Multipitch climbing in Redovan and Orihuela
The two climbing areas of Redovan and Orihuela are just a few kilometers apart but their style does differ quite a lot. Which is great because you can find a multipitch line here for anybody: Sport bolted, sparsely bolted with tricky logistics or even alpine style.
Sporty vs. Alpine style routes and logistics close to Alicante in Spain
The towns of Redovan and Orihuela are located about 60 km south of Alicante in Spain. Both areas are situated on their own solitary mountain that climbs out of the rather flat surrounding area. While there are many sport climbing sectors to be found, it’s the multipitching that brought us there during our van trip in early 2025.
Our first climb was a seven pitch 5c affair in the El Rut sector of Redovan called „Don Rodrigo Osu“. The route starts among single pitch sport routes and is bolted like a sport climb all the way to the top - even after the first four „real climbing“ pitches every small steeper step on the last three is well protected.
The route itself finishes right by a well trodden hiking path that conveniently leads back down right to the base of the climb.
All in all a super fun, all around chill climb that combines good climbing with great views and a short approach.
A few days later we came back to the area to try our hand on a line on „Pared Negra“ (the name „The Black Wall“ is very accurate when looking up at the impressive and slightly oppressive face) in Orihuela.
Our objective was „Derecha del Espolon“ going pretty much straight up the wall in four pitches and billed as a bolted grade V in the guidebook. The approach was a quick 15 minute hike that brought us right under pitch one - so far so good.
Starting the climb the differences to Redovan hit quite quickly. About ten bolts on a 50 meter pitch that felt very very stiff in the grade screamed: „This is serious!“.
Our impression got confirmed during the following pitches - everything was just harder and a bit more scary than what we saw a few days earlier. The descent stayed in line by featuring some exposed scrambling and two rappels.
Still the route and the whole experience was excellent - just different to Redovan.
I can recommend both areas wholeheartedly for their climbs and as a good reminder that the grades and guidebook information does not tell the whole story!
Adventurers: Martin and Bengt