Alt del Bubo and Alt de la Casa Castalla starting from Castalla

The starting point for this hike is located on Cami de Petrer, south of the town of Castalla. To get to this starting point by car, see the practical information section.

(S/E) From the car park, head south-west and follow a dirt track: this is the PR®-CV141 or GR®7 (marked in white and red). Pass the ruins of Corral Roig and note the presence of old lime kilns. You will come to an intersection located in a left-hand bend in the track.

(1) Turn right, following the white and red markings. You will soon come to another path; follow it to the right. This very wide path is a type of firebreak (DFCI in France). At a fork, keep left. Climb steadily, taking several bends.

(2) Take a slight detour to see a hundred-year-old tree called Pi del Angel (Angel's Foot). Continue south-west on the main path. You will arrive at a crossroads at Col de Roque.

(3) Continue straight ahead on the GR®7 towards Casas de Caprala. Note the numerous signs prohibiting passage on either side, as you are crossing hunting reserves: this also means that you are not allowed to pass through here during the hunting season. Keep heading southwest and ignore all turnings on the right.

(4) At a three-way junction, leave the GR® and first turn left then right. Pass the chain blocking vehicle access and continue climbing.

(5) At an intersection (small cairn), follow a path on the right (south-west). This will take you to the summit called Alt del Bubo (very large cairn). Due to the dense vegetation, the view is not exceptional.

(6) Retrace your steps to the intersection with the small cairn.

(5) Continue straight ahead. Walk for a long time to the northeast on almost flat ground. You will come to a wider path; follow it to the right for about 20 metres.

(7) Turn left onto a faint path (small cairn). Follow the cairns and you will soon reach the summit called Alt de la Casa Castalla (also known as Alt del Xarco). The summit is marked by a cairn and offers unobstructed views of the various surrounding peaks such as Despenyador, Penya Migjorn and El Fraile.

(8) Return to the previous intersection.

(7) Turn left onto a wider path and descend carefully (many loose stones). Arrive at Col El Xarco.

(9) Take a path on the left and descend steadily.

(10) At a fork, take the left-hand path, which descends. Ignore a path on the right and you will soon reach another intersection.

(11) Turn left, pass a chain and continue downhill. You will arrive near a beautiful residence, Mas de Cantalades.

(12) Then turn right at the hairpin bend and descend into a small valley. Pass along a small barranco and follow the terraced crops.

(13) Just before a hut, take a path on the left and pass behind the hut. Climb slightly.

(14) At the next intersection, continue straight ahead. At the next crossroads, turn right and you will soon come to the intersection you took at the start of the hike.

(1) Turn right and, following the same route as on the way there, return to the car park (S/E).

To get to the starting point of the hike by car:
From Castella, head south on the CV-8170. After passing the sign indicating the Castalla exit, at the junction take the "Cami dels Algepsars" path slightly to the right. At the next junction, turn right (there is a sign for hikers indicating GR®-330 Xorret de Cati). At a small junction, continue on the left (there is a sign for hikers indicating GR®-330 Xorret de Cati). The tarmac road ends and you will come to a dirt track on the left. Park here, at the start of the dirt track, along the road (you are at Poligono IV, partida 1, no. 2721). In any case, a few metres further on, the road is blocked. Take care to park in such a way as to allow large fire engines to pass through if necessary.
For information, it is about 41 km and 35 minutes by car from Alicante.

Warnings:
- Do not undertake this hike during hunting season as the path is surrounded on all sides by hunting reserves (check the dates before setting off).
- This is a high-risk fire area, so smoking is prohibited, including in your car, and throwing cigarettes out of the window is strictly forbidden.