HIKING TRAIL IN THE GR 221 SERRA DE TRAMUNTANA MALLORCA INDEX ▪ INTRODUCTION 1 ▪ THE DRY STONE ROUTE 1 RUTARUTA DEDE PEDRAPEDRA ENEN SECSEC ▪ THE TRAIL TODAY 1 ▪ DRY STONE 2 ▪ FAUNA 2 ▪ FLORA 3 ▪ FIESTAS 3 ▪ ARTISTIC AND ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE 4 ▪ MUSEUMS 4 ▪ HIKE RATING SYSTEM 5 ▪ MAP OF THE GR 221 6 ▪ STAGE 3 BANYALBUFAR - ESPORLES 7 ▪ STAGE 5 CAN BOI - MULETA 11 ▪ STAGE 6 MULETA - TOSSALS VERDS 15 ▪ STAGE 7 TOSSALS VERDS - SON AMER 21 ▪ STAGE 8 SON AMER - PONT ROMÀ 25 ▪ VARIANT A S’ARRACÓ - COLL DE SA GRAMOLA 29 ▪ VARIANT B ES CAPDELLÀ - ESTELLENCS 33 ▪ VARIANT F PAS LLIS 37 ▪ VARIANT G TOSSALS VERDS - ORIENT 41 ▪ REFUGES 45 ▪ MORE INFO 48 Before starting the route visit the official website of the Dry Stone Route www.conselldemallorca.net/ mediambient/pedra to know the open and marked sections !! Updated in July 2013 Authors Text : Guillem Alomar Canyelles, Philippe Álvaro Frotté, Antoni Reynés Trias, Francesca Rotger Moyà, Miquel Àngel Salvà Capò, Maria del Mar Taltavull Manchado Photography : Guillem Alomar Canyelles, Philippe Álvaro Frotté, Andreu Bestard Bestard, Pere Joan Oliver, Joan Pons Mesquida, Antoni Reynés Trias, © text : Consell de Mallorca © photography : Consell de Mallorca and the authors INTRODUCTION THE DRY STONE ROUTE The GR 221 is a trail that enables the hiker to discover dry stone landscapes in the Tramun- tana mountain range, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the category of a cul- tural landscape. We can visit fascinating historical ruins and explore the traditions, architec- ture, customs, gastronomy and handicrafts of this privileged spot in Mallorca's geography. The route often takes one close to the coast and in some places to the loftiest peaks of the range, the highest point on the route being the Coll de ses Cases de sa Neu at slightly over one thousand metres. This combination of coast and mountainous heights, coupled with the variety of the vegetation, shady holm-oak groves giving way to the typically Mediterra- nean scrub (garriga or maquis), help to enhance the scenic attraction of the path. The trail is largely based on the network of ancient footpaths restored by the Consell de Mallorca, which makes it accessible for hikers of all ages. Moreover, the island’s benign climate makes walking feasible practically all year round. This “Grande Randonnée” trail will have, when completed, 271 km passable, distributed in 8 stages of the main route and 9 variants that will connect with other towns or places of interest. At the end of each stage, the hikers may use a refuge managed by the Consell de Mallorca which provides accommodation. THE TRAIL TODAY The trail currently consists of 167 km open and signalled between stages (87 km) and vari- ants 82 km). Hikers have 4 complete stages which allow them to link Deià with Pollença, at the same time, the section comprised between Banyalbufar and Esporles is now open by the road "Camí des Correu”. The following variants are currently open: S’Arracó to the Coll de sa Gramola, Es Capdellà to Estellencs, Pas Llis and Tossals Verds to Orient. The Consell de Mallorca is not responsible for the potential limitations of the path or other prob- lems which could arise in the sections which are in the planning phase and not signalled. Like- wise, the Consell de Mallorca is not responsible for the information which may be provided by other guides, publications or Websites. 1 THE DRY STONE FAUNA Using stone as his sole building material, man has The Serra de Tramuntana range is the area shaped and adapted his surroundings over the of the island of greatest natural value. Its centuries to make the most of the natural re- mountains are the refuge of many excep- sources available, creating landscapes with unique tional species, in particular the black vul- characteristics of enormous ethnological interest ture, which is relatively well established and great value as far as their construction itself is nowadays thanks to its recovery pro- concerned, reflecting a society and a culture gramme, the osprey, which nests on the passed down through generations. sea cliffs, and Eleonora’s falcon, which is The complexity and quality of this type of building is linked to the existence to the craft of endemic to the Mediterranean. marger (dry stone waller) which has a long tradition and requires outstanding technical In the shade of the holm-oak groves there knowledge and skill. This technique has been used to create paths and roads, build walls to are a great number of small insectivorous set out estate boundaries and organise areas of agricultural land, in addition to channelling birds to be found, such as the colourful but mountain streams to help prevent erosion. raucous blue tit, the goldcrest and the tiny In forested areas, one can still see charcoal kilns where charcoal was once produced, as wren. Also commonly seen there are seed- well as lime kilns where quicklime used to be obtained by burning limestone, while at eating birds, such as the chaffinch, one of the most trusting, and the wood pigeon. higher altitudes the ice houses that were used to store ice for medicinal and gastronomic The pine woods are the habitat of different species of warblers, as well as the crossbill, purpose are still visible. with its crossed bill especially designed to prise open pine cones. Meanwhile the extensive However, the highlights of the landscape are the dry stone terraces, created to provide ar- fields of mauritanica grass and other open spaces are home to partridges and the xorrec, a eas of deeper and more stable soil, that cover over 20% of the Serra de Tramuntana moun- small endemic subspecies of Marmora's warbler (Sylvia balearica). tain range –some 200 km² in all, mostly used for olive growing. The well-known robin arrives in our islands in winter, fleeing from the northern cold, along with redstarts, stonechats, wheatears, chiffchaffs and different species of thrush, while in springtime other birds arrive from Africa to breed here. This is the case of the spotted fly- catcher, a small bird whose subspecies, Muscicapa striata subsp. balearica, breeds only in the Balearics, shrikes, and the cuckoo, with its highly characteristic song. The feral goat is the only mam- mal that you shall see with any degree of frequency. The lessen- ing of human pressure has made it into a very abundant species which has a major effect on vegetation. Other small hunting mammals, loosely grouped to- gether in the family of Musteli- dae, such as the weasel, genet and pine marten are hard to see, because of their habits. 2 INTRODUCTION FLORA FIESTAS The holm-oak grove is the most characteristic forest com- The battles between Moors and Christians held in both Sóller and Pollença are, without any munity of the area, forming large woods, especially in those doubt, the best known of the fiestas that can be enjoyed along the Dry Stone Route. In places with most rainfall. Since time immemorial, these Sóller, the Firó, as this mock battle is known, takes place on the second Monday of May woods have been used for the production of charcoal and, and commemorates the fact that on May 11th 1561 the pirates attacking the town were so, have poor undergrowth, although strawberry trees, false defeated. olives, laurustinus, ivy and common bracken are all present. On August 2nd, the inhabitants of Pollença hold an intense recreation of the battle against On the slopes with the most sunshine and in areas with less the fearsome Dragut. It is also in Pollença where, just before the feast day of Sant Antoni rainfall, wild olive groves and different types of scrub pre- Abat, the men of the town cut down a pine tree on the Ternelles estate and carry it back to dominate; the latter will often include pines as well as the the town; once there, the bravest try to shin up it. endemic species “llampúdol bord” (Rhamnus ludovici- In Valldemossa on July 28th, the fiestas of the “Beata” take place in honour of Saint salvatoris), laurustinus, dwarf fan palms and true myrtle. Catalina Thomàs. The streets of the town are crowded with people watching the parade The carcerales, or meadows, are particularly distinctive and to a great extent define the with the Blessed One’s “triumphal carriage” as its main feature. landscape from the coastline right up to the mountain tops. They are typified by the pres- At the Sanctuary of Lluc, the most traditional and emotive moment of the year arrives on ence of mauritanica grass (“càrritx”), a giant graminoid, historically made to thrive by peri- Christmas Eve when the Sibila is sung at Midnight mass. On the second Sunday in odical burning, carried out to feed the flocks. September, the Festival of Lluc is held, with activities of all sorts, and in early September, The highest areas of the range have a bare, rocky appearance, a result of the prevailing the climb to Lluc takes place with people walking there from all the towns and villages of climatic conditions and of the grazing pressure produced by livestock and wild goats, but the island, except from Palma, which holds its own famous walk from “Es Güell to Lluc” on possess interesting vegetation with a high degree of specialisation. The Balearic maquis is the first Saturday of August. rich in endemic species: estepa joana (Balearic St John’s wort: Hypericum balearicum) with Summer is the time of the fiestas in honour of its large, yellow flowers, “estepa blenera” (Phlomis the patron saints of towns and villages, like italica), brutònica (Teucrium asiaticum), and a collec- those of Sant Joan in Deià and Sant Bartomeu tion of species that take the form of pincushions, in Sóller.