Canyoning through the Torrent de Coanegra

After a relatively dry winter, the silver lining to the recent heavy rain in Mallorca is that the canyons are now full of water and flowing again. And so it was we organised a trip yesterday morning for a group to go canyoning through the Torrent de Coanegra.

For those of you who are not familiar with this sport, canyoning is mix of walking, swimming, jumping and abseiling, in order to descend a gorge. In Majorca, it is a sport best practised between November and May after heavy rain.

The Torrent de Coanegra is one of the easier, less technically demanding canyons on the island and is the perfect gorge for those who are new to the sport. It is located in the Orient valley, between Bunyola and Alaro in the Tramuntana mountain range, North West Mallorca.

The first part of the excursion involves walking along a path between two farmhouses, down towards the river Coanegra. After a quarter of an hour, you reach the waterfall known as the "Salt des Freu", which is where walking attire is exchanged for swimsuits and wetsuits. Clothing is packed into a small watertight container within a specially designed rucksack which has mesh sides to allow water to drain quickly.

The next section is relatively easy, as you walk from rock to rock, occasionally wading through the river water and testing out its temperature; cold! Soon however, it is no longer possible to not get wet and the guide is on hand to help you into your harnesses and to demonstrate how to rappel. The first jump is only 2 metres high, but the landing zone is small, some 3 feet separate the canyon walls. On landing into the deep pool, the initial shock of cold water is replaced with an adrenaline buzz, as the fast flowing water starts to push you downriver.

For the next one and a half hours, you swim where you can, abseil down waterfalls and jump off the sides of the gorge into the whirlpools created by the force of the water. The final obstacle, before the landscape flattens out and the river continues its southwards journey towards Santa Maria, is a 6 metre slide. Having thrown your rucksack into the water below, you cross your arms on your chest and let the water take you on one last ride, before walking back to the starting point and you wonder how soon you can go canyoning again.

What you will need: a pair of hiking shoes or trainers with a good grip that you don't mind getting wet. Lightweight, compact folding clothes for the return walk, a swimsuit and a sense of adventure. All the rest; wet suit, canyoning pack, harness, ropes, helmet and watertight container, is provided.

Andy Mitter & Michelle Holland operate Tramuntana Tours, an adventure company offering a range of outdoor activities.