UKC

Hi
I'm a Pom now living in Australia. I will be back to visit over the Christmas hols. I'm looking for a recommendation of destination for a weeks holiday during this time. I was thinking either mainland Spain or Mallorca.

Looking to do single pitch sport 6a - 7c, and maybe some easy multis for the off days. Also, somewhere which is nice to visit (food, scenery, culture) is a consideration, as it's me and the missus travelling and we've palmed the kids off to my mother in law for the week

Which is a better bet Mallorca or mainland spain, and if so which areas?

In reply to ringostar:

Mainland Spain is the better bet for that time of year. If you base yourselves in the Calpe/Benidorm area (as most climbers do) you have the option for day trips north or south to catch the best of the weather.

It can occasionally be chilly or rainy for a day or two (in fact there was flooding that time last year) but you'd be unlucky not to get reasonable weather most days. (Toix TV and Redovan are good sun traps if it's cold).

Also plenty of Spanish culture once you drive a few miles inland from the coastal resorts.

Hope you have an awesome trip.

In reply to ringostar:
Mainland. Calpe.

Quite regularly snows in Majorca in December.

In reply to ringostar:

Winter time around Costa Blanca is usually pretty good, near perfect for climbing on most days. Here's a few photos of a Boxing day climb last year. My pals in the photos are both local and still going short-sleeve!
http://www.mountain-journeys.co.uk/blog/magical-mystery-tour-calpe

In reply to ringostar:

Thanks all for your input. Any recommendations on nice places to stay?

How have people found the grades? stiff/soft or normal?

The usual style of climbing here in Sydney is short, bouldery sandstone outcrops. Which can feel quite stiff if you don't have good fingers and footwork!

In reply to ringostar:

El Chorro has the best weather, lots of routes from 6a - 7c. 2000+ routes, lots of single, some multi.
lots of accom, camping, private rooms, hotel, ...
fly to Malaga or Gibraltar
easy access to Alhambra, mezquita, Seville and other tourist sites and sights

In reply to ringostar:

Most reliable weather of all round New Year has to be Tenerife, with recent developments there is plenty of climbing to go at in the grades you specify. UKC article here: https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=4410

In reply to travelguy:

Not much in it for rain fall (which surprised me) but Costa Blanca in warmer over the winter.
Check out the stats.
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/el-chorro-weather-averages/andalucia/es....
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/san-juan-de-alicante-weather-averages/co...