PUIG CAMPANA

THE MOUNTAIN
The Puig Campana with it’s 1410m. rises up behind the Benidorm skyline. With it’s impressive walls it’s one of the most spectacular mountains in this region. For hikers as well for the real rock climbers there is a lot of action on this 2nd highest mountain in this area.The big advantage is that there is a lot of quietness on this mountain. You see a huge gap in the western ridge. The legend tells that a giant called Roldan kick out a piece of rock just to give his beloved wife more sun otherwise she would die.The kicked-out piece splashed into the Mediterranean Sea just before the Benidorm coastline. The little island called L'Illa seems to measure precisely into the gap.The right name of the mountain is " Puig Campana ". Puig means " hill " or " mountain " in Valenciano, the still in use local idiom; and Campana means " bell ", for the similarity of mountain shape with it.

THE CIRCUIT

The circuit of Puig Campana makes a fine walk in its own right and involves ascending to 884m.Start at the Moli fountain in Finistrat. The circuit may be walked in either direction. Our route is clockwise. (the route on the map shows anti clockwise) From the car park at Font Moli take the asphalt road up until the walk sign posts are reached. Follow the yellow and white way markers to the Collado de Pouet (know as the lunch stone by local walking groups) The path takes us through a once pine forest, sadly destroyed by fire, and passes a refugio until you come to Collada de Pouet a small clearing with tracks and paths to five different directions. Approx. 1hour 15min. From here follow way markers to the Solsida fountain a nice spot for lunch with its perpendicular reddish rock wall. The path descends and eventually leads into a pine forest and passes a ruined house by the side of the track. Continue follow way markers which will take you back to Font Moli.
Total walking time approximately 3hours.

DISTANCE  11.4km.  WALKING TIME  3h 10min.  ASCENT  631mtrs.  GRADE  Medium

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Click here for GPS track

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Click here for photos of circuit walk
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THE SUMMIT

Click here for map of walk
Mountain walkers will want to get straight up Puig Campana . It has that air of invincibility shared with many mountains but it is actually quite a manageable prospect. Take paths from Finestrat up the central scree gully which, while still needing care, is nowhere near as steep as it looks from the valley! The summit is on the right of this gully as seen from Finestrat; the area above the big cliffs to the left looks higher but this is because they are less set back. (No walkers' paths go near these cliffs.)
Start from the Moli fountain (340 m) by walking uphill on the asphalt road. After crossinga small bridge you see signposts on your right (7min) (385 m). Follow the Puig Campana sign to a wide path. When the path forks (10min) (420 m), turn right. In the beginning the path has white-yellow waymarks, but higher up splodges of red paint and piles of stone mark the ongoing path.
On your way upwards the views down into the valley get more and more extensive. At the same time Finestrat that first dominates the scenery becomes smaller and smaller.
There are more than one waymarked path. You can take any of them as long as you stay on the right hand side of the trail with rolling stones.
The path is very steep and difficult to walk on. In many places you have to use also your hands in getting forward.
The landscape is quite barren. You start the walk through a pine forest, but higher up you meet only bushes.
When you reach the pass, which separates the two peaks of Puig Campana, you find a tall pile of stones (2h) (1270 m). Curve right and soon you see signposts. Once you have visited the summit, you will return to these signposts.
Follow the mauve waymarks all the way to the top (2h30min) (1408 m) where you enjoy a splendid panorama over the surrounding mountains including Aitana, Ponoch, Aixorta and Bernia. The seaview encompasses the bay of Altea lined by the Helada mountain and the monolite Ifach. There is a book at the sumit to record your achivement if you wish.
Return to the signposts and take the botanical path of Puig Campana (Sender botanic de L'Ombria del Puig Campana) (2h50min) (1280 m). From here follow the yellow and white waymarks. The northern face of the mountain has more vegetation. The aroma of thyme, rosemary and sage fill the air.
This downhill path is much easier to walk than the one starting from the Moli fountain. First it snakes and then zigzags its way down before becoming more gentle just before widening into a track (3h30min) (955 m). When the track forks (3h36min) (910 m), go left. Do not follow the sign for the Solsida fountain (Font de la Solsida).
The track descends to the Pass of Pouet (Coll de Pouet) (3h42min) (885 m), where you find a number of signs. Take the path back to Font Moli which is clearly marked with yellow-white flashes. This path is part of the circuit walk and will pass by a Refugio and then through the burnt area.. A treak of about 5klms (4h48min)
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