Meet report, 11-18th April 2026.
17 people gathered in Port Soller for a week’s walking and scrambling. The small harbour town is situated in the North West of Mallorca, under the limestone mountain range of the Serra de Tramuntana, in an area of green forests and steep jagged peaks. Most were booked into the Hotel Eden Nord; owing to a booking error, two were at a sister hotel 5 minutes walk away whilst two vegetarians, Peter and Jennifer, put off by the hotel’s own assessment of their evening buffets opted for a self catering apartment. In fact they needn’t have worried. The food at breakfast and dinner was excellent, very fresh and varied. It was quite a highlight of the stay.
The hotel, situated in a side street about 200m from the harbour was ideal for our purpose. At this time of year at least it is mostly used by walkers and cyclists, the prices are very reasonable and those who hired cars never failed to find free parking higher up the road.
The weather on Sunday was windy and showery, damp and cloudy on Monday, warm and sunny thereafter. Some hired cars, others relied on buses which, with a bit of planning as regards to timing will get you to most places.
Sunday 12th. Three generations of Smiths plus the Andersons walked a circuit up the Torrent de Binairix, lunching at the top by a waterfall where wetsuited canyoners were taking a more direct route.
A party of eight drove up to Deia and found some free parking, then walked down to the Cala de Deia where the waves were crashing in. The coastal trail led up and down through sparse pine woods, various landslip areas and old terraces with ancient olive trees and lots of good cliff views. The return was along an old trail now used by the GR221 long distance footpath. These old cobbled tracks have a timeless air and it is easy to imagine them having been used for centuries.
(Mick, Tim, Bill, Richard, Kjetil, Ann-Karin, Peter and Jen).
Monday 13th. The day began with pouring rain and low clouds, so a leisurely start was in order before catching the old tram to Soller for a coffee in the main square. In improving weather a start was made on a relatively easy walk up to a couple of villages, Fornalutx and Binairix, linked by old cobbled mule tracks. Bill, Tim and Richard decided to walk back to the hotel just as it started to rain again. The rest caught the tram and headed for some refreshment. A very pleasant stroll.
(Mick, Tim, Bill, Richard, Peter and Jen. David and Alison walked with them a short way at the start before branching off for an alternative circuit.)
The Smiths also took the tram to Soller and walked back via the Botanical Gardens, Cami del Rost and Cami de Son Sales, seeing black caps in the woods.
Tuesday 14th. With the sun out, parties headed for the heights. Michael and Helen Smith with the Tverangers walked from Valldemossa up Puig Gros 928m and along the Cami de s’Arxiduc, a 15km route with 750m of ascent.
The Tennants, Mick, Richard Taylor, David Anderson and Tim drove to the Cuber reservoir for an excellent mountain walk over three 1000m rocky summits, sa Reteta, sa Franquesa and Puig d‘Olfre. Once the initial route was located through long grass, it proved to have plenty of route finding interest higher up across some pathless terrain and with great views of the other mountains in the Tramuntana. Numerous feral goats and their kids were seen.
Bill, who had come up to Cuber with the others, followed the GR221 back to Port Soller.
Wednesday 15th A large party set off for the Serra del Cavall Bernat ridge from Pollenca.
This scrambling route lived up to its billing of the ‘white Cuillin of Mallorca’. After a gentle crossing of the Coll de Siller, the ridge began at the summit of Talia Vella. It was a tough mountain traverse with plenty of route finding challenges mitigated by fantastic cliff views along the coast. It was not particularly exposed and the sharp limestone gave tremendous grip. A steep descent led to the Boquer vally to complete a splendid day.
(Mick, Tim, Kjetil, Ann-Karin, Michael, Rich, Richard, Peter and Jen.)
Bill took a bus to the mountain village of Lluc and its monastery where he completed a circular walk. Sadly he finished his walk two hours before the bus was due and so was forced to consume ale.
Others either stayed around Port Soller for shorter walks or accompanied Vincent on a beach day in Pollenca.
Thursday 16th Mick and David decided to repeat the interesting walk from Valldemossa over Puig Gros via the cami de s’Arxiduc, done by others earlier in the week. They bumped into Bill on the way who was thwarted on a planned ascent to Puig des Teix as the route was closed with a locked metal plate over the stile.
Tim took the bus to Valldemossa and walked over to Deia on the coast. This was a varied and charming route through forests, open limestone scenery and a short section high up on the Cami de s’Arxiduc. Unlike Bill the previous day he arrived at the bus stop with 10 minutes to spare, so no time for ale.
Jen & Peter returned to Cuber for a walk around Puig Tossals Verds and decided to venture up to the top to enjoy the views. Another super weather day, with lovely paths, gorges, assisted sections and terraced olive groves. Fabulous. 14.5km, 900m.
Helen and Michael with Ann Karin and Kjetil walked from Soller to Fornaluxt and the Mirador de ses Barques, 11km and 450m of ascent.
Friday 17th The original plan was to buy tickets on the ferry to return from a descent of the famed Torrent de Pareis. However on discovering that the recent rain had flooded the lower section of the gorge, a rethink was necessary. On local recommendation seven drove up and parked at the Mirador de ses Barques then enjoyed a very pleasant and leisurely walk on old mule tracks down through olive groves to an ancient farmstead then up to the Coll de Biniamar. A holloway led down towards the coastline with plenty of shade to the junction with the path to the old hydroelectric station, Fabrica Electrica.
Richard and Mick went down to look at the remains. The spring is now capped in an adit as a water supply and pumped via an undersea pipe to Soller. Some rusty remains of the hydroelectric plant were visible through a grid. There were lots of croaking frogs in the canal and water storage ponds.
The party then walked on to the pretty bay of Cala Tuent and had a beer in a shady bar before catching the boat back to Porto de Soller on a flat calm sea.
(Mick, Tim, Richard, Bill, Ann-Karin, David and Alison.)
Jen & Peter ventured out towards Lluc to tackle Puig Manasella, the second highest peak on the island from the Coll de sa Batalla. They had to pay an entry fee to access the peak (6€ each). Good paths through forest, becoming more rocky as they gained height. Great views from the top. They explored around the twin tops before dropping down a pathless rough ridge to pickup the return path which passed the Font de s’Avenc. 13.5km, 900m
Helen and Michael Smith, with David Hick walked locally around Port Soller, then in the afternoon Michael, Richard Smith and Kjetil climbed a couple of routes on the long sport crag just to the north of the port.
This was a most enjoyable meet to a magnificent mountain area, where, despite the crowds in the villages, solitude is easily found. The Tramuntana is certainly worth a repeat visit.
Attending: David Hick and Christine Marriot, Kjetil and Ann-Karin Tveranger, David and Alison Anderson, Michael and Helen Smith, Jennifer and Peter Tennant, Mick Borroff, Richard, Felicity and Vincent Smith, Tim Josephy, Bill Gibbs, Richard Taylor
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