Discover rural Menorca on the route of the Camí d'en Kane

If you are in Menorca, may we suggest an unforgettable excursion along the Camí d'en Kane into the innermost recesses of the island. A journey through the heart of this most enchanting corner of the Mediterranean, where you will discover the true rural landscape of this Biosphere Reserve.

A walk along the Camí d'en Kane, laid down almost three centuries ago, will lead you into a world of calm and beauty which emanates from these unique lands. The path begins near Maó and ends in the town of Es Mercadal in the centre of the island. The route's 20 kilometres can be covered by car, bicycle, on horseback or even on foot if you prefer. The route is flat and smooth, perfectly paved and signposted, and requires no technical prowess or special effort. It is a wonderful way to discover another facet of this sea-faring island. On foot the excursion takes a little over four hours; all you need is some comfortable clothing and a pair of good walking shoes. It is an easy walk that can be done by everybody, including small children. And of course, don't forget to take a snack and some water.

This trail is one of the many remains of the 70 years of British domination in Menorca (part of the Balearic archipelago) in the 18th century. The governor of the time, Richard Kane, ordered a road to be built joining the cities of Maó and Ciutadella. Over the years the road fell into disuse, but even today there are several stretches which are still in good condition and lead to idyllic places where you will discover a less well-known, more rural Menorca, resplendent in the intense Mediterranean light.

In the most utter calm, the silence broken by only the sounds of cattle, the Camí d'en Kane leads us through pastures and farmlands, past stately country homes and humble farmworkers' houses, across great plains of grass and along stone walls. It takes us past some of Menorca's best-known features, such as the Monte Toro mountain, which at 357 metres is the highest point on the island and on whose peak there is a shrine devoted to the Patron Saint; the town of Alaior, famous for its cheeses; and Es Mercadal, home of the s'aljub (water deposit), a military fortification housing a large water tank which Governor Kane himself ordered to be built, and which is still in use today.

A walk along the Camí d'en Kane is without a doubt one of the best ways of discovering these idyllic and peaceful Menorcan landscapes. Nature abounds in every part of the island, right down to the seashore itself, where you can find some of the best coves and beaches in all the Mediterranean.