I caught a bus to Valldemossa with a plan to walk the GR221 back to Port Soller. I first walked around the village before locating the trail. It wasn’t as easy as I’d thought. I spotted five Spanish guys and asked if the track that was blocked with a private no entry sign was ok to pass, as I’d seen two walkers go up earlier. They said yes and were also heading for Deia, but going a more interesting route than the GR 221, so I followed.
We soon arrived at an information hut with a guy explaining about the routes. It all seemed complicated…some walks blocked, some only allowing restricted numbers, all volunteer based, book in advance weirdness. So I chickened out and left them to find the GR221. This took me on the usual paved and well marked route up the hill passing many casual walkers who were struggling with the steep gradient.
I arrived at a junction where the path was taking me what appeared to be back around to Valldemossa and not ahead to Deia, and a right turn that appeared to be going in slightly wrong direction too, although certainly better than the other route, so I turned and followed three Spanish women (Later found I was on Serra des Cairats). I overtook and arrived at a style with the top gated and locked and lots of no entry / private signs . One of the women said it’s private but ok to pass. So I continued and after a while came to a cross road in the path and took the right one heading up to the top of a mountain which I later found out was Puig des Teix.
At the top was a trig point. Three Spanish guys headed over to another ridge so I followed assuming there would be a path down to Deia at the edge. There wasn’t and it didn’t look right. I asked the guys who said I was in the wrong direction and had to go back. It turns out the path I thought was wrong earlier was actually correct.
When back on what was supposed to be the correct path, it still didn’t seem right. I could see Deia way below to my right, however the path was taking me away towards Valldemossa. And no signs anywhere to indicate I was on the correct route. After asking twice along the way I came to a peak (I think Puig des Caragolí )…and a marker. Faintly reading Deia down. So I took what was a long and often quite hazardous path down the mountain side. I could see why I’d been mistaken. If I’d gone what I thought would have been a natural route, I’d have ended up at the top of a very steep cliff side. The only way down was round where I’d gone.
