'The Costa Brava - literally the 'rugged coast', in reference to the rocky, inhospitable nature of much of the shore - runs from the French border southwards towards Barcelona. Behind the coast lie the Serralada Litoral and Serralada Prelitoral. These ranges include such varied landscapes as the extraordinary conglomerate pinnacles of Montserrat, the dormant volcanoes of the Garrotxa and the subalpine heights of the Montseny. It is this very variety, coupled with its proximity to Barcelona and the coastal towns, that makes the hinterland of the Costa Brava so attractive to walkers.
As far as possible, we have tried to describe here the best walks in this part of Catalonia, be they the classic, well-waymarked routes that form part of the repertoire of any self-respecting Catalan walker, or some of our personal favourites way off the beaten track.
Because we are keen naturalists, many of the walks will draw your attention to the enormous variety of wildlife on offer, and we urge you to carry a pair of binoculars and the appropriate field guides. During the course of your forays into rural Catalonia, we hope you will learn that a three-hour walk can also take six hours, especially in spring, when the limestone hills are teeming with orchids, or in summer, when the flower-rich waysides are alive with nectaring butterflies.
Area covered by the book: from Portbou, Colera, the Serra de l'Albera and Port de Llanca in the north down to Barcelona in the south. The book does not cover the Costa Dorada (which is south of Barcelona).
Best months for walking: September to June
Where to stay if you plan to walk: Barcelona, Olot, Girona or Figueres are recommended by the authors, depending on the area in which you intend to walk.
6 car tours, 18 short and easy walks for motorists, 23 main walks (+ many variations), picnic suggestions
136 pages + touring map
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