Walking in Menorca. Paddy Dillon

       Getting to Menorca

       Getting around Menorca

       What to take

       Waymarking and access

       Maps

       Food and drink

       Tourist information offices

       Emergencies

       Using this guide

       Day walks

       Walk 1 Maó and Es Castell

       Walk 2 Cala de Sant Esteve and s’Algar

       Walk 3 Maó and Trebalúger

       Walk 4 Sant Lluís and Biniancolla

       Walk 5 Llucmaçanes and Binissafúllet

       Walk 6 Airport to Sant Lluís

       Walk 7 Maó to Cala en Porter

       Walk 8 Es Migjorn Gran and Cova de Coloms

       Walk 9 Cala Galdana and Sant Tomàs

       Walk 10 Ferreries and Cova des Moro

       Walk 11 Cala Macarella and Cala Turqueta

       Walk 12 Sant Joan, Son Saura and Son Catlar

       Walk 13 Santa Àgueda and Cala del Pilar

       Walk 14 Fornells and Cala Tirant

       Walk 15 Es Grau and Sa Torreta

       Walk 16 s’Albufera des Grau

       Coast to Coast: Maó to Ciutadella

       Stage 1 Maó to Alcaidús and Alaior

       Stage 2 Alaior to Monte Toro and Es Mercadal

       Stage 3 Es Mercadal to Ferreries

       Stage 4 Ferreries to Ciutadella

       GR223: Camí de Cavalls

       Stage 1 Maó to Binissafúller

       Stage 2 Binissafúller to Son Bou

       Stage 3 Son Bou to Cala Galdana

       Stage 4 Cala Galdana to Cala en Bosc

       Stage 5 Cala en Bosc to Ciutadella

       Stage 6 Ciutadella to Cala Morell

       Stage 7 Cala Morell to els Alocs

       Stage 8 els Alocs to Ses Salines

       Stage 9 Ses Salines to Cap de Favàritx

       Stage 10 Cap de Favàritx to Maó

       Appendix A Route Summary Table

       Appendix B Language Notes

       Appendix C Topographical Glossary

       Appendix D Useful Contacts

      A track heads inland through dense woods at Alzina de Dalt (Walk 13)

      INTRODUCTION

      Looking towards Cap de Fornells (Walk 14)

      The Mediterranean island of Menorca was a British possession for the best part of the 18th century, and it remains a firm favourite holiday destination for British visitors today. Sunshine and sandy beaches were considered a sufficient draw during the 20th century; however, since the year 2000, trail-blazing initiatives have led to the creation of a scenic long-distance trail right around the island and a network of interesting walking and cycling routes across it.

      Outdoor enthusiasts are rediscovering Menorca, quartering the island in search of rugged cliff scenery, splendid beaches, amazing archaeology and fascinating historical sites. Routes pass through dense woodlands and cross steep-sided valleys, but never venture too far from useful facilities. The island has abundant accommodation, a good bus network and plenty of places offering food and drink along the trails.

      This guidebook explores Menorca by means of 16 one-day walks, spread all over the island, and one four-stage walk across the island, together totalling almost 260km (160 miles). The long-distance GR223, or Camí de Cavalls, is also included, and measures an additional 185km (115 miles). It completely encircles the island, and takes about ten days to complete. In short, there is enough to keep a keen walker occupied for a whole month!

Location

      Menorca is one of the three Balearic Islands, basking in the Mediterranean Sea between southern Spain and northern Algeria. It is located from 3º 44’ W to 4º 17’ W and 39º 47’ N to 40º 06’ N. Its name is derived from the fact that its size is ‘minor’ (menor), when compared to Mallorca, measuring only one-fifth the size of its larger neighbour. At 695km² (268 square miles), Menorca is only slightly larger than the Isle of Man. The highest point on the island rises only to 362m (1188ft) on Monte Toro. While some maps suggest that Menorca is almost flat, in reality most of the island is covered in small hills, dissected by a network of steep-sided valleys, or barrancs.

Geology

      The spiral-striped lighthouse on the rugged Cap de Favàritx lies just off the GR223 route

      Menorca has many rock types, but the most important distinction is between the north and south of the island. Northern Menorca (Tramuntana) features the oldest and most convoluted rocks: approximately 400 million-year-old Devonian strata. These beds are chiefly exposed between the central and northernmost point of Menorca, and also along the east coast.

      Rocks from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods – 300 to 65 million years ago – flank the older beds throughout the north. The rock types are complex, but red sandstone and grey slate are common. These break down to form golden sandy beaches and grey pebbly beaches respectively. The northern hills are remote, rugged and densely forested, although many valleys and plains have now been cleared for agriculture.

      The southern half of Menorca (Migjorn) is a gently sloping limestone plateau, riven by a succession of steep barrancs.