Sierra del Cadí – final part
IN recent weeks we have been taking a look at the Sierra del Cadí – an extraordinary highmountain area which lies just short of the Pyrenees in Cataluña.
The area is of note, not just for the beauty of the surroundings, but also due to the height of the summits, where the peaks reach up to 2,600 metres, and over.
They come under the protection of a natural park – the Parque natural del CadíMoixeró. The information office for the park should really be one of your first stops in the area. Here you can buy an Editorial Alpina 1:25,000 scale map which shows all the footpaths in the park and beyond – both PR short-distance routes and the longer GRs, with no less than four of the latter making an appearance. There is also a less-detailed free general map of the area which is worth picking up.
The park HQ is in the village of Bagà on Calle La Vinya, 1. They have a good website, which not only shows exactly where they are via Google maps, but also provides a wealth of information about the area. The language can be changed to English in the top right corner – www.catalunya.com/parcnatural-del-cadi-moixero
Some of the wisdom it imparts includes facts such as ‘its peaks range from 900 metres in the lowest areas of the valleys to the 2,648 metres of the Canal Baridana mountain’.
The line of peaks of the Sierra del Cadí ‘create a mountainous barrier thirty kilometres long’, they note.
The forests are formed by deciduous trees, such as beech, oak, ash and willow – but more predominant are the Scots and black pine and, in a smaller number, fir trees. Fauna includes the woodpecker (the park’s symbol) and Tengmalm’s owl – and the marten. However, the ‘lords of the heights’ are the ibex, with a population of more than 2,600 in the area.
Where to stay
I stayed just outside Saldes, where there are two campsites. I took my tent, which remained empty for one of the evenings due to my night on the mountain (I didn’t ask for a refund). They offer semiwild camping options, where you are in the woods and not on awful hard pitches (see photo).
However, further up the valley, the historic village of Gósol is a more attractive option than Saldes – and accommodation can be sourced there via www.booking.com
These villages are both good spots to launch assaults on Pedraforca and the Sierra Cabirolera, although footpaths can be found all over the park.
The two campsites are a couple of kilometres apart and can be found via their respective websites – www. campingpedraforca.com and https://miradoralpedraforca. cat
The main drawback of the area is that it’s a long way from the Costa Blanca, in the far north-west of Barcelona province. The best option is to find directions via www.via michelin.es, or a similar website. In essence, it is up the A-7 motorway, turning off inland for Manresa (before reaching Barcelona city). It is advisable to make this turning as early as possible to avoid problems. It is also advisable to make a detailed study of the roads as the highway network in Barcelona province is extremely complicated!