COSTA BLANCA MOUNTAIN WALKS JALON – ALMOND BLOSSOM WALK

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WALK SPECS: DISTANCE 7.7 km. – WALKING TIME 2 hrs. – ASCENT 150mtrs. - GRADE easy. WALK DESCRIPTION BY: Jean & Bob Hall [email protected] MODOFIED Apr. 2017 LEGAL NOTICE: Although we strive to make descriptions as correct as possible, use at your own risk. WALK DESCRIPTION. An easy walk, mainly on surfaces roads that meander through the pleasant countryside of the Val de Pop. Although this walk is spectacular when the almond trees are in blossom (February) it makes a pleasant walk at any time of the year. The walk starts in Jalon at the Tourist Information Office. There is plenty of parking throughout the week but on Saturdays alternative parking must be found due to the large weekly rastro (flee market) that is held there. A short steep climb up the Stations of the Cross makes an interesting start before heading out into the almond/orange groves, vineyards and walnut trees that dominate this cultivated area. TO THE START. Park in ample car park by tourist bureau in Jalon (Xalo). THE WALK NOTE: TIMES QUOTED ARE WALKING TIMES ONLY – NO BREAKS UNDERLINED LETTERS ARE MAP REFERENCES

Total distance and % of walk completed Based on time

(To avoid uphill and walk on rough path, take road between Aleluya bar and Casa Claudia bar and rejoin walk at C below. ) LEAVE the car park turning L and crossing the road. Pass the Aleluya Bar and the Casa Claudia Cafeteria and take the next turning on the R. Go up the short steep hill and follow the stony path of the Stations of the Cross signposted Ruta Dels Pous de Xalo. Just past a large square cement structure arrive at a Y junction A. (7min 0.4km)

0.4km 5%

BEAR R (ignoring the track signposted Ruta Dels Pous de Xalo.) Pass above a stone well L and couple of ruins R then the path narrows until reaching a concrete road. Turn R and arrive at a tarmac road B. (7min 0.4km)

0.8km 11%

TURN R and continue to reach a T junction C.

1.3km 15%

(6min 0.5km)

TURN L. keep to this road following green/white flashes. After 1km pass a mustard colored house with a small dome and ornate gate on your L D and then the ceramic tile sign for Villa Maria Segador on your R. Continue, ignore paved road R until the surfaced road ends E. (31min 2km)

3.3km 40%

TURN R. Follow the rough track to reach a path going off L F.

3.4km 42%

(3min 0.1km)

IGNORE the path. Bear R. After a few meters the path turns abruptly L (ignore more obvious path going R) and up a little to almost immediately turn L again. The path now follows alongside some terraces and then turns R to cross a wide terrace to arrive at a tarmac road G. (see map insert) (4min 0.2km)

3.6km 46%

HERE to your L a rough track starts its climb to the Col de Rates. Ignore this and continue along the tarmac road. Keep to this road ignoring all side roads L to arrive at wide Junction/crossroads at hedged property with fence. H. (17min 1.4km)

5.0kim 64%

BEAR R around hedged property. Follow this road to T junction K. (5min 0.4Km)

5.4km 70%

Turn L to T junction with main surfaced road M. (5min 0.4Km.)

5.8km 76%

Turn R and then after a few bends ignore track off R. Follow R/W flashes, pass a blue house on the L N . At LH bend in road P continue follow electricity lines and R/W flashes down unsurfaced road which becomes path back to surfaced road. Turn R and follow road along river side back to Jalon and parking area. (28min 1.9Km.)

7.7km done