Castell de Castells is a muncipality of Spain, rich in Moorish history and perched high on the nearby hilltop, is a ruined Moorish watchtower with panoramic views of the surrounding area. This 12.7km route winds through the hills to reach the watchtower and continues along a stunning, panoramic ridge before returning to Castell de Castells.
Download the route on OS Maps.
Where is Castell de Castells?
Located in the province of Alicante, Castell de Castells is a small, but beautiful, town high in the mountains of the Costa Blanca region. This area is home to some of the most historically important cave painings and stunning limestone arches which you can experience on another hike in this area. Just a one hour drive from some of the popular coastal beaches, Castell de Castells is a great place to unwind, soak up the culture and enjoy a spot of adventure and hiking.
What is the history behind the Moorish watchtower?
In 711AD, The Moors, originating from North Africa, conquered much of the Iberian Peninsula. They ruled for almost eight centuries and this had a lasting impact on Spanish culture, archtecture and cuisine. Castell de Castells has a close link with the Moorish population and the town was first mentioned in 1609 as an area linked to the expulsion of the majority of the Moorish people. The Gorge of Bad Faith, which you can also hike through, was even used as a holding area before they were marched to the coast. The watchtower in Castell de Castells is the remains of an Arabic castle which would have been built to protect surrounding farmhouses and valleys.
Walking route for around Castell de Castells and the watchtower
The route starts from the centre of Castell de Castells before climbing, on good tracks, to the south of the town. The path take you through forestry areas and you’ll see your first glimpse of the watchtower, high on the cliffs beyond.
The path reaches a stunning high point near a ridge, with views down to the Guadalest Reservoir before the final climb to the base of the cliffs where the watchtower sits.
There is a well trodden path that veers off if you want to reach the ruins of the watchtower. The path takes you over some steep, rocky sections but the effort is worth it to be standing within the ruins of the watchtower. Please note you do need a head for heights if you want to take the final climb to the watchtower ruins!
The route then continues on the path west with fabulous views on both sides from the ridge line.
The route then descends through the forest with a small road section before joining up with the Barranc de Famorca for a gentle stroll back to Castell de Castells.
Hiking in Costa Blanca – downloadable map route for Castell de Castells and the watchtower
This route requires some naviagtion skills as it isn’t signposted and with many trails, it’s easy to take the wrong route. I recommend buying a local map with routes on.
I’ve also uploaded the route onto Komoot so you can download the route map to your phone. See the route on Komoot here. This is a circular route, starting and finishing in Castell de Castells. It will take around 4.5 hours (not including rest and photo stops) with around 760m of elevation.
You can also view the route and download it on the OS Map App too and the GPS feature will allow you to track your progress and see where you are on the map. Download the OS route here.
Take a look at this video I made of the watchtower walking route: