GR221 Mallorca

Padstowe

Padstowe

Thru Hiker
Anyone done it, if so any tips such as any stages best avoided and why, how easy is sourcing water?
Thanks, am off in the beginning of Oct and have 8-8.5 walking days.
 
edh

edh

Thru Hiker
I've done most of it; better alternates exist. Water is a problem - expect a few heavy carries.
It should be pretty straightforward in 8 days.
Starting at St Elm?
If you have a rough itinerary I can tell you about likely water sources.
 
Padstowe

Padstowe

Thru Hiker
edh said:
I've done most of it; better alternates exist. Water is a problem - expect a few heavy carries.
It should be pretty straightforward in 8 days.
Starting at St Elm?
If you have a rough itinerary I can tell you about likely water sources.
Click to expand...
Yeah it says the start is in Port d'Andratx but was just thinking of starting at St Elm.
I was just going to follow the main route, there's 1 loop after a lake with a refugio on the southern shore, off GR22 as it goes around the northern shore but on another way marked trail it seems, where you have a choice to go round to the N or S, I thought to go the N route.
It seems by the map I'd be lucky to find any streams unless raining but has quite a few wells and reservoirs on or close by the trail, but how accessible or even if there have water remains to be seen.
 
Padstowe

Padstowe

Thru Hiker
The route choice I mention above follows a canal round the N slopes of Puig de sa Font, lake is marked as Embassament de Cuber.
 
edh

edh

Thru Hiker
Many fonts are dry.
The Cuber refuge needs a key (or used to) but there is a porch.
There is no reliable water from St Elm until a tap on a building after the road... unless you get lucky at La Trapa.
 
Padstowe

Padstowe

Thru Hiker
edh said:
Many fonts are dry.
The Cuber refuge needs a key (or used to) but there is a porch.
There is no reliable water from St Elm until a tap on a building after the road... unless you get lucky at La Trapa.
Click to expand...
Yeah that stretch from st elm to Ses Fontanelles looked a bit dry alright, the map shows a well at la trapa but not holding out much hope.
Cheers
 
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
I hiked my own versions twice, always around Easter as a prep for longer summer hikes. Water wasn't a problem in spring (though weather varied greatly). Both times I avoided the roadwalk bits (on the Palma/airport side of the island) in favour of GR221 variants. Its nice mellow hike but probably overrun in summer. I also did shorter sections on year in December (with a base near Soller) - short daylight hours and a bit damp. OK but didn't compare well to canaries in winter IMO
 
Jakey

Jakey

Trail Blazer
Should be fine, I haven’t walked it at that time of year but I have been there cycling plenty times in March. Weather is usually pretty good 👍
I did walk the majority of the route about 20 years ago, but I think that was in September
 
edh

edh

Thru Hiker
I'm there from the 24th....East to West on a slightly higher version....

My flight was about the same :)

These days the major issue is getting water....
 
tallest of pauls

tallest of pauls

Section Hiker
edh said:
I'm there from the 24th....East to West on a slightly higher version....

My flight was about the same :)

These days the major issue is getting water....
Click to expand...
Yessss. I was going to ask you about that. How many times have you been now? Seems like your always about to go or just come back!
 
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
Been there twice this season and its nicer than summer IMO. Would be tempted but I'll be in the Pyrenees....
 
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tallest of pauls

tallest of pauls

Section Hiker
edh said:
Originally I went for climbing....so about 30 years and probably 20 visits....a lot anyway...

And I'm still trying to do the 'pure' high line :facepalm:
Click to expand...
do you have a possible list of fonts & springs or is just from memory?

my days are pretty flexible, around a 7days seems ample, i'll probably try to bivouac near a source if possible - i hate carrying water at the end of the day, it seems to be twice as heavy in the evening!
 
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edh

edh

Thru Hiker
Yep I'll put one together - many marked on the maps are dry - its been a trend over the last decade sadly.

Seven days should be easy enough. Starting at St Elm?
 
tallest of pauls

tallest of pauls

Section Hiker
edh said:
Yep I'll put one together - many marked on the maps are dry - its been a trend over the last decade sadly.

Seven days should be easy enough. Starting at St Elm?
Click to expand...
That would be great. Thank you.

Yep west to east - not starting til lunch time probably so 4 or 5 hrs the first day.

I've a few spare days so may loop into the higher hills or double back to an area. Just want a chill time tbh, seems to have been a very long and dark winter. 💀
 
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Padstowe

Padstowe

Thru Hiker
tallest of pauls said:
do you have a possible list of fonts & springs or is just from memory?
Click to expand...
If this is for the 221, the only really dry bit I found was from St Elm to Estellencs.
The rest is close enough between villages/towns to not have to carry too much water I found. Not much water on trail if I mind right though, could probably count in one hand really and that would include a few places just off the trail.
 
Padstowe

Padstowe

Thru Hiker
So am off back to Mallorca end of next month, done the GR 221 last year and was wondering if anybody can recommend any alt routes , got 8 days.
Cheers.
 
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