Serra de Tramuntana

The Tramuntana runs the whole northwest side of Mallorca, a limestone wall between the interior plain and the sea, and the terracing on its slopes is old enough and extensive enough that the range is inscribed as a cultural landscape rather than a natural one. Dry stone walls hold soil for olives and citrus on ground that would otherwise wash away, and a network of channels moves water down from the mountains to the villages. The Ma-10 road runs the length of it with a great many bends. A narrow gauge train from Palma to Soller and a tram down to the port both survive from the early twentieth century.

What you actually see

• The dry stone terraces - hand-built walls holding olive groves on steep slopes.
• The Ma-10 road - the slow coastal route from Andratx to Pollenca.
• The Soller train and tram - narrow gauge lines from Palma to the town and port.
• Sa Calobra and the Torrent de Pareis - a gorge reaching the sea through a cleft.

When to go

Spring and autumn are best for walking, cycling and for driving the road without holiday traffic. Summer brings heat, full car parks at the coves and cyclists in numbers on every bend. Winter is mild and green but many mountain restaurants and some hotels close, and rain brings rockfall that closes sections of road.

Honest expectations

The Ma-10 is a long series of tight bends, unpleasant if anyone in the car gets travel sick and slow behind coaches. Parking at Sa Calobra and Deia is inadequate in season. Many terraces are on private land with no access. The train and tram are charming but expensive for the distance they cover.

Nearby

Palma is under an hour; Pollenca and Alcudia bays close the range at its northern end.