WALKING - COMPLETE

NO SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT
IN MARCH
& OCT
8 days from £659 March, May, September & October
Catalonia
Mainly known in the UK for the beaches of the Costa Brava and Dorada, Catalonia is a region with an incredibly rich variety
of landscapes. Close to the coast, the rolling highlands offer lovely views towards the sea and inland towards the heights
of the Sierras, which are rich in wildlife and flora.
Your walks feature both landscapes, as well as the character-filled villages of the interior.
Your base is Coma-Ruga, a pleasantly unspoilt resort with an excellent beach in the quieter Penedes area of the ‘Golden
Coast’, the Costa Dorada, between Barcelona and Tarragona. There is an excellent, reasonably priced rail service to both
cities. Apart from the wine-producing counties of the Penedes, you also walk in the adjacent Alt Camp, the ‘High Country’.
• 7 nights hb close to the beach • 3 included walking excursions: coast, hills & wine area • No single supplement
on certain dates
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Reus or Barcelona. Transfer to your hotel, just under
an hour away. Seven nights half board accommodation is reserved for
you.
Days Two to Seven: In resort with three included walking excursions:
Walk 1: Coastal Walk from La Mora to Torredembarra. After a short coach
transfer you start your walk near the medieval Mora watchtower. You
cross the beach and the headland before reaching Tamarit and its castle.
You head along the beach and then a short way inland, up the river, to
explore the ‘witches’ village’ of Altafulla. The coastal area, the story goes,
was plagued by pirates and smugglers: the word was put out that the
upper part of the village was populated by witches, so as to discourage
attack! You return to the wide beach and climb onto the headland to reach
‘Els Munts’, an impressive Roman villa (the word means a farmstead).
Nearby there are other, rather less impressive, holiday ‘villas’. You
descend into Torredembarra – the town has a pleasant old quarter and
beach. Total so far 6 miles, 80m of climb/descent. Nearby is a dune area,
a haven for birds and of ecological importance: you will have time to
explore it if you wish. You return to the hotel by train.
Walk 2: The Foix Natural Park and Modernist l’Arboç. Short coach
transfer (20 minutes) to the entry to the Foix Natural Park Area. You start
this country walk near Penyafort Castle. Your route takes you along lanes
and paths close to vineyards, with views of the Sierra del Montmell. The
route undulates gently amid rich vegetation, approaching Castellet, with
its impressive lakeside castle – now home to a UNESCO International
Biosphere Research Centre. There are fine views over the reservoir
– watch out for cormorants and other birdlife. After a stop, you then
follow lanes to l’Arboç village, home to a lacemaking tradition, and with
impressive modernist buildings, its ‘Indian Houses’ and Giralda Tower – a
copy of the one in Seville. 6.9 miles, 100m ascent/descent.
Walk 3: Villages of the Alt Camp & the Cistercian Route. After a 40-minute
coach transfer to the start of the walk in the village of Cabra del Camp, you
follow the long-distance GR7 path for 2.3 miles, gradually gaining 175m
in altitude. You then join the ‘Cistercian Route’, the long distance GR175
path linking the three great Catalan Monasteries. There are great views
as you descend gently towards Pont d’Armentera (300m over approx. 4
miles), where you have a break for lunch. The last section of the walk to
the Santes Creus Monastery follows a broad track overlooking the Gaia
valley – 4 miles, 70m climb. (The total distance is just over 10 miles, but
there is a possible break point after 7 miles at Pont d’Armentera from
where you can take a bus or taxi to Santes Creus). Time permitting, you
will be able to visit the monastery (entrance fee approx. 3.50 euros).
From Santes Creus you transfer back to your hotel, with an en-route
photo stop at the unusual modernist Sanctuary at Montferri.
Day Eight: Free time until your departure to the airport for your flight
home.
YOUR HOTEL
NUBAHOTEL HHHH, Coma-Ruga (seven nights)
The hotel stands close to the broad sandy beach. This unspoilt resort is
quiet out of season, rather busier at weekends from June to September
when there is an entertainment programme in the hotel, with music on
Saturday evenings. A reasonable selection of shops, bars and restaurants
is about 10 minutes walk (700m) away, and the railway station with halfhourly
departures to Barcelona is about 15 minutes walk. There is also
a local bus service to the nearby county town of El Vendrell, birthplace
of Pablo Casals: his villa, now an interesting museum, is within walking
distance of the hotel. The hotel has a spa centre (a reasonable extra charge
applies), restaurant, bar, lounge, and outdoor pool. Rooms, which all have
balcony, also have 2 queen size beds, bathroom with hairdryer, phone,
air-conditioning/heating, satellite LCD tv, and safety deposit box (charge
applies). Free wifi in public areas. (www.nubahotelcomarruga.com)
Extend your holiday - extra week available in Catalonia.
If you have friends who are not walkers interested in this itinerary, it is
featured in our Escorted Holidays brochure with a touring programme.
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights.
www.preferredts.com | 11