We are back in lockdown and unable to travel even short distances to do a walk. I am keeping myself occupied by reviewing some of my earlier walks.
It was way back in December 2006 when I set off for Benidorm for a short walking holiday. I arrived at my hotel late in the evening with just enough time to grab a bite to eat and to unpack before bed. I needed an early night as I was booked on a walk the next morning.
I awoke early to the sound of rain battering on the window and the wind howling. Just as I was about to go down to breakfast the phone rang. It was Vanessa who was due to lead the walk. She has obtained a local weather forecast for the area in which we were due to walk and decided it was too dangerous for us to walk high in the mountains. What would I do all day?
I had a leisurely breakfast by which time it had stopped raining but it was still very windy. My hotel was situated in the old town so I decided to have a stroll along the Playa Levante. No need to put my boots on.
I decided to walk to La Torre, an old watchtower. My guidebook said it was only 3km and graded easy.

I passed through the gap in the railings at the end of Playa Levante and headed down to the small cove below. I followed the path round to the headland above the next cove, the Cala Ti Ximo. From here the way was straightforward walking along the asphalt road to the next headland before continuing along a footpath to the Punta da la Escaleta. I now had to climb up to cross another asphalt road and follow it to the ruins of La Torre, the old 17th century watchtower. The scenery was very impressive with marvellous views along the sheer cliffs of the Sierra Helada.


I returned along the road but as I reached Cala Ti Ximo the sun came out. I decided to extend my walk and walk up to the large cross on the top of the next summit. I followed the road leading up to the radio antennas. Just a few metres away was the large cross from where there were good views looking down on Benidorm Bay.


The weather was now fine so I decided to continue along the footpath along the ridge of the Sierra Helada. The route way waymarked with splashes of red paint on the rocks and was fairly clear. I descended to the head of a barranco before climbing steeply to the top of the first cliff and a small cairn known as El Mendivil at 338m.
It was a marvellous viewpoint from where I could look inland to the mountains, Puig Campana, Pinoch and the Sierra de Bernia. The areas where I hoped to be walking in the next few days.


The path continues along the ridge to Albir but it is not an easy route. There are lots of ups and downs as you cross several barranco and at times the path is very close to the edge of the cliffs with a danger of vertigo. It was not for me today as I was only wearing trainers and it was still very windy.

I retraced my steps pausing often to take photos using the cairns to add foreground interest.





It had been an interesting morning and a good start to my holiday.