Trip reports and photos from the Innominata Mountain Club's visit to Costa Blanca, Spain

26 February - 4 March 2000

We flew out from Manchester on an early morning flight and were at the villa at Alfaz del Pi by lunchtime. Later that afternoon we were at Toix West (see photo).

During the week I visited Sella a couple of times. Most of the routes there which I'm capable of I've done before, but it's such a lovely place that I was happy to do them again, and to try a couple of harder climbs.

I also visited Marin twice. This is a super crag for the lower-grade climber, with plenty of quality 2-pitch Grade 4s and 5s on nice slabby rock with plenty of bolts. It's not in the Rockfax, but it's described in the Chris Craggs guide, however his access description is now out of date - from the N330 at Elda, the turnoff is now signposted to the Hospital rather than the "Substacion HE". Also note that he uses a different grading sytem to Rockfax.

As well as cragging, I did a couple of longer climbs. We had a great day out on the Puig Campana, and also did Via Valencianos on the Peñon de Ifach, where we had the route to ourselves.

We finished the week with a massed assault on Roland's Magical Mystery Tour at Toix Sea Cliffs.

To return to Howard's climbing home page, click here