Accessible hiking and routes for seniors

In a natural spot of an intense green colour, a group of senior hikers walk along a paved road. Image by Maria Geli and Pilar Planagumà.

Hiking is traditionally in our culture. We are lucky to live near the sea and the mountains. Enjoying the landscape is good for everyone. Now that we can go all over the territory again, we encourage you to rediscover it. We present a selection of accessible routes and other routes for seniors to enjoy the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees.

From the lighthouse of Roses to l’Almadrava

The coastal paths (Camins de Ronda) are pathways that run along the coastline from Portbou to Blanes. The itinerary that passes through Roses offers a linear route from the lighthouse of Roses to l’Almadrava. The route begins at the Roses lighthouse, just below the Trinity Castle. On the way to Canyelles Petites beach, the large and unique rock formations are combined with small coves and spots of captivating beauty. Once in Canyelles Petites, the islet known as Els Brancs is a good spot to observe sea crows. The route ends at Canyelles grosses beach, also known as l’Almadrava beach. Throughout the route, the terrain is paved and fairly regular. This is the reason why this stretch of the coastal path is an easy route. However, you must bear in mind that there are some sections with steps.

At Roses, on a path by the sea, a senior visitor walks around with a cane in his hand. As he walks, he contemplates the landscape, characterised by cliffs, myrtle and pine forests. Image by Roses Town Hall.

From Cortalet to Mas del Matà

An accessible route that provides a complete view of the habitats and species that live in the Aiguamolls of l’Empordà, one of the main wetlands in Catalonia and one of the natural areas where a greater variety of animal species can be observed: more than 300. The route runs through lakes such as El Cortalet or La Closa del Puig, all of which are biologically rich. Furthermore, as explained in the triptych of the itinerary, along the route there are various observation points that are also accessible, which allow you to contemplate the fauna and “discover thousands of things”.

Once at the Mas del Matà, you can continue following the route from the Mas del Matà to the Llaunes, which is also accessible and which leads to the beach, bordering the coastal lagoon of La Massona.

The clay pits of the Croscat volcano

The best example of a volcanic landscape in the Iberian Peninsula can be found in La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, where 40 volcanic cones and more than 20 lava flows can be observed. We propose a route by the clay pits of the Croscat volcano, one of the jewels of the park. Due to the extraction of clay that it suffered for years, in the central part of the itinerary you can observe the volcano from the inside. The experience becomes a festival of colours in a lunar-like landscape. The route begins in the parking area of Santa Margarida. Although the path is not accessible, the Park has a Joëlette chair so that people with reduced mobility can enjoy hiking activities and access areas with inaccessible and irregular terrain.

In front of the Croscat volcano, a family rests in the shade while contemplating the cut of the volcano, which allows to observe the inside of the cone, the chimney and the crater. One of the visitors is sitting on a Joëlette chair. Image by MultiSignes.

La Pletera itinerary

La Pletera is a marsh between L’Estartit and Torroella de Montgrí. It disappeared in 1987 due to the construction of a promenade and six blocks of houses. In 2018 this space was deurbanised and restored, which has allowed the recovery of the natural system of marshes and lagoons. The itinerary, which can be followed through the Natura Local app, a mobile application of self-guided routes, is within the limits of the Montgrí, the Medes Islands and the Baix Ter Natural Park, and runs along dirt tracks, asphalted sections and paths. It is a very flat trail, which proposes a journey along the coast of l’Estartit to the Gola del Ter, the current mouth of the river, in Torroella. The route starts at the l’Estartit Tourist Office and passes by the lakes of the Ter Vell river (former mouth of the river). Afterwards, it advances through the Closes towards La Pletera. It continues to the Fra Ramon pond and enters a landscape of dunes as far as the Ter river dike. Finally, it reaches the Gola del Ter, a spot with views of the Medes Islands, Pals beach and the Begur massif.

An aerial view of the Medes Islands, with l'Estartit and the Montgrí massif in the background. Image by Julián Guisado. — *An aerial view of the Medes Islands, with l’Estartit and the Montgrí massif in the background. Image by Julián Guisado.*

The vegetable gardens of Santa Eugènia and the Meadows of Salt

This is an accessible route between Girona and Salt that allows you to discover the agricultural area of the vegetable gardens of Santa Eugènia and the natural area of the Salt meadows along the banks of the Ter river. The route partially coincides with the Carrilet greenway, between Olot and Girona.

The route, which is about 6 kilometres long, passes through various points of interest, such as Cal Gras or the Safareig de les Dones (Women’s washing place). The terrain is flat and suitable for people with reduced mobility and/or in wheelchairs. Most of the roads are compact, although they are not asphalted, so they may have irregularities and it is advisable to avoid them in the event of heavy rain. Through the Natura Local application, you can access information on the route with audio description, subtitling and sign language interpretation.

In a natural spot, under a cloudy sky, a woman runs along a compact dirt road, bounded by wooden fences. The path runs through several vegetable gardens. A man works in one of them. Image by Josep Padilla.

Route of the Infant Jesus of Praga

The residents of Sant Hilari Sacalm are very familiar with this route, which is part of the group of local trails in La Selva. In this case, it is a short and easily accessible circular route that reaches the hermitage of the Infant Jesus of Prague, located on a small hill known as the Roca d’en Pla. Legend has it that every Saint John’s Eve, a crack opens up in this place and witches take advantage of the night hours to carry out all kinds of misdeeds. The Guilleries is a land of witches. The saying goes: “Sant Hilari near Arbúcies, twelve women and thirteen witches”.