Torre del Verger

From the roof the coast opens up in both directions, the Serra de Tramuntana falling to the sea on either side, and on a clear evening the sun goes down over open water. Stone steps lead into the tower, and a solid metal ladder takes you up through the top floor to the roof. There is only the one ladder, so you wait your turn.

The tower is a round stone shaft built in the 16th century to watch the sea for pirates, and the reason it stands here is the reason to climb it: it sees a long way. Below, the hillsides step down in the terraces Banyalbufar is known for. At the top there is nothing between you and the sea breeze.

• No toilets and no drinking water at the tower or nearby: bring water with you.
• One metal ladder serves the roof, so expect to wait your turn to go up or come down.
• Break-ins happen at the car park. Leave nothing in the car, boot included.
• The path, steps and ladder rule out wheelchairs and are hard going with limited mobility.
• It makes a stop on a drive along the Ma-10; there is nothing else here to build a day around.

The tower stands right beside the Ma-10, the coast road through the Serra de Tramuntana, about 40 minutes' drive from Palma. The nearest car park is about 140 m away in a straight line, with a second parking area about 360 m away and more spaces along the roadside.

From the road, a short, slightly steep path climbs to a level area with bins and the first views, and several spots along the way make natural stopping points. Steps then lead up into the tower itself. Wear shoes with grip.

A bus stop named after the tower sits about 75 m away on the Ma-10. A signpost for the GR 221 long-distance path stands about 400 m away.

Best: late afternoon into sunset, when the light comes in low off the sea.

Avoid: days of strong north wind.

The tower looks out to the open sea on the northwest side of the island, so evening light lands full on the coast; that exposure also means the roof takes any north wind head-on, and sunset draws the most people up the ladder.