Sierra de Tramuntana Mountains, Mallorca

An enigmatic mountain range always adds mystery and beauty to any island and the Sierra de Tramuntana on Mallorca is no exception. This dramatic and lofty mountain range is often snow-capped during the winter months, which adds yet more sparkle to the spectacular scenery of the island. This high moisture attracting oasis on the Spanish Balearic Islands possesses a diverse range of plant and animal life alongside majesty and splendour – It is hardly surprising the Sierra de Tramuntana was awarded UNESCO status in recent years.

You can drive through the Tramuntana but it’s not a journey for nervous drivers as drops are unforgiving and the roads are tortuous and relentlessly winding. In fact so steep and challenging is the journey through the Sierra de Tramuntana that Bradley Wiggins and the Sky team used these mountains for training for the Tour de France.

Some of the villages within Tramuntana’s reach are outstandingly beautiful and well worth a visit. And none more so than the small coastal village of Dela. In 1932 the English writer Robert Graves of “I Claudius” fame visited Dela and decided that it was so lovely he would take up residence in the village with his mistress. Grave died in Dela in 1985 and is buried in the village. Graves wrote a book called “Wild Olives” which talks about life in Mallorca and particularly in Dela.

Whether you’re visiting Dela of twisting and turning round hairpin bends of the Tramutana, remember to take your camera with you as these limestone mountains contain sheer gorges and 5000 feet peaks, a photographer’s haven. Cosy villages, mountain streams and famous clientele surely make the Tramuntana Mountains one of the foremost great escapes in the age of modern tourism.