Spain Menorca Camí de Cavalls Coastal Horse Trail Northern Coves — Free 20 km or €25 Bike Rental?
I based in Fornells and hiked the Camí de Cavalls (GR-223) north-coast section from Cala Tirant to Cala Pregonda—about 9 km one way, 3.5 hrs, totally free, marked with white-and-green paint. The trail is ancient: a 14th-c defensive ring around Menorca, now a coastal path through juniper scrub, red-earth cliffs, and crescent coves with no road access. Pregonda has a rust-coloured sand (iron oxide) and a left-side islet you can swim to. I wore trail shoes, carried 3 L (no fountains), and packed a bocadillo. Mistake: I tried the same stretch in August at 11 am—heat hit 34°C and the scrub gave zero shade; spring or October is the play. Another mistake: assuming the whole loop is continuous—some sections near urban Ciutadella are diverted onto road; download the official GPX. Bike rental in Mercadal was €25/day; I saw cyclists but the northern rocky bits walked better than rode. Rule: Menorca is a UNESCO biosphere reserve—no camping, no fires, no picking plants; rangers fine. Worth it? Yes, Pregonda alone justifies the sweat, and the trail is the only honest way to reach it. If you only have a morning, bus to Fornells + taxi to Cala Pregonda (€18) saves legs but kills the walk's rhythm. Question: is a 9 km free hike to a virgin cove worth more than a €25 bike and half the distance, or does the bike let you see two coves instead of one?