.

3 hours 30 mins

RETURN ROUTE A (Less strenuous) A8 irrigation tank to Start 30 metres after the irrigation tank, turn left and uphill (this turning is easy to miss) This driveable track looks in a bad condition at first, eroded by rainwater run-off but it gets better and wider. Keep on this track which more or less parallels the main road between Castell and Tarbena, but don't worry when the track narrows and turns away from the main road as it eventually heads in the right direction. In the winter you can see tiny Rush-leaved Narcissus on the banks beside the path. When you reach the main tarmac road, turn left to head uphill, over a rise and after about 20 mins you arrive back at the cars. 5 hours.

RETURN ROUTE B (Moderate, but rough) 7. Bollula Castle to B8 turnoff. From the base of Bollula castle the forestry track goes south and downhill. A few metres after it starts to go down. Look out for a cairn and footpath on the right which heads off towards a ruin on the right hand side of of a broad gully. The Barranc de la Canal Negre (The gully of the Black Channel). To your right is the Serra del Raco Roig (Sierra of the Red Corner) After 10 mins there is a path off to the left, take the right hand path. 2 hours 35 mins

B8 turnoff to B9 top of gully and B10 open flat area Follow this path which zig-zags up through terraces overgrown with grey-leaved Cistus. The gully is on your left. Look back to enjoy views of the western end of the Sierra Bernia and Albir. Sometimes the path forks, if in doubt keep to your right and watch for guiding cairns. Towards the top the terraces become quite deep and the path is rocky in places. Opposite are the impressive rocks of the Costera del Raco. Finally you reach the top of the gully and step onto a large flat area. Here in the Spring on the abandoned terraces you can see Early Purple Orchids and Yellow Bee Orchids. 3 hours 30 mins

B10 Flat area to B11 Rock arch Follow the path (which splits and rejoins in places) accross the flat area. It turns steeply down and left through pine trees dipping to the head of another gully (the Barranc Sacanyar). Terraced areas of this gully are the home to more orchids including the Sombre Bee orchid. Step over a rocky outcrop to follow the path down. The gully is on your right. Look up and to your right to see the small rock arch on the slope of the Costera del Pubil 3 hours 45 mins

B11 Rock Arch back to cars Continue on this path which is a bit tricky to negotiate in places since it traverses some rocky outcrops. It eventually merges with a driveable track and then links up with the forestry track to the Font dels Teixos . Turn right. Within a 100 m or so you are back at the signpost: Aljibe Chorquet - ida y vuelta PR151 . Turn left to return to your car. 4 hours 30 mins.

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Marina Alta Walks

Landmarks	Description	Time
Start 1 Parking place at KM 7 to 2 turnoff.	Take the forestry track (signposted Font dels Teixos 8Km) uphill with pine woods on the left and the fruit orchards on the right. Note the circular shape of a disused Era on the right. After 10 mins you pass a track off to the right. Continue on the main track.	0 hours, 10 minutes
2 Turnoff to 3 "T" junction	Follow this track noting a new house on the right, after 50 metres you meet a "T" junction. Turn Left following signpost Aljibe Chorquet - ida y vuelta PR151 . (There is also a signpost pointing right to "Font dels Teixos 7.2Km" This is your return path if following Route B )	0 hours 20 minutes
3 "T" junction to 4 Almond Terraces	Continue 100m, and on the right, among pine trees, just off the track you will see an ancient Moorish well (Aljibe Chorquet). The access to the well is covered with a grill which can be opened; though you will have to peer closely to see the old arched ceiling. Continue on the main track ignoring tracks off to the left and right. After 250m the main track bends sharply to the left and downhill in a "U" turn. Leave the main track here (note a red waymark) and turn right along the edge of almond terraces.	0 hour 30 minutes.
4. Almond Terraces to 5 Stone shed	Keep to the right hand edge of the almond teraces and where the terrace drops down, turn right and up onto the mule track (original mule track from Bolulla to Castells). It climbs gently following the natural contours. To the left is the deep gully of the Barranco de Chorquet / Barranc de Xarquet . Note: There are places where the path is narrow; there is only a 1 metre drop but you could land in scratchy bushes. After 1.5km you reach an old stone shed on the right. Soon after this shed there is an abandoned cultivated area on the roght where you can see where wild boar have been rooting up the ground.	1 hour
5. Stone Shed to 6. Paso Tancat	Continue on this path and suddenly the spectacular Paso Tancat ( Valenciano= Closed Pass) comes into view. The path turns south along the western side of the pass. You can see Bollula Castle on its rocky peak (the Penya del Castellet) to the right as you face the Paso Tancat	1 hour 30 mins
6. Paso Tancat to 7 Bolulla Castle	Continue on the footpath heading gradually towards the castle rock . The footpath links up with a broad forestry track at the foot of the Castle ruins. Stop here to rest and lunch. Note: If you walk a bit further over the rise you have views of Albir and the Sierra Helada. (There is also a scrambly path up to the castle which starts behind a large pine tree on the left. Traverse across until you are behind a house which is being refurbished, then follow the cairns up to the top. Ascent - about 150metres: time to get to top around 30 minutes)	2 hours (30 mins lunch)
RETURN ROUTE A (Less strenous).7 Bolulla Castle to A8 Irrigation tank.	To return the less strenous (though longer) way, retrace your steps along the forestry track away from the castle, but this time follow the forestry track down into the bottom of the pass; after about a Km you begin to climb quite steeply, then after another Km the road flattens off and becomes metalled. On the right, note a concrete building and then a square, open concrete irrigation tank.	3 hours 30 mins
RETURN ROUTE A (Less strenuous) A8 irrigation tank to Start	30 metres after the irrigation tank, turn left and uphill (this turning is easy to miss) This driveable track looks in a bad condition at first, eroded by rainwater run-off but it gets better and wider. Keep on this track which more or less parallels the main road between Castell and Tarbena, but don't worry when the track narrows and turns away from the main road as it eventually heads in the right direction. In the winter you can see tiny Rush-leaved Narcissus on the banks beside the path. When you reach the main tarmac road, turn left to head uphill, over a rise and after about 20 mins you arrive back at the cars.	5 hours.
RETURN ROUTE B (Moderate, but rough) 7. Bollula Castle to B8 turnoff.	From the base of Bollula castle the forestry track goes south and downhill. A few metres after it starts to go down. Look out for a cairn and footpath on the right which heads off towards a ruin on the right hand side of of a broad gully. The Barranc de la Canal Negre (The gully of the Black Channel). To your right is the Serra del Raco Roig (Sierra of the Red Corner) After 10 mins there is a path off to the left, take the right hand path.	2 hours 35 mins
B8 turnoff to B9 top of gully and B10 open flat area	Follow this path which zig-zags up through terraces overgrown with grey-leaved Cistus. The gully is on your left. Look back to enjoy views of the western end of the Sierra Bernia and Albir. Sometimes the path forks, if in doubt keep to your right and watch for guiding cairns. Towards the top the terraces become quite deep and the path is rocky in places. Opposite are the impressive rocks of the Costera del Raco. Finally you reach the top of the gully and step onto a large flat area. Here in the Spring on the abandoned terraces you can see Early Purple Orchids and Yellow Bee Orchids.	3 hours 30 mins
B10 Flat area to B11 Rock arch	Follow the path (which splits and rejoins in places) accross the flat area. It turns steeply down and left through pine trees dipping to the head of another gully (the Barranc Sacanyar). Terraced areas of this gully are the home to more orchids including the Sombre Bee orchid. Step over a rocky outcrop to follow the path down. The gully is on your right. Look up and to your right to see the small rock arch on the slope of the Costera del Pubil	3 hours 45 mins
B11 Rock Arch back to cars	Continue on this path which is a bit tricky to negotiate in places since it traverses some rocky outcrops. It eventually merges with a driveable track and then links up with the forestry track to the Font dels Teixos . Turn right. Within a 100 m or so you are back at the signpost: Aljibe Chorquet - ida y vuelta PR151 . Turn left to return to your car.	4 hours 30 mins.