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Trekking in Mallorca

GR221 - The Drystone Route through the Serra de Tramuntana

Pre-order - Publishing 25 April 2025

This book is available to pre-order. Payment will be taken upfront and your book will be dispatched from our warehouse as soon as it becomes available around the 25 April 2025.

ISBN

9781852848507

Availability

Reprinting

Published

18 Apr 2017

Reprinted

25 Apr 2025

Edition

Second

Pages

216

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.25cm

Weight

250g

Delivery & Returns

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...

Guidebook to walking the GR221 Drystone Route (Ruta de Pedra en Sec) traversing Mallorca's Serra de Tramuntana between Pollença and Andratx. Following rock, paved paths and mule tracks between welcoming villages, the 140km (87 mile) trek is in 10 day stages and showcases the island's forests, mountains and drystone structures.

Seasons

Possible nearly all year round, but it can be very hot in summer, while rare winter snowfall can cover the paths on the higher parts.

Centres

Port d'Andratx, Sant Elm, Estellencs, Banyalbufar, Esporles, Valldemossa, Deià, Sóller, Tossals Verds, Lluc, Pollença, Peguera, Calvià, Puigpunyent, Alaró, Caimari

Difficulty

Mostly on clear paths and tracks, but some of these can be rough and stony underfoot, and occasionally steep. Some parts require careful route-finding, though many stretches have been signposted and waymarked. The whole route can be completed by anyone with a little previous long-distance walking experience.

Must See

Serra de Tramuntana, Sa Dragonera, La Trapa, Puig de Galatzó, Puig des Teix, La Granja, Vall de Sóller, L'Ofre, Cúber, Tossals Verds, Puig de Massanella, Lluc Monastery, Puig de María, Castell d'Alaró

Pre-order

Publishing 25 April 2025

This book is available to pre-order. Payment will be taken upfront and your book will be dispatched from our warehouse as soon as it becomes available around the 25 April 2025.

ISBN

9781852848507

Availability

Reprinting

Published

18 Apr 2017

Reprinted

25 Apr 2025

Edition

Second

Pages

216

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.25cm

Weight

250g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

A guidebook to trekking the GR221 – also known as the Drystone Route – through the spectacular mountains of Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana. Best suited to those with some experience of long-distance walking, the route is mostly on clear paths and tracks, but some of these can be rough underfoot, and occasionally steep, and some sections require careful route-finding.

The main route extends 141km (88 miles) from Port d’Andratx to Pollença and is described in 10 detailed stages of between 9 and 20km (5–12 miles). Also included are alternative starts from s’Arracó, es Capdellà and Calvià, and alternative finishes to Cala Tuent, Alaró, Orient, Caimari and Port de Pollença.

1:25,000 Alpina mapping for each stage
Extensive information on public transport, accommodation and refreshments, including accommodation listings
Optional detours to climb neighbouring peaks
Advice on preparation and planning
History, plants and wildlife and local points of interest

Table of Contents

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Serra de Tramuntana

GR221 – Ruta de Pedra en Sec

Brief history of Mallorca

Plants and wildlife

Travel to Mallorca

Travel around Mallorca

When to go

Accommodation

Language

Money

Food and drink

Water

Walking the GR221

Emergencies

Using this guide

GR221 – The Drystone Route

Stage 1 Port d’Andratx to Sant Elm

Stage 2 Sant Elm to Ses Fontanelles

Stage 3 Ses Fontanelles to Estellencs

Stage 4 Estellencs to Esporles

Stage 5 Esporles to Valldemossa

Stage 6 Valldemossa to Deià

Stage 7 Deià to Sóller

Stage 8 Sóller to Tossals Verds

Stage 9 Tossals Verds to Lluc

Stage 10 Lluc to Pollença and Puig de Maria

Alternatives

Alternative start A s’Arracó to Ses Fontanelles

Alternative start B es Capdellà to Estellencs

Alternative start C Calvià to Estellencs

Alternative finish D Sóller to Cala Tuent

Alternative finish E Tossals Verds to Alaró or Orient

Alternative finish F Lluc to Caimari via GR222

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Glossary

Appendix C Public transport

Appendix D Accommodation

Appendix E Useful contacts

Updates

April 2025

Signposts and waymarks

Stage 1 - Port d'Andratx to Sant Elm

Stage 2 - Sant Elm to Ses Fontanelles

The first stage of the GR221 and part of the second stage, from Sant Elm to La Trapa, hadn't been signposted or waymarked when the book was reprint in 2025. However, during the printing process, signposts and waymarks were installed on these parts of the trail. This means that the entire GR221, from Port d'Andratx to Port de Pollença, is fully signposted and waymarked, as are several variant routes and spur routes. In the near future further variant routes and an extension to the main route beyond Port de Pollença are expected.

February 2024

GR221 signposts

After a sudden burst of activity, the island council have signposted and waymarked almost all of the GR221, apart from Stage 1 between Port d’Andratx and Sant Elm, and the first part of Stage 2 to La Trapa. For the time being, if any of the route descriptions in the guidebook say that there are no signposts of waymarks, you can now expect to find those parts fully signposted and waymarked. Further additions to the trail are planned in the central parts, between Valdemossa and Orient.

June 2022

2022 reprint route updates

850 Reprint 2022 (275.144 KB)

April 2022

Alternative Finish D

The country house of Bàlitx d'Enmig is under new ownership. Abundant notices point out that walkers should no longer pass the house. A new signposted and waymarked route offers a diversion. Before reaching Font de Bàlitx, the route now runs through olive groves above Bàlitx d'Enmig, offering better views than previously, and soon descends to rejoin the original route. See the map extract and follow the new route indicated in green between A and B. Do not follow the former route.

May 2019

Corrections

Refuge Booking Page 27:

The website for booking municipal refuges along the GR221 has changed. Please refer to https://seu.conselldemallorca.net/refugis/en/ruta/.

June 2017

The total distance in the Route Summary Table was incorrect. The updated table is available here.

A small section of mapping was omitted from Alternative Start B. The corrected stage is available here.

183 184 (32.569 KB)

850 updates dealt with 6 4 17 (7.614 MB)

Downloads

Trekking in Mallorca - GPX File

By Paddy Dillon

Paddy Dillon is a prolific walker and guidebook writer, with over 100 guidebooks to his name and contributions to 40 other titles. He has written for several outdoor magazines and other publications and has appeared on radio and television.Paddy uses a tablet computer to write as he walks. His descriptions are therefore precise, having been written at the very point at which the reader uses them.Paddy is an indefatigable long-distance walker who has walked all of Britain's National Trails and several European trails. He has also walked in Nepal, Tibet, Korea and the Rocky Mountains of Canada and the US.

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