Lluc - around Puig Roig - Lluc

Summary:
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Circular/loop hike from the Lluc monastery around the Puig Roig massif. It passes through the Sanctuary of Lluc, Camí des Pixarells, Mossa estate, Puig Caragoler, Coll des Ases, Pas d'en Segarra, Carabineros Barracks, Casas de Cosconar, Torrent d’Algueda, Son Llobera, Torrent d’Albarca and Aubarca estate. This circular walk leads through private land belonging to the Finca Mossa owned by the March family and since 1992 has only been accessible on Sundays (ACCESS IS CLOSED MONDAY TO SATURDAY).

This hike is one of the classic routes of the Sierra de Tramuntana. It is a long loop, with little gradient and with spectacular views of the north coast of Mallorca. The fabulous panoramas of the ragged northern coastline guarantee an outstanding experience for hikers on this circuit around Puig Roig (1003 m). The coastal cliff scenery is superb, as is the sight of Mallorca’s highest mountain Puig Major dominating the view later. Other highlights of this very varied walk are the ancient olive groves and also the cave dwellings of Finca Es Cosconar tucked under an overhanging cliff. Starting and ending point: bus stop at Lluc.
The path is only partially signposted, but the path quite easy to follow.

The path:
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From the bus stop at the Lluc monastery (Santuari de Lluc) walk approx 100 m towards the main building and there turn right. After about 400 m one reaches the monastery's football court. Cross the entire length of the court and leave it again in the corner on the left.

Going left over a bridge and along a path with steps in ptaces, entering an area of bizarrely eroded rocks called Camí des Pixarells, part of the Menut public estate (Finca pública de Menut). The toponym of Pixarells gives its name not only to the path, but also to a viewpoint (Mirador Pixarells), a cave, a recreational area and a camping area. Before a charcoaI burners’ site 5 minutes after the bridge pass, a signposted detour to the right leads to "Es Camell", a rocky natural phenomenon with the outline/appearance rather like a camel, hence its name. Rainwater erosion of limestone has formed all of the karstic rock in the area and disintegrated the rock with cart troughs.

The path goes by the Cova de Menut and gently uphill to the Ma-10 and the two Menut recreational areas (I & II) (Àrea recreativa de Menut I & II). Continue along the Ma-10 road for a little more than 1 km in the direction of Pollença. At km 15.3 on the Ma-10 turn left through the wooden gate arriving on the land belonging to the estate Finca Mossa. Behind the gate follow the concrete track downhill which a little later on becomes a dirt roadway. Stay on the main path heading through olive trees and cornfields towards the finca located on a hill. About 100 m before the building of the Finca Mossa (499 m), there is a sign pointing in the direction of 'Puig Roig’. The farmstead is passed around to the right along a stepped path.

The soon beautiful mule track leads across the slope of Puig Caragoler. Soon the path is literally cut out of the mountain. At the Coll des Ases (meaning'donkey pass') (623 m), there's usually a fresh breeze blowing up from the sea. The quite stony path now leads through a barren and dry landscape round the northeast slope of the Puig Roig massif. Together with diss grass which is tolerant of poor conditions, Balearic St. John's Wort and fragrant rosemary bushes, one occasionally come across the indigenous foxglove.

The path rises slowty to the Pas d'en Segarra (680 m). From here there is a fabulous panoramic view of the coast reaching all the way up to Cape Morro de sa Vaca ('cow's mouth') lying ahead at the exit from the Torrent de Pareis. The watch towers Torre de Sa Mola de Turno between Cala Tuent and Sa Calobra and the smaller Torre de Lluc are also visible. If it is not too windy, the rocks are an ideal spot for a lunch break.

At the pass the path heads west. The partially overgrown mule track run directly below the north face of Puig Roig towering steeply above your head, even lending some shade at midday. The watchtower on the Morrillo d'en Bordils soon comes into sight ahead. Above one can now see Roca Roja (843 m), Puig Roig's little sister. With a bit of luck one will even be able to watch black vultures that have found one of the last undisturbed nesting spots on the island on the north side of the massif.

After an hour's walk along the northern hillside there's a clear view into the valley where the longated building of the Quarter des Carabiners catch the eye. These police barracks were built in the 19th century with the delicate task of trying to combat tobacco smuggling which was flourishing on the north coast. It was abandoned in 1930.
Save 2.17 km by skipping the detour to the Quarter des Carabiners.

The walk widens out below the southwest face of Roca Roja and the eyes are immdiatety drawn to the dwellings of Es Cosconar (528 m) which are built into the cliff caves. The roadway coming up from the barracks joins just beforehand. The Es Cosconar dwellings tucked rustically under an overhanging rock face date back to the days of the Arabs and are therefore more than 700 years old. It is an authentic jewel of rural architecture and a good example of how engineers took advantage of the shelter of caves to build homes. The spectacular high-rise fireplace stands out.

From Cosconar, a beautiful descent begins between olive trees to Clot de Albarca, along a gravel track in very good condition on which property vehicles travel. The descent to Clot d'Albarca is quite long, about 5 km. To the left is seen a fountain covered with a stone vault. There are spectacular views of the red rock faces of Puig Roig to which the mountain owes its name (‘roig’ meaning ‘red’). The path leads past cient gnarted olive trees.

Once the valley basin is reached, keep to the broad main path which now passes through the flat valley bottom in three-quarters of an hour. Cross a footbridge over the Torrent d’Algueda and shortly afterwards pass in front of the beautiful houses of C'as Escribá, Son Llovera (336 m) and Ca'n Pontico. A few meters further on the grandiose Aubarca house is seen to the right. The Torrent d’Albarca is crossed over an arched bridge.

Before going up to the Mount Calvary of Lluc with its cross, the little road first heads right towards the grand Albarca estate (375 m), and eventually turns off left just beforehand. The road zigzags uphill to the Lluc monastery. Café Sa Plaga in the forecourt of the monastery offers refreshments after this fabulous hike. From there it takes only 1 minute to return to the Lluc bus stop.

WC at the Inca train station, at Lluc and the Menut I recreational area.

Lluc:
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Lluc is the administrative centre of the municipality of Escorca.
Lluc is also a pilgrimage site, a sanctuary and the spiritual centre of Mallorca, built in the 13th century.
It is a meeting point for Mallorquins who visit the shrine of the Virgin Mary.
Features of Lluc include:
- Es Porxets, formerly the lodgings for the pilgrims there;
- the buildings of Ca s'Amitger, which at present house an information centre about the Serra de Tramuntana;
- the Camí des Misteris, a track that climbs the Pujol de sa Trobada hill where tradition has it that a shepherd named Lluc found the figure of the Virgin, and, last but not least,
- the church, with a basilical floor plan and architectural features from different periods, together with a shrine where the figure of the Virgin, probably dating back to the 14th century, is displayed.

Public transportation:
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Train Palma - Inca and Inca - Palma. Bus 312 Inca - Lluc and Lluc - Inca.
Alternative Summer routes:
Bus 231 Port de Soller / Soller - Lluc and Lluc - Sóller / Port de Soller.
Bus 231 Alcudia - Lluc and Lluc - Alcudia.