Trip up Ternelles Valley
I have wanted to do this trip for a number of years since reading it in Eddie Wilkinsons Booklet of Birding in Mallorca.
The permit is available online - only 20 permits per day!
http://www.ajpollenca.net/ca/contacte/autorització-ternelles
Here is some of the on going background dispute form TOTN
Ternelles Access - Rumbles On
A new report from the Council of Pollensa has defended the access it manages to the Ternelles estate. The environmental report seeks to demonstrate to the TSJB that the public visits to Cala Castell and other sensitive areas are not harmful to the environment. It also aims to justify the legality of accessing the exclusion areas marked by the Plan for the Regulation of Natural Resources of the Serra de Tramuntana on the Ternelles estate, mainly Cala Castell. The study was handed to the judge to comply with a requirement of the Superior Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands (TSJB).
The different interpretation of the judicial rulings applied by the City Council and Ternelles property implies that both parties try to ensure the management of public visits to the emblematic ‘Pollencina’ estate. The society that manages the ‘possessió’ linked to the March family, already warned a few months ago that from this year authorization for visits would lie with them exclusively, which the council does not accept.
Mayor March explained yesterday that the City continues to manage authorizations for twenty people a day, “In principle everything remains the same, although we have found that the property of the farm wants to open a transition period” to take control of public visits. March considers that Ternelles “is entitled to give permits for guided visits because the farm is his, but the authorization to access the road must be municipal.”
The walk to the gate from Parking at the Roman Bridge ar Park (Field) is about 2 km passing fincas and fields. At the gate is a very helpful guard who takes the permits and provides instructions etc. The walking path is very easy and apparently takes 3 hours to the Castle when open. The gates close at 18.00
The walk is very interesting, past a very nice torrent/stream and excellent oak and olive woods.
Birds seen included Song thrushes, Great and Bluetits( I saw at least 8 blue tits), Firecrests, Grey and white wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Chaffinches and Chiffchaffs, Serins, Blackcaps, Robins, Ravens, Kestrels, Booted Eagles, 3 Griffon Vultures and 4 Black Vultures. The views were distant but the possibility of close fly over is there.
Its a great site and I think in the Spring it must be amazing-With few disturbences from cars, cyclists and people. Eddie was right!
