When to go? Where to walk? What's available?
Overall, annual rainfall is light - from 1400mm in the mountains to just 300mm on the southern plain. Contrast that with England where the Lake District has an average of up to 3500mm. The best times for walking are September to October and February to May.
Maps
The 1:25,000 scale maps from the Instituto Geográfica Nacional (IGN) are a reasonable compromise. Sometimes you may have to make do with 1:50,000 military maps. UK suppliers include The Map Shop in Upton on Severn (tel: 01684 593146 or Freephone, 0800 085 4080) and Stanfords in London (tel: 020 7836 1321). For the Sierra de Tramuntana region the mountain range in the north-west, the highly regarded series of three maps from Editorial Alpina at a scale of 1:25,000, is probably the best choice.
There are very few guaranteed rights of access on the island. Everywhere you walk, you will see "Coto Privado" supplemented by black and white signs. These simply indicate that the land is reserved for private hunting and they do not apply to walkers. Another popular sign, 'Camino Privado' usually only applies to vehicles. You are, in theory, allowed access to the coast and to sites of religious pilgrimage (many of these are on mountains) - but not necessarily by a circular route. There is a small number of national park areas (including the Victoria Park on the Alcúdia peninsula and the areas around Teix and Galatzó) but elsewhere access can be subject to the whim of the landowner and the determination, or otherwise, of the local authority.
Belatedly, the Island Council of Mallorca is promoting walking as a tourism activity. I wish the Council well, as it will be fighting investors hell-bent on coastal development for the super-rich. On the positive side, there is much more waymarking of the more popular paths and, longer-term, ecological groups are involved in the development of long-distance routes. However, there is a need for a greater commitment on the part of the local authorities.
Safety
Exercise the same care as when walking at home. If you can arrange it, walk with a small group so that, in case of accidents, somebody can stay with the injured party whilst others go for help. If you are a solo walker, make sure that somebody knows your route and expected return time. When walking alone be sure to leave details of your itinerary with a friend, relative or fellow guest. If possible, you should carry a mobile phone - if only to tell someone if you expect to return later than planned. In case of a real emergency, phone 112 or 062 - the former connects to the fire service (Bombers del Consell de Mallorca), the latter with the rural police (Guardia Civil).
Equipment
Wear suitable footwear: except for town trails and the easiest of strolls, boots are recommended. Carry a small first-aid kit and go kitted out for all possibilities of weather. Island weather can change very quickly. You need sunglasses, a hat and sensible levels of protection to prevent sunburn. Take plenty of water - two litres for a day walk as a minimum in the summer. It is essential to carry a map and compass, and possibly a GPS too - do not rely on the sketch maps in any guidebook for the simple reason that if you become disoriented, it is very easy to walk off the edge of the sketch map and into uncharted territory.
Mallorca on the Web
There are literally thousands of websites relating to Mallorca. A good place to start is the official web site for the Spanish Tourist Office which includes an online brochure request service for popular destinations. Good general sites for most of the towns and larger villages are the A2z of Mallorca and the Mallorca holiday guide. For news and current events, visit the lively Mallorca Daily Bulletin.