Brent Macdonald
Squamish Walker
- Time of past OR future Camino
- - Primitivo - Muxia 2023
- Full Francingena 2024
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Hello Everyone - Myself, a friend from Ireland and mu father (74 years old) are going to try and walk from Barcelona to Muxia starting on September 10. We are all fully vaccinated and very responsible travellers - my father is only going as far as Logrono on the Francis. We hope to walk to Montserrat then the Camino Catalan to the Camino Aragones to the the Camino Francis and finally to Muxia if possible.
I had a few questions about the leg from Barcelona to Montserrat and was hoping to hear from anyone who has done this walk recently. I have tried to read all the forum posts and information online and have some idea but thought I would reach out for more information from this wonderful community of pilgrims.
1. What route out of Barcelona would you recommend? The GR 6 leaving from the Parc del Laberint d'Horta or the route up past Tibidabo?
2. Is it best to walk through Terrassa or through Les Fonts stopping in Ullastrell if possible?
3. Are there hostels in Terrassa?
4. What is the easiest way up Montserrat (thinking of my Dad who is tough like shoe leather but its a long journey. Is it better to walk up from the Terrassa side or up past Colbato which looks steep but shorter.
Any other advice or information is more than welcome! This will by my 4th Camino and same with my friend. My father has done the Portuguese from Porto and walked to Everest and Machu Picchu. We know it is a long journey but we are all very excited for the adventure and to be walking again! There will be another small group starting in St Jean who we did our first Camino Francis with who will meet us in Puenta la Reina and walk with us to Santiago.
Thanks everyone and I hope his message finds you all safe and healthy during these trying times and I hope to see you all on the trail - buen camino!
Any other advice or information is more than welcome!
Hello Everyone - Myself, a friend from Ireland and mu father (74 years old) are going to try and walk from Barcelona to Muxia starting on September 10. We are all fully vaccinated and very responsible travellers - my father is only going as far as Logrono on the Francis. We hope to walk to Montserrat then the Camino Catalan to the Camino Aragones to the the Camino Francis and finally to Muxia if possible.
I had a few questions about the leg from Barcelona to Montserrat and was hoping to hear from anyone who has done this walk recently. I have tried to read all the forum posts and information online and have some idea but thought I would reach out for more information from this wonderful community of pilgrims.
1. What route out of Barcelona would you recommend? The GR 6 leaving from the Parc del Laberint d'Horta or the route up past Tibidabo?
2. Is it best to walk through Terrassa or through Les Fonts stopping in Ullastrell if possible?
3. Are there hostels in Terrassa?
4. What is the easiest way up Montserrat (thinking of my Dad who is tough like shoe leather but its a long journey. Is it better to walk up from the Terrassa side or up past Colbato which looks steep but shorter.
Any other advice or information is more than welcome! This will by my 4th Camino and same with my friend. My father has done the Portuguese from Porto and walked to Everest and Machu Picchu. We know it is a long journey but we are all very excited for the adventure and to be walking again! There will be another small group starting in St Jean who we did our first Camino Francis with who will meet us in Puenta la Reina and walk with us to Santi
I've walked the Cami Catalan three (!!why??) times and never once thought of walking it from Barcelona
Oh, but surely the monastery at San Cugat is a big draw. And based on what @MyDestinationGalicia says, you are not going to deal with industrial suburbs.
And I also understand the allure of walking from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic! @alansykes is a big fan of that approach, and it does seem like it would be fabuloso!
I have a negative perspective on Barcelona, having been pickpocketed on the way from the airport. Having lectured prospective pilgrims at training workshops on the fact that Barcelona is one of the world's pickpocketing cities, I was hoist on my own petard...
I just noticed this thread. I'll be back for it. Probably tomorrow.You can contact @Rick of Rick and Peg. He started out from Barcelona in October 2019. I'm sure he can help you out with some good tips.
Hi there, my husband and I did this walk in 2019. The only difference was that when we reached León we headed north on the San Salvador to Oviedo then walked the primitivo (definitely worth the detour).Hello Everyone - Myself, a friend from Ireland and mu father (74 years old) are going to try and walk from Barcelona to Muxia starting on September 10. We are all fully vaccinated and very responsible travellers - my father is only going as far as Logrono on the Francis. We hope to walk to Montserrat then the Camino Catalan to the Camino Aragones to the the Camino Francis and finally to Muxia if possible.
I had a few questions about the leg from Barcelona to Montserrat and was hoping to hear from anyone who has done this walk recently. I have tried to read all the forum posts and information online and have some idea but thought I would reach out for more information from this wonderful community of pilgrims.
1. What route out of Barcelona would you recommend? The GR 6 leaving from the Parc del Laberint d'Horta or the route up past Tibidabo?
2. Is it best to walk through Terrassa or through Les Fonts stopping in Ullastrell if possible?
3. Are there hostels in Terrassa?
4. What is the easiest way up Montserrat (thinking of my Dad who is tough like shoe leather but its a long journey. Is it better to walk up from the Terrassa side or up past Colbato which looks steep but shorter.
Any other advice or information is more than welcome! This will by my 4th Camino and same with my friend. My father has done the Portuguese from Porto and walked to Everest and Machu Picchu. We know it is a long journey but we are all very excited for the adventure and to be walking again! There will be another small group starting in St Jean who we did our first Camino Francis with who will meet us in Puenta la Reina and walk with us to Santiago.
Thanks everyone and I hope his message finds you all safe and healthy during these trying times and I hope to see you all on the trail - buen camino!
Thanks so much! Our second camino was from Oviedo to Santiago and then on to Fisterra and Muxia - what a great walk - loved it. We will definitely plan a little better for this one from an accommodation stand point and call ahead for sure! Thank you for reaching out!Hi there, my husband and I did this walk in 2019. The only difference was that when we reached León we headed north on the San Salvador to Oviedo then walked the primitivo (definitely worth the detour).
From Barcelona we walked through Parc Laberint and found our first yellow arrow there, for the most part we followed the GR 6 but also used maps.me for some beautiful detours. They are beautiful days walking, we stayed at Sant Cugat in a hotel the first night, it was quite a short day but we wanted to take our time leaving Barcelona, day two we stayed at Esparreguera in a great little hotel. Montserrat is wonderful, the albergue very clean and comfy, we attended víspera and the pilgrim blessing then ate an incredible programs menu at the hotel. We loved it and will definitely walk this route again. From there we walked the Catalan via Huesca, at the albergue at Montserrat they give you all the info you need. Albergues at good distances apart but most times you need to call ahead to let them know you’re coming or find out where to get a key.
It was an amazing experience.
Buen Camino, Ellie.
It's a lot more traditional than starting in Montserrat.I know walking from Barcelona is not the conventional way of walking this route
We started from our home in Barcelona twice!It's a lot more traditional than starting in Montserrat.
Buen Camino !!
You express some concern about your father. I walked three weeks from the beach in Barceloneta to Pamplona in Oct/Nov 2019. I too was shooting for a Mediterranean to Atlantic crossing but ending in San Sebastián. I was 68. I only remember four tough spots.Hello Everyone - Myself, a friend from Ireland and mu father (74 years old) are going to try and walk from Barcelona to Muxia starting on September 10.
You express some concern about your father. I walked three weeks from the beach in Barceloneta to Pamplona in Oct/Nov 2019. I too was shooting for a Mediterranean to Atlantic crossing but ending in San Sebastián. I was 68. I only remember four tough spots.
1) The park from the velodrome to Sant Cugat. This sticks in my mind because of the heat and because it was done on the same day that I started from the beach.
2) The hike up Monserrat from Monistrol de Monserrat. Some trail but I remember it being mostly dirt road and stairs. Lots of stairs. They allow pacing yourself though.
3) Up the mountain to the new and old monasteries of San Juan de la Peña. I've read of complaints about this on the forum but I didn't consider it bad. It was done early on a cool day.
4) Down the same mountain. Physically easier but watch your footing.
Now a lodging warning. The Gronze guide to the Catalan has a stage starting in Bolea and ending at La Peña Estación. There is no lodging at La Peña Estación but you can catch a train to Jaca or Huesca from there and then return. I decided to add in another day instead with the stages Bolea-Sarsamarcuello-Ena-Santa Cilia (though the Santa Cilia night was spent further on at a hotel in Puente de Reina de Jaca instead).
Thank you so much Rick - great advice and thanks for the heads up about La Pena Estacion! It has definitely made me rethink the plan and it is looking even better now - much appreciated!You express some concern about your father. I walked three weeks from the beach in Barceloneta to Pamplona in Oct/Nov 2019. I too was shooting for a Mediterranean to Atlantic crossing but ending in San Sebastián. I was 68. I only remember four tough spots.
1) The park from the velodrome to Sant Cugat. This sticks in my mind because of the heat and because it was done on the same day that I started from the beach.
2) The hike up Monserrat from Monistrol de Monserrat. Some trail but I remember it being mostly dirt road and stairs. Lots of stairs. They allow pacing yourself though.
3) Up the mountain to the new and old monasteries of San Juan de la Peña. I've read of complaints about this on the forum but I didn't consider it bad. It was done early on a cool day.
4) Down the same mountain. Physically easier but watch your footing.
Now a lodging warning. The Gronze guide to the Catalan has a stage starting in Bolea and ending at La Peña Estación. There is no lodging at La Peña Estación but you can catch a train to Jaca or Huesca from there and then return. I decided to add in another day instead with the stages Bolea-Sarsamarcuello-Ena-Santa Cilia (though the Santa Cilia night was spent further on at a hotel in Puente de Reina de Jaca instead).
Wow Steven your the man! Great information - very helpful and has really put my mind at ease about our route! I love the wikiloc trail maps and advice on Montserrat! Thanks again for reaching out - it is so appreciated and I hope to see you out on the trail sometime - buen camino!!!I really liked the walk from Barcelona to Monserrat, so much so that in 2019 I ended up walking five of the various route options to see what they were like. So for what it is worth, here are my thoughts.
As I was writing this, it looks like you made the decision to go through Terrassa. i am going to post the reply as if you were undecided in case someone else has similar questions.
From Barcelona I would take the GR 6 from Parc del Laberint d'Horta. It is well marked and a very pretty walk and seems to be the preferred route. The metro stop Mundet makes it easy to reach if this is your starting point.. I have only hiked this route, so don’t have a direct comparison to the route past Tibidabo.
When the trail splits at Les Fonts, I would suggest you take the route through Terrassa. I have walked both ways and believe that this is the better option for your group. The ascent up to the Monastery is challenging for many people, especially as it comes at the end of the day. Going through Terrassa leads you via Monistrol de Montserrat and provides you with some options.
When I walked in 2019 I walked from Terrassa to Monistrol and spent the night in Monistrol and walking up in the morning and had the most of the day to enjoy the Monastery. A great option if you have the time. The only change that I would make is to spend the night at the monastery, instead of Monistrol.
If you haven’t got the extra day, but reach Monistrol and can’t muster the energy to make the climb, you have the option to take the rack railway skipping the last couple of miles and the approximate 2,000 ft elevation change.
There is no backpack transport that I am aware of for this camino, so a third option would be to take the railway up, check in and drop your backpack, train back down and walk up without a pack.
As for lodging, I didn’t find much in the way of cheap accommodation in 2019. Ullastrell had a pilgrim albergue, but I didn’t stay there. In Terrassa, I stayed at the 1900 BnB right off the Camino which I liked and recall it being about $70 a night. Booking direct with them got the breakfast included in the price,
I use the Wikiloc app for routes. Here are some relevant routes that show elevations.
Route through Barcelona
Moll de les Dressanes (BCN) -Laberint d’Horta
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-cat-etapa-01-barcelona-port-al-laberint-dhorta-36932951
Route through Terrassa
Horta to Terrassa. 17.3 miles
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/csj-2-mundet-metro-to-terrassa-41417213
Terrassa to Monastery 16.56 miles
Terrassa-to-Montserrat
Terrassa-to-Montserrat Hiking trail in Terrassa, Catalunya (España). Download its GPS track and follow the route on a map. Record your own itinerary from the Wikiloc app, upload the trail and share it with the community.www.wikiloc.com
Route through Ullestrell from Jordi Xicola, a hospitalero at Montserrat.
Horta (BCN) – Les Fonts – Ullestrell 20.1 miles
https://ca.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=16025292
Ullestrell a Olesa de Montserrat 5.1 miles
http://ca.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=15081779
Olesa de Montserrat a Monestir de Montserrat (Collbató) 14.7 miles
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-sender...-02-ullastrell-a-montserrat-collbato-16014465
Thank you, Brent. I am a bit envious of you as I would love to have Barcelona and Montserrat on my travel schedule this year. Maybe next year.Wow Steven your the man! Great information - very helpful and has really put my mind at ease about our route! I love the wikiloc trail maps and advice on Montserrat! Thanks again for reaching out - it is so appreciated and I hope to see you out on the trail sometime - buen camino!!!
Not sure which route you took exactly, was it the GR6 ? But the GR96 route from Terrassa via Vacarisses as far as I can see seems to mostly follow small tarmac or dirt roads, with tarmac options to the hiking route, if rain were to make that impracticable. More options if you were to get up to Vacarisses historic centre instead of the waymarked route. Looks quicker and easier than the GR6.One thing that I forgot to mention and the rain outside brings to mind is that if there is any significant rain, i would forgo walking from Terrassa to Monistrol de Montserrat. There are a few stretch’s were you will be walking in ravines that might be difficult, but more importantly, there is a river crossing that has posted warnings. The work around would be to take the train from Terrassa to San Vicenç de Castellet or Manresa, change trains and get off at Monistrol. There is a river crossing on the other route via Ullastrell as well that could be problematic with significant rain.
Hello Sir - one more question if I may? Were there arrows from Terrassa to Montserrat? Thanks once again for all the information - you have made the start of journey a little easier to plan for sure - mush appreciated! Hope all is well cheers!Thank you, Brent. I am a bit envious of you as I would love to have Barcelona and Montserrat on my travel schedule this year. Maybe next year.
One thing that I forgot to mention and the rain outside brings to mind is that if there is any significant rain, i would exercise caution walking from Terrassa to Monistrol de Montserrat. There are a few stretch’s were you will be walking in ravines that might be difficult, but more importantly, there is a river crossing that has posted warnings. I will look for the alternative routing when I have some free time. I remember at the time not seeing a good alternative and not having great cell phone coverage part of the day so looking for an alternative would have been very difficult. The easy work around would be to take the train from Terrassa to San Vicenç de Castellet or Manresa, change trains and get off at Monistrol. There is a river crossing on the other route via Ullastrell as well that could be problematic with significant rain.
You talked about eating and drinking across Barcelona, so I will pass along a few recommendations for restaurants. In Terrassa I highly recommend Vapor Gastronòmic or El Cel de les Oques. Both are Michelin Bib Gourmand recommended. Not as cheap as a pilgrim meal, but excellent quality. In Monistrol Bo2 right on the Camino does a weekend prix fix lunch menu. Bo2 was so memorable that I managed to eat there three times!
Responding to your question has reminded me that I had intended to write out a good description of the various routes from Barcelona to Montserrat. In 2019 I walked five of the different ways and meant to do an extended description to be added to my post https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...elona-going-to-monastery-de-montserrat.64539/. check back with the forum and perhaps I will have posted more. Today I did add a post on where to get a credential in Barcelona along with photos of the various sellos or stamps I found along the way.
Yes, the camino is well marked. IHello Sir - one more question if I may? Were there arrows from Terrassa to Montserrat? Thanks once again for all the information - you have made the start of journey a little easier to plan for sure - mush appreciated! Hope all is well cheers!
Hey Brent,Hello Sir - one more question if I may? Were there arrows from Terrassa to Montserrat? Thanks once again for all the information - you have made the start of journey a little easier to plan for sure - mush appreciated! Hope all is well cheers!
Thanks again Steven!Yes, the camino is well marked. I
Hey Brent,
yes, there were a lot of arrows and some other types of markers between Terrassa and Montserra. I think I missed one overgrown marker, but quickly realized I was off the Camino. It would be helpful to have Wikiloc or another GPS app in case you wander off trail.
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