NEWS

►GR 221: New alternative section between Castell d'Alaró and the mountain hut Tossals Verds (june 2010)

→ In a few months, the restoration of the mountain hut of Castell d'Alaró will be completed. It needs a connection with the GR 221. An agreement with the owner of one of the most important manor houses of Mallorca: Solleric has made possible the opening of this stage which has been signposted and cleared. The stone pavement is still being restored.

- Signpost on the road Alaró- Orient with the Castell d'Alaró behind-

- For safety, a footpath has been built near the road-

- New restored cobblestoned footpath-

- At the end of june 2010, work was still on progress-

- Manor house Solleric-

- Olive groves in Solleric-

- Signpost in the pass Coll de sa Corona with the Puig des Tossals Verds behind-

►New trail between Estellencs and Banyalbufar

→ Since june 2009 there is a deviation for the GR 221. At the end of february 2010 it was open but it wasn't signposted. The Environnement Dep. has connected the public lands of Planícia with the GR 221 (above Banyalbufar near Son Sanutges- Camí des Correu). You don't need to cross the closed state of Es Rafal and descend to Banyalbufar: Walking from Estellencs to Esporles, you save up one hour and 200m up- and downhill. Despite the many turnoffs, the trail follows a logical direction (first to the north and then to the east and is quite flat).

→ Deviation: (Going from Estellencs- Banyalbufar- Esporles). 3h 30min from Estellencs to Banyalbufar and 4h 30min from Estellencs to Esporles. At the paved track to the public state of Planícia. Instead of walking straight ahead following the signposted GR 221, take the road uphill to the right. 30min later near the main building of Planicia go straight on to "Casa de ses Collidores" (signposted). Pass this building and walk a further 100 metres: To the right (almost straight ahead) a trail starts uphill which you follow (If you don't see this fork, two minutes later you’ll reach the gate of Es Rafal).

After 5min uphill pass between a limestone kiln and a water reservoir and, shortly afterwards, walk down to the left and cross a stile. Three minutes later cross the wall again and follow it for the next 8min. Now you should be careful: At one fork, walk straight ahead on a narrow path and leave the downhill track to your left. After 50 metres reach a track where you turn right uphill. A few minutes later the track starts dropping down to the next junction (3min). Go to the left downhill, ignore the next fork (after 50 metres, it should be the logical continuation of the trail but one owner doesn't agree). After 5min reach a turnoff and turn right, go past the house of S'Arbossar (5min) and arrive at the signposted GR 221- Camí des Correu (15min, left to Banyalbufar, right to Esporles)

►17.02.2009: The government has bought the state Planícia 

-  The government has bought the state Planícia (Banyalbufar- 445 Ha.) for € 11,2 Mio.

-The manor house (1500 qm) could be restored as a mountain hostel of the long distance trail GR-221.

►Problems on the trail GR 221 from Estellencs to Banyalbufar

→ In 2001 a couple of no entry signs appeared  in the Finca Es  Rafal , on the trail from Banyalbufar to Estellencs, which is also signposted as long distance trail GR 221. Until the courts made the final decision, the trail was open. You could open the gate and walk past the manor house of Es Rafal.

→ At the end of 2006 the courts decided that the owners could close the trail. Since february 2007, the gates are closed.

→ We have also talked to the "Departament de Medi Ambient" of the "Consell Insular" responsible for the long distance trail GR 221. They are looking for an alternative and working with the municipality of Banyalbufar. At the end of 2007, the government has put a couple of information boards warning about the closure (in Banyalbufar and Estellencs). It could last a while and the hikers should use the main road Ma-10. 

►July 2008:The law of the long-distance trail GR 221

→ The law is an important tool for the GR 221 because it guarantees the crossing of private land. The most important points are: 

             * Page 10: About agreements with private owners.

             * Page 15: The GR 221 will have a length of 135'26 km (+ 156,27 km of alternative sections)

             * Page 56: Stages

             * Page 211: Mountain huts

             * Page 212: Possible expropiations

         → Only in catalan available: http://www.conselldemallorca.net/?id_section=1675.

►December 2008: The law of the Route Artà- Lluc (GR 222)

→ The law is an important tool for the GR 222 because it guarantees the right of way across private lands. Its most important points are: 

             * Page 9: The GR 222 will have a length of 101'549 km (+ 25,192 km of alternative sections)

             * Page 11: Possible expropiations

             * Page 23: Next steps to be taken.

             * Page 26: Stages: 34 km of the course will use paved roads

              → Only in catalan available: http://www.conselldemallorca.net/?id_section=1841.

►April 2003: New section of the hiking trail GR 221: Tossals Verds- Lluc

- Section of the GR 221 between the passes "Coll des Telègraf" and "Coll des Prat". From here, it turns right to the mountain hut Tossals Verds- 

   - Section of the restored snowcollectors' trail-                        
                                                                                                                                                                                  

→ The restoration (which started on 2001 and finished on 2005) was a challenge for FODESMA (the dry- stone wall building college) . The new section begins at the junction between Tossals Verds and the "Font des Noguer" (Cúber reservoir). From here there is a level path to the spring "Font des Prat" and uphill through the forest to the pass " Coll des Prat" (1.205 m). Just behind the dry- stone wall, it turns left to a narrow and steep passage, just 50 metres away. Nearby it goes by a snowhole and steeply down to the next pass "Coll des telègraf". From here the trail turns right downhill for 10 minutes and then uphill again, in the direction of "Puig des Galileu". After the pass the trail is level to the west until a junction where another snowhole is signposted. For Lluc the trail turns right and reaches the most spectacular section where most of the restoration work was done: "Ses Voltes des Galileu". Afterwards the trail comes to the forest, crosses the road Sóller-Lluc and arrives at the Santuari de Lluc.

►April 2003: One renovated building in the mountain hut  Castell d'Alaró has been opened 

→ The building was inaugurated on 27 April 2003. There are 4 dormitories for 4 people each with central heating and bathrooms. (Tel. [0034] 971 182 112). The long renovation of the main building will finish on 2009.

→  It is planned to join this hut up with the hiking trail GR221 but it will be a challenge. The trail to the valley of Orient is public but from here all the trails to Sóller or to L'Ofre are private and closed.  It is possible to cross the finca Solleric by paying a fee and reach the mountain hut Tossals Verds.

►May 2002: The mountain hut Muleta, near Port de Sóller, has been open

→ Since May 2002 there has been a new mountain hut in Mallorca: Muleta (Tel. [0034] 971 634 271) which is located 2 kilometers from Port de Sóller . 

►2002: Hiking trail GR 221: new trail from the Cúber reservoir to Binimorat  and from Coll de l'Ofre to the farm L'Ofre

→ In 2000 the GR 221 was signposted along the road to the dam. In 2003 this trail was signposted near the carpark on the main road and follows the opposite side of the reservoir. It then takes the unpaved road and, after the farm Binimorat, it turns to the right through the forest to the pass Coll de l'Ofre .

→ From here the GR 221 follows the old trail to the junction near the farm L'Ofre. This new cleared section replaces the trail signposted three years before (it followed the shortcuts of the unpaved road).

►2002: New trail from Tossals Verds  to  Cúber 

- Safety cable in the key passage-

→ The trail begins in the mountain hut Tossals Verds and leads above the "Torrent d'Almadrà" which is on the left. A cable in the key passage makes it safer. Afterwards the trail climbs to the pass "Coll de sa Coma des Ases" and down to the spring "Font des Noguer" . The trail isn't signposted yet. It will be an alternative section of the GR 221

→ It is an interesting alternative stage of the hiking trail GR 221. Taking the signposted trail you should walk back to the junction (1 hour away) if you want to follow the GR to Lluc. With the new trail you can reach the mountain hut taking one trail and leave it taking a different one.

→ It is also a good alternative to the tunnel trail in the popular hike around the mountain Tossals Verds.

►2002: The government purchased the valley "Coma d'en Vidal", near Estellencs.  The farm  has been turned into a mountain hut-

→ The farm and the 50-hectare Finca "Coma d'en Vidal" were purchased in  November 2002 with money from the tourists' ecotax. It is situated one hour from Estellencs. A hiking trail to the mountain "S'Esclop", which is also the old trail from Estellencs to Es Capdellà, crosses the finca. Work was completed on early 2007 but the hut was still closed on october 2007.