MOUNTAIN WALKING IN SOUTHERN CATALUNYA

Walk in southern Catalunya and discover a dramatic and largely unexplored corner of northeastern Spain, where the immense limestone massifs of els Ports, Serra de Cardó, and Serra de Montsia rise above the River Ebro between Barcelona and Valencia. Herb-covered hillsides, high pine forests, Templar castles, and picturesque hill villages await in the Parc Natural dels Ports, one of Spain's most spectacular and least-visited natural parks.

Suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook describes 30 graded walks across three natural parks in southern Catalunya. Day walks range from 4 to 21km (2–13 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–6 hours, with a 2-day circular trek encompassing Sant Roc and Arnes also described in 2 stages covering 47km (29 miles).

• Choose from 30 graded walks across the els Ports massif, Serra de Cardó, and Serra de Montsia, exploring broad tracks, rocky ridges, limestone gorges, and airy scrambles around huge cliffs, with all routes graded for routefinding, scrambling, and exposure.
• Discover the highlights of southern Catalunya, including the Parc Natural dels Ports overlooking the Mediterranean, the herb-covered hillsides and high pine forests of the Cardó and Montsia massifs, historic Templar castles, and charming hill villages throughout the region.
• Tackle the 2-day, 47km (29-mile) circular trek from Sant Roc to Arnes and back, offering an immersive multi-day experience through the heart of the els Ports massif across 2 stages.
• Navigate with confidence using sketch maps included for each walk, alongside GPX tracks available to download for selected routes and detailed guidance on the recommended Editorial Piolet maps covering the area.
• Plan your southern Catalunya walking holiday with ease, with the region easily accessible from Barcelona, Valencia, and Reus, and with detailed practical information on accommodation, food and drink, local transport, and the main base of Tortosa.
• Prepare fully for walking in southern Catalunya with introductory sections covering the natural parks, geology, wildlife, history, architecture, local culture, waymarking, and practical advice on hunting seasons and access.

Explore the limestone massifs, river gorges, and hidden villages of southern Catalunya with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. From the dramatic crags of els Ports to the coastal slopes of Montsia, this is the essential companion for mountain walking in one of Spain's most rewarding and least-explored regions.

After leaving their academic careers in 2002, Philip and Vivien Freakley moved to the Haute Ariege region of the French Pyrenees to indulge a lifelong passion for mountains and the natural world. They are, by inclination, fair weather walkers and discovered the mountains of Southern Catalunya during an escape from a particularly cold and snowy Pyrenean winter. In 2004 they bought a house there and have spent the subsequent five winters exploring, talking to local walkers, translating Catalan route descriptions, knitting together apparently unrelated scraps of footpath and encouraging everyone to build cairns.

After leaving their academic careers in 2002, Philip and Vivien Freakley moved to the Haute Ariege region of the French Pyrenees to indulge a lifelong passion for mountains and the natural world. They are, by inclination, fair weather walkers and discovered the mountains of Southern Catalunya during an escape from a particularly cold and snowy Pyrenean winter. In 2004 they bought a house there and have spent the subsequent five winters exploring, talking to local walkers, translating Catalan route descriptions, knitting together apparently unrelated scraps of footpath and encouraging everyone to build cairns.