Trail ride “Heart of the Tramutana” – 4 days Mallorca Holidays
Day 1
Starting from the stable in Pollenca Bay at 9am, you will prepare your
horse for the journey and then ride by small finca roads along the riverbed to Pollenca town.
There you will tie up your horse near the historic Roman Bridge whilst you have
coffee or a drink. Afterwards you will take the ancient pilgrim’s path –
the Cami Vell de Lluc - to the Monastery at Lluc 18 kilometres to the
south west. Passing along gravel and earth tracks, through the river bed and ancient holm oak forests you will climb steadily towards the monastery. You will find charcoal burning platforms from the days
when charcoal was an essential commodity on Mallorca – used to make lime in the mountains and as a cooking fuel. And also ice houses where compacted snow would have been stored after being carried down from the snow-capped mountains in winter to provide ice to the towns in summer. You will stop for lunch in the middle of the mountains and forest to enjoy a picnic. Arriving at the monastery in Lluc retains all of the sense of welcome and of peacefulness, at the end of a journey traditionally associated with a place of pilgrimage. You will take your horse to the lush field provided
by the monastery, un-tack and feed them. You might fancy a drink in the bar now before finding your monastery cell. Simple and comfortable with private bathrooms – but be prepared to make your own bed!Best to do this before dinner and getting tired. An excellent typically Mallorquine menu awaits you in the Monastery restaurant.
Day 2
After breakfast the next day, groom your horse and tack up for the journey
towards to peak of Galilea. You will find more of the charcoal burning platforms which are also on the old road from Pollenca to Lluc. These are from the time when charcoal was an essential commodity on Mallorca.
It was used to turn the lime stone into quick lime for farming, to make mortar and paint for buildings and as a cooking fuel. Your horse will now take you on an exhilarating journey up steep tracks to what feels like the
top of the world. In fine weather you will see the most stunning views of the Mallorcan coast line before descending into a wide valley with views of Puig Major – Mallorca’s highest mountain. Birds of prey can frequently be seen circling in the sky like the black vultures of Mallorca.You continue towards a densely wooded landscape and then along narrow, winding and eventually steeply rising track – before descending to the Refuge at Tossals Verds.
There are often charming donkeys to share the horses’ field, which includes a shelter for tying up, grooming and feeding. At the refuge you can order water, wine, beers, coffees and a few spirits before being
served a communal set meal shared at trestle tables with the other guests. You will sleep in a dormitory so try not to snore too much! There are separate men and women’s toilet and shower rooms.
Day 3
Breakfast is again served communally, after which it’s time to saddle up
for day 3, packing a picnic lunch prepared by the Refuge. Today you
will retrace parts of the route of the previous day, with some differences.
Notice particularly how the ground cover changes from scented pine and thick undergrowth to bare mountain side with tiny wild flowers. Having seen many smaller ice houses along your way, today you will visit an enormous snow house close to a long abandoned building called the house of Galilea. This would have fed the smaller ice houses with
compacted snow from the mountain tops in winter, ready to be carried down to the towns for use in summer.
Admire the astonishing views of the coastline before beginning your descent down a beautifully restored stone stairway (which is part of the recently completed Routa de Piedra en Sec) where you will need
to dismount to relax horses and riders. Then continue riding through the varied landscape until you return to the monastery and your horse to its green field.
You will be well into the routine of un-tacking and feeding your horse now.
Dinner is served at Lluc in the informal circular bar restaurant on the outer edge of the monastery site, where
the food is excellent.
Day 4
After breakfast on the final day groom your horse and tack up for the downward journey home and notice the horses’ sense of excitement as they return to their most familiar territory. At first you will take a different route to the one you first arrived by, through what looks like an enchanted wood, eventually returning to a familiar landscape and the shallower inclined of the Tramuntana. Stopping again in Pollenca, you will enjoy an excellent Mallorcan lunch such as paella with wine – served in a small bar frequented by local people. Now the final ride back to the stables where you will complete your second day’s riding at about 6pm.
