THE DRY STONE ROUTE
The GR 221 is a trail that enables the hiker to discover dry stone landscapes in the Tramuntana mountain range, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the category of a cultural landscape. We can visit fascinating historical ruins and explore the traditions, architecture, customs, gastronomy and handicrafts of this privileged spot in Mallorca’s geography.
The route often takes one close to the coast and in some places to the loftiest peaks of the range, the highest point on the route being the Coll de ses Cases de sa Neu at slightly over one thousand metres. This combination of coast and mountainous heights, coupled with the variety of the vegetation, shady holm-oak groves giving way to the typically Mediterranean scrub (garriga or maquis), help to enhance the scenic attraction of the path.
The trail is largely based on the network of ancient footpaths restored by the Consell de Mallorca, which makes it accessible for hikers of all ages. Moreover, the island’s benign climate makes walking feasible practically all year round.
This “Grande Randonnée” trail will have, when completed, 271 km passable, distributed in 8 stages of the main route and 9 variants that will connect with other towns or places of interest. At the end of each stage, the hikers may use a refuge managed by the Consell de Mallorca which provides accommodation.
THE TRAIL TODAY
The trail currently consists of 167 km open and signalled between stages (87 km) and variants 82 km). Hikers have 4 complete stages which allow them to link Deià with Pollença, at the same time, the section comprised between Banyalbufar and Esporles is now open by the road «Camí des Correu”. The following variants are currently open: S’Arracó to the Coll de sa Gramola, Es Capdellà to Estellencs, Pas Llis and Tossals Verds to Orient.
FAUNA
The Serra de Tramuntana range is the area of the island of greatest natural value. Its mountains are the refuge of many exceptional species, in particular the black vulture, which is relatively well established nowadays thanks to its recovery programme, the osprey, which nests on the sea cliffs, and Eleonora’s falcon, which is endemic to the Mediterranean.
In the shade of the holm-oak groves there are a great number of small insectivorous birds to be found, such as the colourful but raucous blue tit, the goldcrest and the tiny wren. Also commonly seen there are seed eating birds, such as the chaffinch, one of the most trusting, and the wood pigeon.
The pine woods are the habitat of different species of warblers, as well as the crossbill, with its crossed bill especially designed to prise open pine cones. Meanwhile the extensive fields of mauritanica grass and other open spaces are home to partridges and the xorrec, a small endemic subspecies of Marmora’s warbler (Sylvia balearica).
The well-known robin arrives in our islands in winter, fleeing from the northern cold, along with redstarts, stonechats, wheatears, chiffchaffs and different species of thrush, while in springtime other birds arrive from Africa to breed here. This is the case of the spotted fly catcher, a small bird whose subspecies, Muscicapa striata subsp. balearica, breeds only in the Balearics, shrikes, and the cuckoo, with its highly characteristic song.
The feral goat is the only mammal that you shall see with any degree of frequency. The lessen ing of human pressure has made it into a very abundant species which has a major effect on vegetation. Other small hunting mammals, loosely grouped together in the family of Mustelidae, such as the weasel, genet and pine marten are hard to see, because of their habits.