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From the parking area by the Font d’Aixa carry on forwards following yellow and white markings. After about 100 metres look out for a turning to the left where the path begins to climb the hillside, following signs to Castell d’Aixa and Font de la Xima. At the next junction with a three way sign carry on climbing, following signs to the Castell.
Castell d'Aixa rises above the orange groves
The path goes up steeply until it reaches a band of rock where it climbs rightwards up a narrow shelf and passes below a fallen boulder before regaining the open hillside and soon afterwards breasts the ridge to open up excellent views across the valley to the castle ruins perched on the rocky summit opposite. From the col the path traverses the hillside making for another col at the head of the valley with views down into the Vall de Pop and across to a pair of dramatic shark’s fin ridges on the opposite hillside below the castle. Now turn rightwards up the broken limestone slope, the route still marked with yellow and white paint flashes.
The rock ramp climbing to the first col
At a fork take the lower right hand option which traverses the hillside before coming back leftwards through old terraces and walls to reach the summit of Castell d’Aixa. Crowned with a round concrete post, the summit is an ideal place for a refreshment stop to admire the wide-ranging views.
Leaving the summit, set off along the ridge with the isolated massif of Montgo directly ahead to the northeast. After about 150 metres look out for a cairn on the edge of the left hand slope and a path leading downwards. It initially heads back left before cutting back right aiming for the col between the summit and the next knoll on the ridge. It drops down an eroded section to a well, a surprising find at this altitude.
The path continues along the ridge line, by-passing subsidiary tops and passing another well before it drops down to the right with a long level section. As it drops again continue heading downwards with Montgo still ahead. At a crossroads of paths continue straight across and onwards past a ruin. At the next junction ignore a path heading downhill but continue ahead along a now much narrower path still marked with yellow and white paint. At the end of the ridge a sign points the way back right to Font d’Aixa. The path now heads back up the valley through old terraces aiming for a col. It then passes through an area of renovated terraces planted with olive trees. At the end of the restored terraces continue across the hillside, ignoring a path down to the left, and still aiming for the shallow col. Cross this and continue heading down leftwards aiming for a concrete road where you turn right downhill signed to Font d’Aixa.
After about 250 metres on a left hand bend a signpost points down the road to Font d’Aixa per Barranc de Aigua. Ignore this and instead take the path which heads rightwards away from the road. This is unmarked but is in fact part of the PR-V53 and leads to Font d’Aixa via Aspres. At first it runs horizontally across old terraces into the valley, whose skyline you have just walked before, dropping steeply downhill. It passes an old casita before becoming broader and then reaching the concrete road used on the approach. Turn right along this for a 200 metres to Font d’Aixa.
WALK 6
Tossal del Moro and the Serrillas
| Start/finish | Gata de Gorgos |
| Distance | 12km |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Time | 3 to 4hrs |
| Terrain | Good paths |
| Height gain | 470m |
| Map | Institut Cartografica Valencia, Pedreguer |
| Access | Gata de Gorgos is on the main N332, 20km north of Calp. As you enter the town from the south pass under a railway viaduct and park. |
| Parking | Roadside bays or an unmade car park. |
The hills around Gata de Gorgos are neither the highest nor the most dramatic of the Costa Blanca but that does not stop them providing very enjoyable walking. This walk begins in the gorge of the Riu Gorgos and climbs through gentle forests to a pair of summits offering excellent views and then a surprisingly wild climax as it returns to the town.
Turn towards the town and almost immediately go left over a wide bridge spanning the riverbed. On the other side turn right into a paved recreation area and drop down to the riverbed and walk to the far end, following yellow and white paint flashes which soon lead upwards into a narrow residential street. Follow this to a T-junction with a wider road. Cross straight over and go down the Carrer Penon to drop down a flight of steps to re-enter the river gorge on a developed walkway following the PR-CV 412 to Font de la Mata and Cumbre de la Serrillas. Follow this paved ‘promenade’ to a flight of steps leading up to a parking area overlooking the gorge. Take the road running above crags and behind houses.
The path now leaves the PR-CV and instead follows red and white flashes as it continues above the barranc. After a couple of minutes along the track, just after it has turned left downhill, look for a path cutting back on the right still marked with red and white paint heading downhill. Take this to cross the riverbed again and climb the opposite bank and at a crossroads of paths go straight ahead. After another 15mins the path reaches a fork. Carry on up the right hand branch marked by a symbol which looks like two letter ‘C’s back to back in red paint.
The path comes to a crossroads by a tumbledown casita. Turn right, following the red and white marks, along the broad stone-surfaced track. It passes between houses to reach a tarmac road. Turn right down this and follow it as the surface deteriorates to reach a PR-CV signpost on a junction. It is worth making the short signed detour to Font de la Mata. The font sits on a shelf below a small crag. It has a deep well and a small array of heavy carved stone drinking bowls once used for watering pack animals.
At the junction turn left (or right if you visited Font de la Mata) to the Cim Serrillas and after about 5mins up the track there is a right hand bend where a path breaks off to the right marked with a pair of painted crosses. Ignore this and go round the bend to where a broad track climbs away to the right. Go up this. It weaves through terraces and passes a renovated casita, beyond which it becomes a narrow path climbing the slope to the ridge. The path then climbs leftwards up the ridge to the sharply conical summit of the Tossal del Moro.
Towards the summit of the Tossal del Moro
On the top are the remains of a watchtower and a large cairn. The view takes in the Penyo Roig, Cavall Verd, Carrascal de Parcent, the Bernia, Olta and the great isolated tooth of the Penon de Ifach above Calp. Below is the rather less welcome intrusion of the Alicante–Valencia motorway. Turning your back on the road it is easy to pick out the next objective, the Serrillas, with a clear path leading down to a col and up the opposite slope.
The path drops down through pine trees to reach a ruined casita in the col before reaching a signpost to the Cim dels Serrellars. If time is pressing it is possible to make a direct return to Gata, 4km away, by carrying on down the valley following the signs.
The path climbs over a subsidiary summit to the main top, which is crowned by a trig column mounted on a large plinth with extensive views. From the column do not continue along the ridge but instead head off downhill on the clear path with yellow and white markings. The path curls down and then back to rejoin the descending ridge. Then, guided by a line of substantial cairns and passing a ruined casita, after a kilometre it comes to a three way junction, here turn left signed to Gata. From here the way is clear, following paint flashes and
