Do you fancy a February hike, the kind that rewards a bit of effort with big views? The circular route around the Sierra de Bèrnia is a classic.
Following the PR CV 7 trail, the route covers around 9 kilometres and is rated as medium difficulty.
What makes this walk special is the contrast. The greener and more humid northern side feels very different from the sunnier southern face. Along the way there are springs, old military remains, prehistoric sites and the dramatic crossing of the Forat.
The Forat de Bèrnia
The route starts at Les Cases de Bèrnia, a small settlement reached via narrow rural roads from Benissa or Jalón, often shared with cyclists. The first stretch passes the Font de Bèrnia, where the path joins the PR CV 436. From here, the climb begins, with some steep sections and rocky ground underfoot.
After a steady ascent, walkers reach the northern entrance of the Forat de Bèrnia. This is a narrow tunnel through the rock, around 15 metres long, where you need to crouch slightly to pass through.
Once through, the change is instant. Shade gives way to light, and the views open out across the coast. From here you can see Altea, the Parque Natural de la Serra Gelada, Playa del Albir and, in the distance, Benidorm. To the right, the peaks of Puig Campana and Ponoig rise sharply.
Walking on officially approved trails like this one means good signposting and less chance of getting lost!
Rock paintings at l’Ermita del Vicari
From the Forat, the path continues along the southern face of the range at around 750 metres above sea level. After roughly 500 metres, a short detour leads to the rock paintings of Ermita del Vicari, estimated to be more than 5,000 years old.
The paintings are schematic and subtle, showing human figures, symbols linked to stars and motifs associated with water. They are not always easy to spot, but information panels help explain what you are looking at.
Fort de Bèrnia
The Fort de Bèrnia was built in 1562 by order of Philip II to watch the coastline and defend against possible Ottoman attacks. Today, visitors can still see the outline of the fort, parts of the moat, access points and several arched rooms.
From here, hikers can choose to extend the route by heading up to the summit of Bèrnia, the highest point of the range at 1,126 metres.
