Winter picnics in the Tramuntana

Sa Bassa is the picnic area just off the mountain road that links Soller to Lluc, and then on to Pollensa. This is an excellent road through the mountains with wonderful scenery wherever you look. The picnic area is huge and has two barbecue areas where up to 20 fires could be going at once. Picnic table and benches allow everyone to sit down and spread the food. There are rudimentary toilets plus swings, see saw, slide and sandpit for the youngest ones. The area around is rocks, boulders, pine trees and mountain ferns which makes a wonderful backdrop for inventive games. The dogs joined the fray and before too long a magical Swallows and Amazons scenario was being acted out by the children. Camps were built and the triumph of good over evil was building up to a crescendo. Sticks for thrashing of the undergrowth were whittled and the adults could only marvel at the power of imagination.

Returning to the camp fires the big boys were building the fires using branches and pine cones left on the side of the mountain. How many barbecues have that scent? Steaks, hot dogs and chicken sizzled while our son-in-law made a paella. Portable gas ring, marinated chicken and prawns, peppers,rice and the mountain paella was complete. The barbecue was the domain of the men rediscovering their caveman roots. The women stood marvelling at the sight of all the food they had shopped for and prepared being cooked so expertly by their men! The story of barbecues world wide!

One friend got his golf clubs out and practised his puts along the valley. Another brought the newest addition to their family - an adorable spaniel puppy - everyone fell in love with her. The children played swing ball and had competitions as to who could swing the highest. This was such a simple day but one that will remain in the collective memories of forty children and adults. My husband bought his binoculars and taught the children how to use them. Eagles and monsters were spotted ,imaginary or not, who knows, it was just that sort of day.

We had the whole area to ourselves and it was the sort of moment that you pinch yourself to truly believe that on this day we are in the middle of such spectacular beauty and that we live here!

For visitors to the Soller valley this is an experience that just waits for you. Load your car up with food, drink and charcoal for the grill (to supplement the pine cones) and head for Sa Bassa. A tip for winter picnics is to arrive about 11 as the sun is making an appearance and be prepared to leave by 3 pm as it gets mighty cold. Take layers of clothes and don't be deceived by the sun as it really gets colder than you can imagine.

We are having a very mild winter in the Soller valley and the possibility of snow seems remote. If this changes then Sa Bassa is used as the base camp for all Sollerics who are very excited when snow falls in the mountains. They head up to this spot and have their picnics, barbecues and make snowmen. Their piece de resistance is to drive back down the mountain with a snowman on the bonnet of the car.

The picnic area is open all year and is a free facility. Every season has its attractions high in the Tramuntana mountain Range and more visitors are expected now that the area has been designated a World Heritage Site. Come and see us in Soller, bring a picnic and enjoy our mountains. We'd be delighted to share them with you.

For more information visit Serra de Tramuntana.