Coll Palomeres – La Creu d’en Turon from Baillestavy

From Vinça, head up towards Baillestavy via the D13. Take care
on this very good but narrow road, which has no straight stretches: drive slowly. Park on the right, before the village, in a car park with a steel wagon. Bus for €1 from Vinça.

Unmarked route

(S/E) Continue along the D13 to the junction by the town hall.

(1) Turn right, cross the pretty arched bridge over La Lentillà and you’ll immediately come to a fork in the road before the Còrrec d’en Carbonell.

(2) Turn left, heading uphill along a lovely stony path for 50 metres.

(3) Turn right along a stone wall and join a grassy track, with a chain (private property) on the right. Turn left and join the tarmac road, the D13a.

Yellow and red markings.^GRP® Ronde du Canigou.

(4) Cross it and head uphill opposite via the Camí desl Camps de la Creu (the Path of the Fields of the Cross – junction). Pass the Córrec del Camp de Nalt. Continue on the^GRP®, running above the D13. Much further on, after numerous ascents and descents, reach a fork in the path. Signpost.

(5) Ignore the path leading uphill to the right towards Valmanya. Head downhill to the left, pass by the ruins of a casot and join the D13.

(6) Continue carefully to the right along the quiet road for exactly 680 metres. Look out for a gap in the low wall and a steel safety railing on the left-hand side of the road.

(7) Head down to the left via this passage. Cross the Llentillà via a brand-new wooden footbridge (as of early March 2024). Continue along a very scenic, steeply ascending path until you reach a Yellow and Red left-turn sign, then join a track a few metres further up.

(8) Turn left onto the grassy track and follow it for about a hundred metres. Take care: there is a yellow and red sign on a tree indicating a left turn, followed by another yellow and red sign at the fork.

(9) Head down to the left along the forest path which joins the Riu Fred (cold stream) and follows it on the left bank.

(10) Cross the stream and climb steeply up the right bank. Move away from the stream and, via numerous hairpin bends, emerge onto a flatter, open area before finally reaching the Coll Palomeres crossroads at an elevation of 1,035 metres. Directional signposts are irrelevant for the remainder of the walk.

Off the marked trail

(11) Leave the^GRP®. Turn left, heading due north, ignoring the Yellow Cross and Red Cross. Climb steeply up a rugged path that stays on the ridge, following a fence further up. The path has been cleared of undergrowth (as observed in early March 2024). Reach the highest point of Els Espinassets. A very beautiful viewpoint.
A vast 360° panorama, taking in the various peaks, for example.

(12) Continue due north, still along the ridge. Cross the electric fence at a designated crossing and descend along the grassy track, heading due north, until you reach a track suitable for vehicles at the foot of the mobile phone mast. Climb a few metres to the left (west) to reach La Creu d’en Turon (the cross on the hill). Bench, memorial stone. A lovely spot for a lunch break. Signpost.

Yellow and white markings

(13) Head down, west-north-west, along a lovely path to reach the sharp bend in the track leading to the mast (alt. 1,015 m).

(14) Continue straight ahead in the same direction, still following a path that offers lovely views of the landscape. The path then turns west.

(15) You can then visit the old El Bac de Rebolledes iron mine on the left. Signpost. Please follow the safety instructions. Then, get back onto the well-marked path, which descends rapidly through the forest via numerous hairpin bends.

(16) Further down, cross the Còrrec de Rebolledes.

(17) Then, a little further on, cross La Llentillà via a secure concrete footbridge (el Pont de Ferro). Then, after a short climb, you’ll reach the D13.

(18) Continue carefully to the right along this quiet road until you reach a junction.

(19) Keep left onto the D13 and return to the original junction.
In season, the local bistro is open, situated below and to the left of the road, just before the town hall.

Unmarked

(1) Continue along the D13 until you reach (S/E).

Drinking water available in Baillestavy. Water from streams must be filtered.

This is a mid-mountain area: windbreaker, water, snacks, GPX track, description, map, GPS or Visorando app, camera, good walking shoes, a walking stick.

Baillestavy
(15). Opportunity to visit a former iron mine (El Bac de Rebolledes).
Stopover lodge, restaurant.
Baillestavy’s heritage.