La Vall de Gallinera
The La Safor peak is the highest and northernmost point of La Vall de Gallinera. It is located on the boundary with Vilallonga, in La Safor, and L’Orxa, in the Comtat region. This trail can connect perfectly with those that climb to the peak from each of these villages.
The itinerary has two options. The longest trail starts in Benialí or Benissivà and, following the La Solana path, goes up the Maiolet slope, crossing an area of scrub with kermes oaks, mastic shrubs and Mediterranean dwarf palms, with a multitude of aromatic herbs such as thyme, rosemary, savory or rock tea. The path zigzags so as to climb the slope, with cobbled sections and from time to time clumps of pines, olive trees and carob trees. This part of the hike passes by several half-demolished pens and a few cisterns, with their stone chapel covers. The path becomes a wide dirt road and, keeping left, it reaches the road to La Llacuna. Just on the other side, the short option begins.
The dirt track goes down to Pere Jordi's pen, without reaching it. There is a crossroads and the path to go to the peak of La Safor climbs to the right, but it would be a shame to miss out on seeing the cistern that lies just a few metres away down the path that goes to the left, as well as a large livestock pen that displays the old rural style of the mountain corrals.
Continuing along the path that goes towards the peak of La Safor, it is possible to appreciate how the vegetation changes. The few pine trees seen before slowly disappear and the holm oaks begin to appear more often, some as large as those of Foia Alta, while others are young branches that sprouted from the old mothers that once covered these areas with lush forest. After a continuous but comfortable climb, the trail reaches the summit, at an altitude of 1,013 metres, from where it is possible to see the immense territory that surrounds it. On clear days it is possible to see Ibiza, the highest mountains in the Valencian territory and the outline of the coast. And it is also a good place to get a perspective of the whole valley, seen from south to north and from west to east. Every village, every hill, every ravine...