From St-Martín de l’Albère to the site of the DC-6 crash via Château de Requesens

Start from the grassy car park on the side of the^D71A, just after the bend following the junction at Saint-Martin de l’Albère (a small hamlet not accessible to vehicles; private property; access is restricted to walkers only). To reach it, head up from Le Perthus following the signs for ‘Coll de l’Ullat’.

(S/E) Head towards the hamlet of Saint-Martin de l’Albère, walk through it and reach a ford at elevation 638.

(1) Cross it, keeping to the right, via the^GR®10(cross-border route), heading towards Collada del Pla de l’Arca; continue for about 200 metres until you come to a hairpin bend on the left.

(2) Leave the^GR®10and head uphill to the left. At the next junction, turn right uphill and continue straight on. Just before a dry stream bed, at the fork, turn left and head uphill, following the white-and-red markings (former^GR® T89). At the track, continue to the left then to the right, up the steep slope along the forest track, to the Coll del Forcat (a challenging climb). The access area can be very overgrown.

(3) The pass is normally marked by a sign, as is the border crossing. Continue by making your way through tall ferns; the path then opens out once you reach the Spanish side. Then descend the forest track, which turns into a track suitable for 4x4 vehicles, to Requesens, where it crosses the^GR®11(equivalent to^{the GR®10}on the Spanish side).

(4) At the Requessens signpost – Alt. 500 m – head down to the left onto the^GR®11, towards the Château. Pass through the hamlet and look for a path on the right, signposted at the end of a low stone wall.

(5) Take this path and head down to the old hydroelectric power station. Walk alongside the building and reach the bridge a few metres further on.

(6) Cross the bridge and arrive at the Fontaine de la Rovellada, just after which you’ll find a turn-off to the left. A perfect shaded spot for a picnic, either before or after the climb to the castle, which is 900 m from the fountain. Continue along the track and keep left at the following junctions. Pass a ruin and reach Requesens Castle.

(7) Walk round the castle along a track that runs alongside the ramparts and, after taking in the views, return along the same route to the junction marked by the signpost ‘Requesens – Alt. 500 m’.

(4) Continue along the track to the left (^GR®11) and ignore the side paths. After a long, gentle climb (pace yourself and take breaks as there are few shaded areas), you’ll reach the site of the 1986 plane crash, marked by a commemorative plaque on a rock.

(8) Here, a Civil Defence DC-6 crashed during the 1986 fire. The remains of the aircraft are visible from the track. A small path leads up to the wreckage. Take care, as it is on the mountainside and the slope is steep. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of graffiti at this historically significant site. A plaque commemorating the crew members who died in the crash is situated just before the wreckage. There is also an information board, in Catalan.
Continue along the track until you reach a fork (elevation 713) at a right-hand bend.

(9) Two neighbouring passes share the same name; continue straight ahead (north-west) along the descending track and follow the signs for Sant Pere du Pla de l’Arca.

(10) At the three-way junction, turn right and carry on until you reach a junction with a ruin.

(11) Head left (south-west) then keep to the right at the following junctions until you reach the ruins of the Sant Pere del Pla de l’Arca Chapel.

(12) Carry on straight ahead along the track, go round a hairpin bend to the right and reach a crossroads where four tracks meet.

(13) Turn sharply left (north) and follow the track to the Salt el Fito refuge.

(14) The refuge is open, with firewood, a fireplace, six bunks and a water well in front. The hand pump was working on 10/07/24! A good spot for a well-deserved break or to camp out in the dry.
Continue along the path uphill until you reach the next junction.

(15) Turn right and climb up to a cross-country track. Walk a few metres to the left to reach the Coll del Pla de l’Arca on the border.

(16) Cross the border and continue to the right on the^GR®10, heading downhill until you rejoin the route you’ve already taken.

(2) Continue downhill and, following the route back in the opposite direction to the outward journey, return to the car park beside the^D71A(S/E).

This walk passes through several pastoral areas. Please ensure you close the gates properly.
Walking poles and sturdy footwear are recommended.

Two water points:
(6) Rovellada spring.
(14) Salt del Fito mountain hut.

Bring something to filter the water.

(7) From the castle, a refuge is accessible, signposted as being 450 m away (no information is available about this refuge other than that it is unstaffed).