Bèrnia Moscatell Trail

The Bèrnia Moscatell Trail is the trail race of Xaló (Jalón), a wine-growing village in the Marina Alta, inland from the Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante. The Club Atletisme Bèrnia de Xaló launched it in 2018, and from its very first year it opened the Circuit Trail La Marina, a regional series that strings together around ten mountain races in the villages of the area from October to May. The name combines the Serra de Bèrnia, the limestone ridge that closes off the valley to the south, and moscatel, the grape that the slopes of the Vall de Pop are known for. The local wine cooperative, Bodegas Xaló, backs the event.

The race starts in early November from the Plaça Major in the centre of the village, with the main distance setting off at 8:30 am. The long trail, listed at around 21 km, counts towards the series standings. In its early years the route measured just over 22 km with roughly 1,100 m of climbing, running through La Devesa, the Barranc del Negre, the Serra del Ferrer, the Masserof area, Les Planisses and the Barranc del Cau before dropping back into Xaló. Packing that much climbing into a half-marathon distance means steep, honest ascents and descents on rocky paths, typical of Mediterranean limestone country.

Two shorter options round out the programme. The Express, at around 15 km, follows the short version of the course, which historically carried about 450 m of elevation gain: a sensible first outing for runners used to off-road paths, or a faster race for regulars on the circuit. A hiking version over a similar distance lets walkers take in the same scenery without the clock.

The long trail suits runners who are already comfortable on technical ground and can handle a series of steep climbs. The Express is still demanding but within reach with some hill training. The timing helps everyone: by November the summer heat has gone, and the low autumn light picks out the vineyard terraces, the almond groves and the bare crests of Bèrnia.

Xaló treats the race as a village celebration. From the start, the trail was conceived as the centrepiece of a mountain weekend, the BèrniaFest, with family activities around the start and finish area. Locals are encouraged to cheer runners along the course, which makes the finish on the square a warm affair. Afterwards the village is worth a slow wander, between its shaded square, its wine cellars and the view of the ridge you have just crossed.

On the practical side, entries are handled by the timing company Mychip and close a few days before the race. In previous years bibs could be collected the evening before at Xaló town hall or on race morning until fifteen minutes before the start. Xaló is about twenty minutes by car from the coast, via Benissa or Ondara.