Hiking the Costa Blanca has loads of high points

Robin ranges from the sierra to the city and finds Alicante and the surrounding area full of beauty, history and striking scenery

Mention the Costa Blanca to many people and they conjure up big resorts packed with bronzed holidaymakers. There is another side to this sun-kissed stretch of Spain, as I discovered when I jetted down to hike through the local countryside and spend time in Alicante, a city that these days is far more than just a convenient gateway to Benidorm.

Working out where to hike and how to get there can be tricky in the Costa Blanca, as walking tourism is really in its infancy compared to mass beach tourism. I was in good hands, though, as I was on an organised group tour with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays (www.ramblersholidays.co.uk). I’d been on six week-long walking tours with them all over Europe and had not been disappointed yet. I hoped this week-long trip – From the Spanish Sierra to The Sea – would not be my first letdown.

My guide, Rod, stood out with his scarlet red top at the airport and soon marshalled us all together into a bus for the short transfer to our hotel. The Hotel Meridional in Guardamar del Segura proved a great choice. This four star enjoyed views over the Mediterranean and had a rooftop bar that came complete with a hot tub, which was handy for soothing hiking-strained muscles.

There were walks on five of the seven days but you are free to dip in and out of any of them. I took in four walks and, although this is the first year RWH has been organising holidays in the Costa Blanca, there were no duffers. Each walk had its own charms and – unlike some of the mountain-centric breaks offered by other companies further north in the Costa Blanca – this trip opened up a real variety of terrain and scenery.

Handily, as well as Rod we had a local guide, Fran, on board each day, too. He really knew the area, in terms not just of less-travelled walking routes but also the bountiful flora and fauna, aspects of which would be very easy to miss if you were on a self-guided trip. He was only too eager to stop and explain various plants and animals en route.

Our first walk saw us explore the little-known Escalona Mountain. We didn’t see another soul for the entirety of the 10km route. Although the week was graded a four (a relatively moderate RWH grading), we had to negotiate a rocky ridge. This proved to be, as it is often on this type of trip, a real bonding experience, as we helped each other out.

This feeling of bonding grew over dinner at the hotel. The hotel’s El Jardin restaurant has won a number of awards and it was a real highlight on the five nights we dined there. We also took in a brace of excellent local restaurants. Although the age range swung from mid-40s to almost 80, we had in common our love of walking and travel so there was plenty to talk about.

Our next walk took us into the otherworldly Salt Ravine Albatera. It proved quite unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been in Europe. We passed along narrow trails in the desert-like landscape, making our way across narrow viaducts as we lost ourselves deeper and deeper in a wildscape that felt very far from the world of honking traffic and bleeping mobile phones.

As we explored the ravine, Fran told stories of the miners who used to work in such harsh conditions, and about the hardy plant life that ekes out an existence here. It was surreal, walking through a steep-sided gorge along a stream coated in layers of gleaming white salt and seeing waterfalls awash with sparkling, white salt crystals.

Our third walk brought a flat day that my calves welcomed. We