JAVEA – Tarraula between the river and Tossal Gros – Tue

Walk Leaders: Phil & Debbie

Meeting Point	El Rafalet car park Benitachell road CV740. GPS: 38°45’44.5″N 0°08’52.7″E
Walking Route	Distance : 4,3 km	Tarraula camis / woods south of the river in the shadow of Tossal Gros
Terrain	Walking Surface	Many tarmac roads, some gravel roads and dirt paths. Two short dirt “slopes/gullies” to descend, but can be avoided. Dirt paths and vineyards could be muddy after rain.
	Ascent	Some hills. Morante and Tarraula (North) are steep. Tarraula (West) is less steep.
Directions to Meeting Point	From Moraira: Take the road from Moraira to Benitachell . Turn right at the traffic lights and drive to Javea(CV740), pass the golf club. When you passed the golfclub you find the Rafalet parking on the right on the corner of Calle del mar de Noruega. From Javea: Leave Jávea on the CV734 towards Gata. Turn left at the Ferrobox roundabout onto CV740 to Benitachell. Straight over roundabout at Cabanes. Shortly after the stone cross on right, turn left into the large El Rafalet car park on the left on the corner of Calle del mar de Noruega

Walk Description

Note: a number of roads in this area seem to be called Cami de Tarraula! So, in order to avoid confusion, this description, and the map, annotate these roads by their general compass location, i.e. north, west, east etc. Any road signs you might see on the walk itself aren’t as helpful as this!

1. On leaving your vehicle, take the left hand path out of Rafalet and towards the main Javea – to – Benitachell road (CV740). Turn left at the main road towards Benitachell, after a few meters cross the road opposite a wide concrete path. (be very careful when crossing this busy main road)
2. After a few meters the concrete slope becomes a wide gravel track. Walk along this gravel track until you see a single dirt track straight ahead. Take this single track, pass a villa on the right, until you reach the Cami Vell Teulada road (bins to your left).
3. Go straight across Cami Vell Teulada road, turn left and take the Cami Tarraula road. Continue on this tarmac road and take the first turning into Calle Elsa Morante. Follow the road round to the left and under the trees, after this point the road bends left and right as it climbs. Ignore the turning to the left and at the top of the hill take the right hand fork.
4. After approximately 200 meters the road surface changes from tarmac to gravel. Continue along the gravel road ignoring a dirt track on the left. This gravel road ends on the bend of a tarmac road, junction of Cami de Tarraula and D’Alberto Camus.
5. Go straight up the tarmac hill (Cami de Tarraula) do not turn right. At the crest of the hill there are houses on both sides and excellent views towards the sea.
6. Follow the road as it descends, go pass the double track and olive grove on the left. Just after the olive grove turn left, pass a well on your left, and enter a small clearing in a pine wooded area. Walk diagonally across the clearing and you will see the start of a single path through the woods. The direction of the path should be perpendicular to the last tarmac road you were on.
7. At the end of the wood, bear right and the narrow path drops (2-3 meters) down a dirt slope to a lower terrace (care needed at this point). At the bottom of the slope take the second turning opposite a very small clearing on the right. Walk through a narrow un-kept terrace and overgrown path. At the end of the terrace the path curves left into a well kept vineyard.
8. Walk carefully along the left hand edge of the vineyard, at the far end a dirt track slopes down into a small almond tree area. After leaving the almond trees take the elevated track to the left.
9. Follow this double track until you reach a small multi -junction area, take the single track to the right (sharp bend).
10. Continue on this track, pass the ruined finca and views of the Montgo on your right. Ignore the single track on your left and continue until you reach a short steep slope down (3-4 meters). At the bottom of the slope ignore the track to the right and continue on until you reach a T junction, turn left here. Walk up a slight incline passing a number of houses on the right. Keep straight on, ignoring a gravel path to the left and a tarmac road to your right, until you reach a multi-junction with a tarmac surface.
11. At this junction you will see a road to the right (Cami Tarradolas) and another straight ahead (Cami de Tossal Gros). Ignore these roads and turn left and descend down Cami de Tarraula passing a small stable on the left hand corner.
12. Continue down the hill, pass a large stable on your right. The tarmac road takes you through a number of bends with houses on both sides of the road. After passing a tarmac road (Calle Elsa Morante) on your left you reach a T-junction and the Cami Vell Teulada road.
13. Immediately opposite the road that you are on is a single lane dirt track. Cross the Cami Vell Teulada road and take the single lane track. Walk pass the villa on your left , join the double track, and head towards the main Javea – to – Benitachell road (be very careful when crossing this busy road). Having crossed the road, turn left and then right after a few meters, your vehicle should be ahead.