El
Molins
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The first viewpoint in the
network can be reached by road
via Camí del Monastir or on
foot from the valley below by
a series of paths, one of which
we have described here.
These windmills were built between
the 14th and 18th centuries
to take advantage of the Llebeig
south-westerly winds which blow
almost constantly across La
Plana and were used to
grind wheat and other cereals which
grew the valley. Largely
abandoned, some have been acquired
by private individuals and converted
into accommodation whilst others
belong to the town hall and
have benefited from various
stages of renovation in recent
years. There have been plans
to restore at least one of the
towers with the conical roof
and wide sails that they used
to have. The view is quite stunning
across the wide valley of Xàbia
across to Granadella and the
peak of Puig de la Llorença
with its communication masts
whilst one can also see the
jagged ridge of the Sierra Bernía
as well as the distinctive shape
of Calp's Peñon d'Ifach. Parking: limited,
100m walk to the viewpoint Wheelchair Access:
difficult, rough stony track. Facilities:
none.
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Cap
de Sant Antoni
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This is an extremely popular
viewpoint due to the ease of
access for vehicles. It can
also be reached on foot from
the port area of Xàbia via the
first section of the official
path PR-CV 355 which we have
described here.
We're about 160m above sea level
here
so the views are quite
stunning. To the south is the
wide bay of Xàbia and you can
see right across it to the headlands
of Cap Prim and Cap Negre whilst
the Puig de la Llorença and
the inland mountain are clearly
visible. Compared to the southern
flanks the northern cliffs are
vertical sheer drops to the
water below and there are views
across the huge bay of Valencia
as far as Cullera and perhaps
beyond on very clear days. At
the headland is the lighthouse
built in 1894 in place of a
watchtower and old chapel which
used to be located here. There
are many paths leading off around
the lighthouse and to the south
leading to points from which
the views become even more stunning
plus a another viewing platform
through the gates. Parking: right next
to the viewpoint; busy in summer Wheelchair Access:
good Facilities: none.
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Punta
de l'Arenal
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This is possibly the most
accessible viewpoints in the
network, a viewing platform
at the southern end of the beach
promenade affording great views
across the Arenal beach to the
mountain of Montgó beyond. There
are a couple of low benches
from which to admire the view
but many people sit on the tosca
stone wall for photos and selfies.
A narrow rocky path passes underneath
the viewpoint to allow further
exploration of the Punta de
l'Arenal. Across on the
other side of the little bay
is the Parador Nacional, the
only hotel of its kind in the
Costa Blanca, next to which
are the remains of a Roman salted
meat and fish factory dating
back to the 1st to 3rd centuries
CE. These were supplied by salt
harvested from the flat lands
of the Saladar which were flooded
with seawater which was then
allowed to evaporate leaving
the salt. There was a thriving
Roman settlement along this
stretch of the coast right up
until the 8th century CE. Parking: right next
to the viewpoint; busy in summer Wheelchair Access:
excellent Facilities:
bars and restaurants within
metres
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Séquia
de la Nòria
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This
viewpoint lies midway along
the Avenida Ultramar driving
south away from the Arenal beach,
hidden behind seafront houses
and marked by a low tosca stone
wall. Parking is almost non-existent
so the best option is to make
the five-minute walk from the
Arenal. Here you will find a
deep channel cut into the
rocky coastline. These rocks
are the result of fossilisation
of huge underwater sandbanks
which formed some 100,000 years
ago and they are easily cut,
being widely used in construction
in the region. The deep channel,
fed by a number of smaller channels
cut at angles, was created in
order to flood the flatlands
just beyond to create salt flats;
the Saladar. Almost certainly
connected to the salted meat
and fish factory in the Arenal,
the channel was augmented by
a large wooden wheel - the "nòria"
- during the late medieval ages
which was turned by a horse
to move seawater down the channel
and optimise salt production.
These days the channel can be
viewed across the number of
wooden bridges but being quite
clogged with sand and debris
seawater no longer floods the
flatlands. Parking: limited,
no parking on main road Wheelchair Access:
good, although one step Facilities:
none.
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Cala
Blanca
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The
viewpoint is up a set of steps
at the end of the short promenade,
a small platform above the little
cove called Caleta de Fora.
One can park in the parking
zone in Plaza Guillermo Pons
or in Camí Calablanca from which
there is just a 6om walk. Along
the coast, following a wide
path, there is another viewing
area which has great views.
Cala
Blanca marks the point at which
the rocky limestone coastline
becomes the white marlstone
and clay that gives this viewpoint
its name. To the north is the
impressive headland of San Antonio
across the bay of Xàbia and
in between are the low rocks
of the First and Second Muntanyar,
the fossilised ancient sandbanks
which sweep towards Cala Blanca.
To the south the coast rises
again to form Cap Prim, also
known as Cap de San Martín,
which is the southern border
of the bay. The natural little
bay is a popular and safe bathing spot and there is a path that
runs around the bay and leads
around to another very popular
bathing spot which can also
be accessed from the nearby
viewpoint called 'Caletes'. Parking: Plaza Guillermo
Pons, 200m walk Wheelchair Access:
limited Facilities:
none.
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Caletes
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Caletes is a great viewpoint
located up the narrow road
of Camí Calablanca about
250m further along the coast
from Cala Blanca. There are
a series of terraces with benches
from which to admire the view
along the cliffs and north towards
the headland of San Antonio.
Here the coast becomes steep
again, a protective arm across
the southern edge of the bay. The
popular anchorage point of Cala
Sardinera was where a traditional
fishing art known as "L'Almadrava"
was carried out for almost 400
years to catch tuna fish following
an annual migration route which
passes very close to this part
of the coast. There is also
Cala Francés, a hidden cove
which is difficult to get to
and quite sheltered so it has
become quite popular with those
who like to shed their inhibitions
and go more "au natural"
under the summer sun. Parking: right next
to the viewpoint Wheelchair Access:
good Facilities: none.
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Creu
del Portitxol
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Located on a bend on Carretera
del Portitxol is one of the
most iconic viewpoints in the
network: the cross of Portitxol.
From here one can admire a truly
Mediterranean landscape with
abandoned terraces now reclaimed
by lavender, rosemary and thyme
as well as white pines. Much
of the area is protected as
a Botanical Microreserve. Off
the coast sits the low privately-owned island
of Portitxol whilst on a clear
day one can see the island of
Ibiza nestling on the horizon.
This bay has been a natural
anchorage for many years and
Roman amphoras and other remains have
been found dating back to the
3rd and 4th centuries CE. From
here one can walk to the end
of Cap Prim using the official
path SL
CV-98 which
afford stunning views north
across the bay to the headland
of San Antonio and the mountain
of Montgó as well as south across
the Portitxol bay. One can also
make the 15 minute walk down
to the popular Playa de la Barraca using
the official path
SL
CV-97, a
great option to avoid the great
stress of trying to park down
by the beach which is almost
impossible during the busy summer
months. Parking: next to the
viewpoint but limited in summer Wheelchair Access:
good Facilities: none.
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L'Illa
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Added
in 2009, this viewpoint is hidden
away amongst the houses of Urbanisation
Mar Azul, a few metres off the
main road down to the popular
Playa de la Barraca. However
it's worth making the effort
to drive down the steep Carrer
de la Barraca; watch out for
the small wooden mirador sign
showing the way to the viewpoint
after about a kilometre down
the winding road. The viewpoint
is at the end of a cul-de-sac
(Carrer Fartet), a wide shady
platform which is a great place
for families to enjoy a picnic
whilst admiring the views over
the Portitxol bay which is dominated
by the 330m long and 75m high island
which gives the viewpoint its
name. This small bay is an ancient
anchorage which provided shelter
to Phoenician, Greek and Roman
vessels. Consequently there
have been a number of important
achaeological discoveries in
the waters which confirmed the
importance of the bay as a trading
settlement dating back thousands
of years. Now it is one of the
most ecologically interesting
and scenic landscapes which
is a popular spot for scuba
diving. Parking: limited in
the cul-de-sac Wheelchair Access:
two steps; grassy surface Facilities:
none.
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La
Falzía
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This viewpoint is located
through the pine trees at the
end of the cul-de-sac of Calle
Pagre on the very edge of steep
cliffs some 150m above the waters
of the bay of Portitxol. It stretches
for some 100m along the cliff-top
amongst the trees and is a favourite
to enjoy the stunning views
from one of its many wooden
benches. To the north the wooden
fence gives some protection
from the dizzy drop down to
the Playa de la Barraca with
the ever-present island
of Portitxol. A walk through
the trees to the other end of
the viewpoint affords another
stunning view to the south across
deep narrow inlet known as "La
Canal" to the impressive
Cap Negre headland. From this
viewpoint one looks almost
directly down into the sea and
sees the great underwater
fields of seagrass which are
of huge ecological importance,
oxygenating the water and providing
a refuge for fish and other
sea-life. At the southern end
of the viewpoint there is a
small path that runs through
the trees and along the cliff
edge to another great viewpoint
spot at the end of Calle Joaquin
Rodrigo. Parking: end of the
road; 75m walk Wheelchair Access:
poor, rough track Facilities:
none.
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Punta
del Cap Negre
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This is one of our favourite
viewpoints located down some
175m down a sloping track at
the end of Carrer Cap Negre.
It provides another of
the most iconic views in the
network, a stunning backdrop
across the bay of Portitxol
to the headland of San Antonio
and Montgó. As you walk down
the end, the view to the left
brings enormous pleasure and
it will take you some minutes
to cover the short distance
because you'll want to stop
regularly to take it all in.
From here one can easily make
out the Barraca beach and the
old fishermen's cottages that
line it. Right up until the
1950s, traditional boats with
latin sails were moored here,
making the most of the relative
shelter given by the island.
At the viewpoint itself there
are two wooden benches and a
wall to take a rest and enjoy
the views whilst a rocky path
leads away to the south from
which you can the famous rock
of L'Escull which rises abruptly
out of the water and is a popular
spot for scuba diving. Note:
wheelchair access is difficult
but there are still great views
from the roadway at the beginning
of the track. Parking: road parking;
175m walk rough track Wheelchair Access:
difficult due to rough track Facilities:
none.
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Cap
de la Nau
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The viewpoint is located up a shallow
set of wide wooden steps from
the car-park, past the restaurant
of the same name and across
some very rugged ground so care
should be taken when crossing
to the wooden fence. This is
assumed to be the most easterly
point of the Comunidad Valencia
with the island of Ibiza clearly
seen on the horizon on clear
days. And since it was an important
reference point for navigation
along the coast, a lighthouse
was built in 1914. This is another
Botanical Microreserve to protect
the native vegetation as development
crawled relentlessly across
the headland. Note that many
of the trees grow quite low
and quite crooked thanks to
the winds which blow almost
constantly across here. Unseen
from the viewpoint there is
a famous sea cave below, the
Cova dels Orgüens which was
explored by Valencian naturalist
J A Cavanilles at the end of
the 18th century. A word of
warning: the concrete pillar
looks inviting to climb but
it has been strictly off-limits
for the past few years after
a tourist tried to scale
it,
fell and died from the subsequent injuries. Parking: road; busy
in the summer; 150m walk Wheelchair Access:
no, due to steps and rocks Facilities:
restaurants; ice cream parlour
in summer
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Les
Pesqueres
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One of the biggest viewpoints is located
within the Urbanisation La Siesta
at the end of Calle Juan Carlos
Pau. Its name means "Fishermen's
Point" and from this sheer
and steep cliffs have hung men
from Xàbia and the neaby village
of Benitatxell to fish the clear
deep waters with traditional
rods and tridents. If you look
closely you can spot wooden ladders
and cane platforms hanging precariously
above the sea and some brave
people still come to fish from
them. The viewpoint extends
for some 300m either side of
the large tree and affords some
great views south along the
coast towards the Moraira's Cap
d'Or and even further to the
distinctive shape of the Peñon
d'Ifach at Calp. A walk along
the cliff edge is a must and
there are some wooden benches,
many of which have been placed
in memorium to a resident of
Xàbia, on which one can sit
and enjoy the views. Parking: end of the
road; 40m walk Wheelchair Access:
accessible but grassy path Facilities:
none.
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Ambolo
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The
Ambolo viewpoint is regarded as
one of the "must-see"
places in Xàbia, located at
the end of a narrow headland
affording stunning views on
either side. It's located at
the end of the steep cul-de-sac
of Calle Torre Ambolo. To the
east is the more famous view
across the beach of Ambolo,
officially closed due to danger
of rockfalls but still frequented
by sun-worshipers and it's the
official "naturist beach"
in the area. To the right is
the island of the Descubridor
- the "discoverer"
- apparently named after a Xabiero
who sailed with Christopher
Columbus on his epic voyage
to the West Indies. The view
to the west is dominated by
the peak of Puig de la Llorença
with its communication masts
and brightly coloured houses
whilst below it is the headland
of Morro del Castell guarding
the entrance to the cove of
La Granadella. On this side
there is a steep staircase that
leads down to the Sol de Barranc,
a popular fishing point right
down on the water's edge. Parking: road parking
right next to the viewpoint Wheelchair Access:
difficult with high
walls Facilities: none.
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Castell
de la Granadella
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The viewpoint lies just a
few metres from the first hairpin
curve of Carretera de la Granadella,
a spot shaded by pine trees
and with a carefully-created
seating area which affords some
great views towards the headland
of Ambolo and its tower below
which you can make out the Cova
del Llop Marí, another of Xàbia's
famous sea caves. To the right
is the headland at the end of
which are the remains of the
small fortress of Granadella
which gives this viewpoint its
name. It was built in the early
18th century to guard against
attacks from North African
raiding parties but was destroyed
by British troops during the
Peninsular Wars. The remains
can be reached by a wonderful
coastal path which leads up
from the Cova La Granadella
just a few minutes drive down
along the main road from the
viewpoint. Click here
for more information. Parking: road parking
next to viewpoint Wheelchair Access:
difficult with rough ground Facilities:
none
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La
Granadella
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This
is a viewpoint that is rarely
visited, located as it is at
the end of the narrow cul-de-sac
of Camí Vell de la Granadella
where there is very limited
parking. It's an almost circular
natural viewing platform with
great views across the Parque
Forestal de la Granadella, sadly
ravaged during the inferno that
ripped across the area in September
2016. Renovation work is still
continuing with damaged trees
being removed which is opening
up even more views. The west
is dominated once again by the
peak of Puig de la Llorença
whilst the mountain of Montgó
can be seen to the north. This
viewpoint is the starting point
for the annual Mirador Challenge,
a 30 km endurance walk which
links all fifteen of the viewpoints
in one long route from here
toi the finish-line at Mirador
Els Molins to the north. Click
here
for more information. Parking: end of the
road; 75m walk Wheelchair Access:
difficult with rough ground Facilities:
none.
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