Costa Blanca Rock Climbing

Clare and Matt were on an extended work break and visiting various prime rock climbing locations throughout Europe, and decided that the Costa Blanca area was one that they should not miss.  We received an e-mail from them to book a five night stay, which they thought would give them ample time to climb the various crags in the area that they had already spotted in their guide book.  As well as this, they wanted to take advantage of our proximity to Valencia city and visit there whilst all the preparations for the fiesta of Fallas were underway. They had [...]

The Gandia area is known as La Safor and is a gorgeous area located on the mid-eastern sideboard of Spain, almost adjacent to the Balearic Islands and just below Valencia (Spain’s third largest city).  La Safor is on the cusp of the northern Costa Blanca and the southern part of the Costa del Azahar.  The capital of the area is Gandia (pop. 80,000) a busy and cosmopolitan town surrounded by a number of delightful smaller towns, villages and estates that extend inland and along a stunning coast of golden, Blue Flagged beaches. GANDIA HAS SOME OF THE FINEST BEACHES IN [...]

We would like to present you another issue with some of the strongest Boreal team members. We have Nacho Sanchez, Ignasi Tarrazona, Bruno Macias and last but not least the inspirational Pedro Pons in this movie. Minute 4 of video, Malsonandro 8c, Chikara 8b, El Bovedon Cave, minutes from the lodge. See your self and get inspired by nothing more than No Pain No Spain! Gaz Parry climbing Malsoñando 8c in El Bovedon spain Another fine example of the quality of climbing to be found in the local area. A video by some local Spanish Climbers on Marxuquera Crag(Gandia). A [...]

Penya Roja Climbing Lodge provided the perfect accommodation for a group of accomplished climbers from Romania who visited us for ten days immediately after Christmas. The group consisted of five couples, accompanied also by two young children, who all stayed in the house – some of them in the main house on a bed and breakfast basis, and two of the couples in our self-catering apartment. In this way they were all able to stay at the same location within easy reach of the famous Gandia Crag (known locally as Penya Roja), but to have the level of accommodation and [...]

Owners of the HappyPub in Bucharest, Ioni Manzatu & Daniel Dumitrascu, spending the last day of their Spanish Climbing holiday on Gandia Crag. Along with their partners, they decided to make the most of their last full day, rock-climbing on the Gandía Crag – locally known as Penya Roja. They had spent practically every day of their 8 day stay climbing the impressive outcrop and had been pleasantly surprised at the variety of climbs and levels of skill required, depending on which route they were attempting that day. They have been on many climbing trips in various parts of Europe, [...]

The first impression of this crag as you approach is that it is significantly less impressive than most of the bits of rock you have just driven past. However first impressions can be deceptive and when you get involved with the routes you will find some immaculate climbs on near-perfect rock formations. There is a good grade range and, although it isn’t one of the better areas for people leading below 6a, there are still plenty of easier routes dotted around the crag. Most of the best climbing is on steep bulging tufas in the harder grades and the crag [...]

One of the great things about Spain is the ability to do outdoor sports – pretty much throughout the year.  For anyone living here this is a tremendous luxury and this is particularly true of sports that require dry weather.  Indeed, it is one of the very good reasons for moving to Spain. Certainly, Mediterranean Spain tends to bathe in the luxury of over 300 clear days a year and this is a boon whether you are a walker, golfer, cyclist, sailor or, like myself, a rock climber.  All of a sudden you can find that the frustrations of living [...]

The immediate area surrounding the lodge boasts one of the finest crags on the Costa Blanca. Gandia is a world class crag, with over 300 routes. Other local crags include El Bovedon, Salem, Aventador, Bellus and Montesa, all of which offer superb routes of all grades. Within 1 hour drive of Gandia, there are at least a further 20 crags, all fully developed and offering excellent Rock climbing. The climate allows for climbing throughout the year. Rock Climbing Areas Alzira – Tallat Roig Bellús – Barranco Fondo Bovedón Calpe – Sierra de Toix Corbera Bloc Cullera – Cova del Dragut [...]

Many people are seeking alternatives to the seaside resort holiday that is centred around lots of sunshine and doing as little as possible except maybe reading a book on the beach or around a swimming pool.  Pleasant as that prospect may be, spending two weeks with nothing else on the agenda can become a little monotonous.  More and more holidaymakers are looking to combine some of the lazy sunshine holiday concept with a certain amount of activity, and it is here that the area around Gandía and the whole area along the Costa Blanca can really come into its own.  [...]

Autumn and Winter Sunshine The weather is most definitely beginning to cool down in northern Europe now generally, but this year has seen a wonderful, long summer in Spain, and particularly along the Costa Blanca. September and October have so far been unusually warm and settled, and this weather seems here to stay for a while yet. What better time can there possibly be to leave the grey and cold of impending winter behind and head to the Costa Blanca for what must surely be a bargain break in the sun? Hotels and self-catering accommodation throughout the region are offering [...]