Route: L’Havanor Refuge, Mortitx
Area: Spain, Mallorca
Date of walk: 29th April 2019
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, James and Nicola
Distance: 4.6 miles (there and back)
Ascent: 700 feet
Weather: Mixture of cloud and sun
We were joined on our walk today by our son James and his girlfriend Nicola, who had both been competing in the challenging Mallorca 312 cycle ride (312 km) a couple of days ago. We chose a walk which proved to be a perfect combination of easy walking and wild landscape, exactly as described in our walking guide ‘Walk! Mallorca‘ by Discovery Walking Guides
We parked near the gates of the Mortitx estate and followed the driveway past the main farmhouse and the estate winery
At the end of the vineyard we crossed a tall ladder stile into the reserve which is home to the rare black vulture. This was the start of an easy yet exciting walk through wild Mallorcan landscape, as we followed the dusty track past ancient twisted olive trees with dramatic mountains and rock formations on both sides. An alternative route down the Mortitx Gorge presented itself but we carried on along the main track towards the main Havanor track, crossing the lower dam wall on the Torrent de Comes
A little further along we headed towards a distinctive rock chimney, and shortly after passing it we arrived at the Havanor refuge, which is locked but which has a picnic table. This is as far as the walk goes at this time of the year, since further progress along the track is prohibited between 1st February and 30th June in order to protect the nests of the black vultures. By a stroke of good fortune, one of these huge birds flew over as we were sitting at the picnic table
From the refuge we retraced our steps along the track, no hardship in such dramatic and wild countryside – it had been a fantastic walk
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The start of today's walk as we enter the Mortitx estate
We head along the track and past the farm...
Ancient gnarled olive trees, a feature of the area...
Beyond the vineyard, we enter into the black vulture reserve and the scenery becomes wilder and more rugged...
No captions needed as it's just a case of following the track through classic Mallorcan landscape...
As we gain height, the sea comes into view beyond the northern coast of Mallorca
We pass over the lower dam wall of the Torrent de Comes
Views back along the track...
Just beyond this point, further progress along the track is not allowed at this time of year, a measure which has been taken to protect the nesting area of the black vulture, which was almost extinct in Mallorca in the 1980's
We turn right off the track to rest awhile at the Havanor refuge
To our delight, a black vulture glides by. This is the largest raptor in Europe, having a wingspan of over 8 feet and weighing 8kg or 17 pounds. Mallorca is the only island in the world that has a breeding population
At the other end of the scale, weighing about 15kg or half an ounce, a little brown job - I think it's a spotted flycatcher
We retrace our steps past the rock chimney near the refuge
A young wild Mallorcan goat
More gnarled olive trees...
A cirl bunting on a fence as we re-enter the Mortitx estate
Almost back to the start of a wonderful walk - thanks to James for lugging the telephoto lens around
An appropriate choice of wine with our meal later that day
