21 Feb 2006 - Orba Castle Recce Walk

Orba Castle is one of our local walks, and we had already used it for a Monday Club walk last year. However then we did a linear walk, and we wanted to see if we could find a circular walk. Rather than risk getting lost with the group, we decided to do a recce. David, Rosemary and Pat agreed to join us.

Rosemary, David, Pat and Jan at the start of the walk

We stopped just before Murla to look around the deserted restraurant. It opened about a year ago, and cost €1 million. The owner was not "legal" and it was eventually closed down and he was bankrupt. The place is now abandoned.

From Murla we took the road to Orba Castle

Just before we started to climb Orba hill

Pat, Jan, David and Rosemary

The road comes to an abrupt end, and provides a lovely view towards Orba

David and Rosemary as we start to climb

The first part of the walk is over large rocks, and it was this part we wanted to check would be OK for the Monday Club

Half way up

Rosemary making good progrress

We soon join the track we usually use

Pat just before reaching the top

There is always plenty of choice of good picnic site at the top

Rosemary and Jan at the top

David did tell me the name of these butterflies, but I have forgotten. Orba Castle seems to be a favourite with them, as we saw them last time as well.

Taking a well deserved rest

We had a good break before starting the return journey

One final photocall before we start down

Back in the vally, its a long, but easy, walk back to Parcent

Back home, what better than a nice cup of tea!

We agreed that it would be a good walk for the Monday Club, but that it might be best to do the actual climb in two groups.

16 Feb 2006 - Monday Club Boulla Walk

Boulla Castle is one of our favourite walks in the mountains around Castells de Castell. We have walked it many times, and today it was to be our Monday Club walk.

Cold and bright, if not sunny, as we set off on the valley walk to Boulla Castle

The mountains can be just as impressive on a cloudy day as on the more usual sunny and cloudless

Rosemary, David and Jan enjoy a chat during the short "water stop" . Too cold to sit around for too long.

Lunch was at the bottom of the Boulla Castle hill. Ann had done the complete walk, but Pat drove to Boulla and met us at the lunch area.

David and Rosemary enjoy lunch

Margaret and Heinz had not been with us for a few weeks, so it was really nice to see them back again.

Immediately after lunch there is a steep climb uphill to reach the path back to the cars. The "A Team" set off at a brisk pace ahead of us lesser mortals. When they got to the top they had to wait for us to complete the climb. We were pleased to see that they were freezing by the time we got there!

The "Z Team" finally reach the top, very pleased with ourselves and not a single one out of breath.

The path back to the cars provides lovely views of the surrounding mountains, but none more impressive than this interesting "eye".

14 Feb 2009 - CBMW Castells Walk

This CBMW walk was described in the walking programme as MS (moderately streneous) with some Scrambling, which could be avoided. Because of the description there were about 40 on the walk. However it soon because obvious that it was more like a S (streneous) walk, and that there was considerable Scrambling, none of which could be avoided.

We were told at the start that Geoff, who should have led, was unable to do so. The new leader felt the walk was more difficult that explained in the walk guide, and Jan and I were uncertain whether to go or not. But we did not want to miss it having turned up for the start. Also we felt that if most of the other walkers could manage then so could we.

You can see from this photographs that some of the Scrambling was pretty difficult, and many of the walkers found it very hard going. Consequently this part of the walk took much longer than expected. There was some discussion about sending some walkers back, but by then it was considered easier to go on than go back.

Once we got clear of the dry river bed, a very fast pace was set, so that we could make up some of the time lost in the Scrambling. This is not the cleverest thing to do, as walkers quickly become very tired if you push them too hard.


A welcome break for Pat (from Monday Club), Jan and I. Fortunately we all recovered very quickly from the Scramble, and were soon enjoying the walk again.

David makes a friend during the lunch stop. Don't know who the dog belonged to, but it found David's sandwiches very attractive. And it could obviously spot a soft touch a mile off!

Castel de Castells was a very welcome sight in the distance as we neared the end fo the walk.

The fast pace was kept up throughout the whole of the return walk, which was a shame as it was a lovely area and it would have been nice to be able to take a couple of "water stops" to enjoy the views. In fact this was the only stop, and that only for a very short break.

Making our way back down to the village. By this time the group was well strung out.

9 Feb 2009 - Monday Club Gata Walk

Another Gata walk, this time led by Pat. Similar to the previous one, and about the same distance. We climbed the same steep hill, but did not do the difficult descent. Not sure where Peter was, but he was not on this walk.

Group photo at the start of the walk

Pat did very well on this walk, we did not get lost once

Barry, Jan, Colin, Pat, Sue and David

Group photo to prove everyone made it to the top

The very familiar shape of Montgo

David - first amongst equals!

Jan with the biggest cairn I have seen locally

During lunch David confirmed he was going to reissue the walk contact list, and tried to get agreement to remove some who had not walked for some time, but met with a lot of resistance so left it the same as before.

Ready to start the walk back

Almost there, a short water stop before the descent to Gata

Making our way back to Gata

Always the best part of any walk - the drink at the end !