Puig Tomir

Peaks: Puig Tomir (1104m)

Area: Lluc, Mallorca

This was something of a bonus squeezed into the end of the day. A fine mountain, one of Mallorca's best, made possible only because of a change of plan. Originally, I had intended to do a huge section of the GR221 from Soller to Lluc today, but the need to do a Covid test changed that. Instead, I took the test, got the results, had a great breakfast at the hotel, then got the bus to Lluc instead. This all took some time, as the mountain road past Cuber and Escorca is extremely narrow, so it was mid-afternoon by the time I set off from Lluc, having checked in to my austere monastic cell on the top floor. Lluc is in a fabulous location: tranquil, surrounded by mountains. They do take some getting to, however, so it was a fairly long trek to gain the lower slopes of Tomir. Delightful, however, with a breeze taking the edge of the temperatures as I followed the GR221 up to the refuge and Mirador de Moli. Then heading north-east below Puig de ses Covasses to the Coll de Bosc Gran above Binifaldo. As the name suggests, these slopes are heavily wooded with holm oak, and were an absolute delight - really beautiful and incredibly tranquil. At the next pass, the Col des Pedregarat, the climb up Puig Tomir begins. The peak towered above, and looks steep and rocky from below. It was also obvious that it was going to get very hot very quickly, with the limestone gleaming in hot afternoon sunshine. As soon as I left the treeline, a battering ensued: it was unpleasantly hot for a while on this side of Tomir, absolutely windless in a south-facing amphitheatre of rock, all the ingredients were there. A traverse below crags eventually gains a weakness in the form of a shallow gully. Some mild scrambling up this, quite enjoyable, gains easier ground at the edge of the plateau. This narrows towards an obvious rockband, which gave a lovely little pitch - protected with cables and rungs although it was very simple. Above, a welcome breeze and easy ground up to an obvious col with an ancient snow collector's hut. Superb views across the north of Mallorca (the first time I'd seen it). These got even better from the final section, as the ridge turns left and leads very enjoyably to the summit. It narrows towards the top, and the views down to the Binfaldo valley, across to Puig Roig and the Med were superb. To the north, I could see the Formentor peninsula and Pollenca, with the whole of Mallorca laid out like a map. Then, three black vultures came into view, wheeling around the summit with the sun glinting off Puig Major: absolute magic. The descent, although merely retracing steps, was really enjoyable as the sun dropped. Quite beautiful through the holm oak woodland lower down, the low sun diffused by the trees.