Joan Collins
HIKERS who complete the dry stone route will get a certificate, similar to the one which exists for the pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago, with the aim of rewarding them and stimulating their interest in completing the route, according to the Council of Majorca's councillor for the Environment and Nature, Miquel Angel Borras The Dry stone route is so called because the paths pass between historic dry stone walls. The Council will, in the next two or three months, finalise the list of public and private paths which will make up the route. This will link Andratx with Pollensa by way of 150 kilometres of paths, and Arta with Lluc via a network of 100 kilometres of paths.
Borras, who said that this proposal will be submitted to the councils involved for its approval by them, dismissed putting artificial or symbolic works into the route because he considered that looking at the beauty of the countryside on the island is impressive enough. Speaking about the certificates which will prove that someone has completed the route, Borras commented that it is a way of stimulating the hikers' interest and to offer them a reward to encourage them to complete all of the route. He denied that this was a Holy Grail strategy, and said that it was a plan thought out from the point of view of walking for pleasure, to enjoy and respect nature. Borras said that the objective of the Council is to end their term of office with the route from Andratx to Pollensa completely designed and with the works in different paths finished or ready to start. As for the route between Arta and Lluc he admitted that there are more delays with the work. Borras said that the path the route takes does not correspond to any historic route, and in some parts paths will be opened where there were none before. Also, the necessity to link up all parts of the route has led the Council to sign agreements with owners to rent private land for periods of 25 to 40 years. On the other hand, he said, some councils had busied themselves with refurbishing paths leading off the main route. Speaking about these he quoted the case of Calvia, whose council had proposed a link between Paguera and La Punta de Galatzo.
Prize for walking round Majorca