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WALK 6

Mola de s’Esclop from Boal de ses Serveres

Start/Finish	Km97 on the Ma-10 road above Estellencs
Distance	9.5km (5¾ miles)
Total ascent/descent	630m (2065ft)
Time	3hrs 30mins
Terrain	Good tracks and paths on the lower slopes, but steep and rocky higher on the mountain, with short scrambles on bare rock
Map	Alpina Tramuntana Sud
Refreshment	None
Transport	None closer than Estellencs: the extra road-walking there-and-back amounts to just over 5km (3 miles). Using the signposted GR221 from Estellencs to Km97 adds 9km (5½ miles) there-and-back, although there are ways of short-cutting the distance. Limited roadside parking at Km97.

S’Esclop is reasonably easy to climb from a recreational area at Boal de ses Serveres in the public estate of Son Fortuny, above Estellencs. It is mostly a there-and-back walk, but the summit area can be explored using a short, rugged loop, with fine views in all directions. Alternative descents lead to places such as es Capdellà and Ses Fontanelles, for anyone keen to see more of this scenic area.

From Km97, where there is a mapboard and signpost at around 300m (985ft), walk up a dirt road onto a wooded slope. Pass a chain barrier and keep climbing, noting the mock paving underfoot while turning a bend. Reach a three-way signpost and turn right. Walk 7 turns left here.

Pass a water tank and follow the bendy track as it climbs, enjoying splendid views of the high cliffs of es Morralàs, forested slopes and the coast. The track is very steep and convoluted as it climbs, passing through a formidable wall and fence that once barred access to the mountains.

Keep climbing and pass through another gate, where the gradient eases. The track is flanked by an avenue of trees as it approaches the refugi of sa Coma d’en Vidal, around 550m (1805ft). This should have been providing accommodation when it was first acquired, back in 2002, but a permanent caretaker might be on-site from 2018. Keep following the track uphill, rising through a fire-damaged forested valley, eventually reaching a gap at 652m (2139ft) beside Serra des Pinotells.

Cliffs above forested slopes on the way to and from Coma d’en Vidal

Cross a stile over a wall and turn right to continue. Left leads down to Finca Galatzó and es Capdellà, described in Walk 5 and Walk 9. The path climbs, but occasionally has burnt trees lying across it. A ruin lies to the left and an era, or circular threshing floor, is crossed at Era des Coll.

The path continues across a rugged slope covered in càrritx, with the rocky hump of es Castellet rising to the right. A path junction is reached beside a low, tumbled wall on a broad, gentle gap. Left leads directly to the summit of s’Esclop, but it is worth turning right and stepping across the wall instead.

Follow the path as it traverses a slope, passing above a rocky chasm above Font des Quer. Take care not to follow a path downhill. Climb past old terraces to reach the ruins of Caseta de la Mola, which features another era and old terraces at 844m (2769ft). Turning right reveals a path descending to Ses Fontanelles, used on Walk 4. Keep left, or straight ahead, to follow a path across terraces beneath a cliff.

Turn left and tackle some mild scrambling to gain the crest of Mola de s’Esclop, then turn either right or left. Right leads quickly to a ruined building that once served as an observatory; left leads to the summit trig point at 928m (3045ft). Splendid views stretch in all directions, with the neighbouring peak of Puig de Galatzó featuring particularly well.

Descend very roughly north-east from the trig point, watching carefully for the path across bare rock, aiming for the rocky hump of es Castellet. Don’t go all the way to it, but reach a vague path junction and turn right for Era des Coll. Simply retrace steps back to sa Coma d’en Vidal and down to the Ma-10 road to finish.