COSTA BLANCA MOUNTAIN WALKS CORDILLERAS LEDGE AND RIDGE CIRCUIT
Ref: 02
WALK SPECS: DISTANCE 13 ½ km. - WALKING TIME 4 ½ hrs. - ASCENT 820mtrs. GRADE VS (Walking time only – add time for breaks and lunch)
WALK DESCRIPTION BY: Jean & Bob Hall
[email protected] VERIFIED Feb. 2017 LEGAL NOTICE: Although we strive to make descriptions as correct as possible, use at your own risk.
WALK DESCRIPTION Starting from the landing strip of Cocoll, this walk brings you along the beautiful Cordilleras Ledge in a clockwise direction back towards Benigembla. Once there, a steep climb leads to a stretch of the Col de Rates circuit path before heading up to and along the ridge of the Cordilleras, mainly on animal paths but quite clear and ,with occasional peeks at map, you will eventually have landing strip back in view and good paths leading you back to your car(s).
DIRECTIONS TO START The dirt road from km 7 to the landing strip on the CV-752 is highly maintained. Park near the bottom part of landing strip. plenty of room for large group.
COSTA BLANCA MOUNTAIN WALKS CORDILLERAS LEDGE AND RIDGE CIRCUIT
Ref:02
WALK SPECS: DISTANCE 13 ½ km. - WALKING TIME 4 ½ hrs. - ASCENT 820mtrs. GRADE VS (Walking time only – add time for breaks and lunch)
WALK DESCRIPTION BY: Jean & Bob Hall
[email protected] VERIFIED Feb. 2017 LEGAL NOTICE: Although we strive to make descriptions as correct as possible, use at your own risk. THE WALK. Note that times quoted are walking time only - no breaks. Underlined letters are map references.
Total distance and % of walk completed based on total time
Roughly 50 Mtrs. from lower part of runway, find path heading SE descending a little to arrive at three large trees A. (5min 0.3km)
0.3km 2%
Pass to R of trees still heading SE. descend and head down easy scramble to field with bathtubs B. (3min 0.1km)
0.4km 3%
Drop down a couple of bencales ,cross field to arrive at what appears to be an old era (round grain thrashing plot) and find old grassy track to its’ L. Follow this track which soon ends. Just before end drop down to a large tree X and take the lower of two paths. (Path up R is your return path) Continue and you will soon see old faint red/white way marks. Follow these to arrive at junction with cairn and yellow dot C. (8min 0.4km)
0.8km 6%
Now ignore R/W waymarked path L and continue straight ahead on path marked with a R/W “X”. Keep to this path which is now marked by yellow dots ignoring a couple of paths going off L. Soon the path descends a little to cross a Baranco by following a stone walled terrace and then climbs once again up the other side. Soon the way is confused by several faint paths all heading ENE. Continue on the best path and when you come to a steep descent to cross a baranco spot the path to your L going up the other side - this is you next objective. Reach the bottom of this baranco D. (17min 0.9km)
1.7km 12%
Bear L (careful here not to bear R and end up on wrong path going into the hills) and find path you spotted earlier. Follow this to pass a standing stone E. (22min 1.1km)
2.8km 20%
From here, the path follows just above cliffs (mainly at safe distance –caution needed in a few places but not too difficult). Follow this path winding up and down always close to cliffs to arrive at an old rough track F. (58min 3.2km)
6.0km 42%
Turn R up old track, around RH bend and watch for path on your R marked by a cairn and yellow dot G. (3min 0.2km)
6.2km 43%
Take this path up for about 10meters and turn sharp L ignoring the obvious path which continues straight ahead. Look for cairns to guide you up. The path soon becomes clear and ascends very steeply, eventually bearing L and levels out somewhat to skirt around a baranco. As you arrive at large rocks/boulders to your R spot a path heading for those boulders H. (17min 0.7km)
6.9km 49%
Take this path up R which passes through these rocks to climb steeply once more. Keep bearing L and continue passing through another rocky area. About 50 meters further up arrive at a cross path K. (6min 0.2km)
7.1km 51%
Turn R walk about 50 meters then turn up L. Do not take the more obvious path that goes straight ahead. Continue to climb up to arrive at a cross path which is a Y/W waymarked trail M. (6min 0.2km)
7.3km 54%
COSTA BLANCA MOUNTAIN WALKS Total distance and % of walk completed based on total time
Continue straight up on the waymarked path. It climbs very steeply to reach the top of the ridge N. (7min 0.3km)
7.6km 56%
Continue to follow the Y/W waymarks heading S. Arrive at bottom of small hill straight ahead where the waymarked path starts to ascend steeply. Here look for a path going off R which is marked by a cairn. P. (19min 0.9km)
8.5km 63%
Take this path which skirts the LHS of a barranco before heading gently down to meet a path going up the other side. At top path flattens, crosses small clearing R before rising again. As you descend slightly you arrive at another barranco. Path skirts LHS of barranco. (Avoid temptation to drop down to a clear path below). Climb steadily up until path appears to fade. There is a rough path but in case you don’t spot it head for the lowest point on the horizon (NW). You will arrive at a cliff and what may have been a track S. Bear L and follow along cliff edge to the head of the barranco. The stone rake ahead (rock cliff) going up L to R is your next objective. follow cliff around and up to start of rake T. (31min 2.2km)
10.7km 75%
At the top Cocoll airstrip comes into view. A cairned path will guide you along ridge (W), descending a little before rising again. Follow ridge bearing R to pass 2 hunter’s blinds. Pass 2nd blind on RHS and head directly towards air strip. Keep heading W and you will arrive at steep downhill path leading to field with large ruin, your objective W. (46min 1.7km)
12.4km 92%
At ruin take path going R (north) waymarked by R/W flashes which will lead you back to trees at X .From there retrace your steps back to airstrip and car(s). (22min 1.0km) There are no good bars in Castells so we normally head back to Benichembla to friendly Bar Era for after walk refreshments.
13.4km 100%
