In the trails of Archduke Ludwig Salvador

This walk starts in the village Valldemossa which is on the west coast of Mallorca. Originally this track was mapped out by Archduke Ludwig Salvador during tours of his estates by mule. During this walk you can expect some spectacular coastal views, and a taste of traditional mountain industries.

Start by walking through the car park opposite Bar Sa Mata on the main road through Valldemossa. Turn right onto Carrer Joan Fuster, then first left onto a rough track at the top of the hill. You climb gently at first, towards a group of pines, then more steeply, following red waymarks to a clearing. From here it is a short, tough climb to a mirador and the start of the Cami de S’Arxiduc, marked by a ruined stone refuge. Follow the waymarks onto a high plateau and continue for about two hours. For the best views of all, a one-hour diversion (just as the main path bears round to the right to begin its descent) takes you to the summit of the Teix, from where most of Mallorca is visible on a clear day. The path drops back down to Valldemossa through a wooded valley, passing a shelter where you can camp in summer.

This walk is for experienced walkers only. Take food and water, a map, compass and whistle, and protection from sun, wind and rain. The weather on the mountains can change very quickly. For a shorter walk to the foot of the Teix, you can simply do the final section in reverse. Leave Valldemossa by walking past Son Gual, the large old house with a tower, and turn left after 10 minutes onto a wide track, signposted ‘refugi’. The climb through the valley to the shelter and back will take a couple of hours if you walk briskly.

Distance: 13km. Time: 6 hours.