CALA DEL MOLI
SANT FELIU DE GUIXOIS, SPAIN
VIA FERRATA (AD-D / K3-4)
PHYSICAL RATING: 3
VERTIGO RATING: 2
TECHNICAL RATING: 3
SUMMIT RATING: 2
SATISFACTION: 2
COURSE TYPE: CLIFF
STATISTICS
Departure Altitude: 20m
Arrival Altitude: 20m
Climb (or descent): 110m
Length: 480m
Time: 1.5 hours
SPECIAL FEATURES
Footbridge: 0
Monkey Bridge: 4
Ladder: 0
Zip Line: 0
Net: 0
ACCESSIBILITY
Open: Year round
Parking: Via Ferrata is about 1hr drive from Barcelona. Car parking is limited near the entrance of the Via Ferrata with roads in area generally only allowing residents parking, I parked at St Feliu nautical club and then took the 15 min walk up the hill, public transport limited.
WHAT TO KNOW!
Welcome to the Via Ferrara Cala del Moli, in the small town of Sant Feliu de Guixois on the Costa Brava in Spain. About 1 hour north of Barcelona fairly close the main motorways, you will find a totally one of its kind Via Ferrata.
This unique course holds the title of being one of the only courses built on the coastline in the world, and at certain points it goes directly above the sea below. It is fairly straight forward, but it is a little bit trickier than may seem, mainly because of some strange ironwork and a few moments of arm strength requirements.
This K3-4 course is split in 2 parts, the first half which is suitable for all athletic climbers (a little arm strength will be required) could be classified as K3, and the second part which should only be taken on by experienced climbers due to the exposure and a few tricky overhangs could be classified as K4 - particuarly one moment of C/D overhang. There is an escape path after the end of the first section and you should only take on the 2nd part if you feel you have good arm strength. The course is generally horizontal in nature with only a few moments of vertical climbing. You start on a clearly marked path, and you will need to turn right to descend down to the sea edge. The first part is pretty simple and sets the tone for the course in general. The strangest thing is that the metal work is polished and smooth, therefore can be slippery if you don't wear gloves. Some of the ironwork is a little strangely placed and you will need to use common sense with it, especially some underhangs which can be difficult to spot the footholds.
It's a fun, if very unique course that is in a fantastic setting and this is the reason you want to try it, but ultimatelyand honestly the only thrill really is the ocean below, as the course itself is a pretty standard sideways one with a few monkey bridges.
Sorry to be tough, but for my view it is recommended if you want to try something totally different, but if you love a great via ferrata course, this one really is pretty average, and if you have done Noirague in the Jura, expect something pretty similar.