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Along the Catalan Coast

The quiet face of the Costa Brava

This gentle route, a perfect first walking holiday, shows to the full the magnificent contrasts of this part of the Costa Brava: medieval villages and pine-clad hills, small, quiet coves and the wide, sandy beaches for which the area is renowned. There are plenty of opportunities to relax by the sea and to linger over lunch at an authentic restaurant, just two of the many highlights of the holiday. Indeed, the region is justly famed throughout Spain for its gastronomy, with delicious fish specialities. Of the 3- and 4-star hotels – which, unusually, are mostly family-run – three have a pool, and the other two are located right by the sea.

Nights: 7
Grade: 1
Terrain: sandy coastal trails, some beach sections
Hotels: three 3-star hotels; two 4-star hotels
Meals: dinner & breakfast each day
Climate: this sunny Mediterranean region sees average temperatures ranging from 17°C in April to 27°C in July, and is a great choice for walking in both spring and autumn.

Walk past pretty coves

Rugged coastline

The local cuisine is renowned

Traditional villages

Amazing sea views

Starting point: Hotel S'Agaró (4*), S'Agaró. This elegant hotel is quietly situated by an exclusive bay in its own grounds with a swimming pool.

Day 1: this pleasant first day's walk combines sections along the beach, seafront promenades, and a lovely coastal path past rocky coves. You walk across the sand of Sa Cunca Bay to Playa de Aro's harbour, and from there follow the 2-kilometre promenade to pick up the Cami de Ronda, a beautiful coastal path originally used by the anti-smuggling patrols that watched the coves above which the path passes. After a final section along the promenade at Palamos, you reach La Fosca. (14km, 4hrs)

Accommodation: Hotel Ancora (3*), La Fosca. With its cool, airy rooms, this is a pleasant base. Relax in the pool or in the sea - the hotel is just a few minutes' walk from the long, sandy beach of La Fosca.

Day 2: from La Fosca a memorable walk leads through a small pine wood to the authentic, protected fishing hamlet of S'Alguer. The path then heads inland, across fields and through hills clad in pine, olive and oak trees, before returning to the coast for a splendid, and very scenic, section along the coastal path, passing numerous secret coves. (10km, 2.5hrs)

Accommodation: Hotel Sant Roc (3*), Calella de Palafrugell. The setting of this favourite hotel is excellent, above a rocky cove and surrounded by pine woods. We include sea view rooms. The hotel's great feature is the large panoramic terrace, the perfect place to unwind.

Day 3: spend the day relaxing on Calella's sandy bay, visit the botanic gardens at Cape Roig, or stroll to nearby Palafrugell, where a lively market is held daily except Mondays.

Accommodation: Hotel Sant Roc, as above.

Day 4: this day's walk is a discovery of the landscapes that lie inland from the coast, with the opportunity to visit the market town of Palafrugell if you have not already done so. Alternatively, you can take the direct, half-hour route along the coast to Llafranc. (11km, 4hrs)

Accommodation: Hotel Llevant (3*), Llafranc. The focal point of this hotel is its restaurant, whose delicious fish and seafood specialities have earned it a loyal local following. The hotel is located on the seafront, just a few steps from the beach.

Day 5: this walk is rockier than previous days but very rewarding. The first of several highlights comes early on, when you reach the San Sebastián lighthouse to be rewarded on clear days with spectacular views over the sea and inland across to the Pyrenees. You then follow the coastal path from the idyllic, rocky bay of Cala Pedrosa (a good spot for swimming), past a pine forest, to the rocky headland of La Musclera, another pleasant spot to sit and take the sun before you head across the rocks to the lovely, sandy bay at Tamariu (complete with a fish restaurant) and finish with a short uphill section to Aiguablava. (12km, 3hrs)

Accommodation: Hotel Aigua Blava (4*), Aiguablava. Located close to the sea on the edge of a tiny natural harbour, the smart hotel offers easy access to the small beach. There is a pleasant pool, a tennis court and attractive gardens planted with yuccas and palms.

Day 6: choose to relax at Aiguablava, or walk to medieval Begur, a charming medieval town with a ruined castle from which you can look across to the sea. You can extend the walk by exploring the Begur headland, taking in the beautiful bay of Aiguafreda (complete with a restaurant where you could stop for a seafood lunch - pay locally) and returning via the botanical gardens of Mas d'en Pinc.

Accommodation: Hotel Aiguablava, as above.

Five-star upgrade: we highly recommend replacing the second night at the Aigua Blava with a night at our very best hotel in Empordà, the 5-star Mas de Torrent. With a state-of-the-art spa complex, this luxurious hotel lies in tranquil countryside near medieval Pals, a pleasant, 18-kilometre walk from Aiguablava. We include garden suites with private terraces, making it the ideal end to your exploration of the quiet face of the Costa Brava.

Walking chart for standard holiday: the chart gives the distance and an approximation of the ascents and descents involved each day. If comparing holidays, please note the scale of each chart as this can differ.

Recommendations for extra nights: Hotel Aiguablava, Hotel Sant Roc (Calella) and Hotel Llevant (Llafranc) for relaxation and good food.

Extensions: if you are flying via cosmopolitan Barcelona or beautiful Girona, add on a city break with two nights at the 2-star Hotel Peninsular, Girona or the 4-star Hotel Colon, Barcelona.

Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system. You can also read our website travel diary for a personal account of the holiday.

Similar holidays: Catalan Castles & Coves (grade 1), Around the Bay of Roses (grade 1-2), The Coast of Almería (grade 1-2), From the Tuscan Hills to the Sea (grade 1-2), The Granite Coast of Brittany (grade 1)

Prices & travel 2008:

Recommended destination airports: Barcelona & Girona
Latest flight arrival time: Barcelona 1900; Girona flexible
Earliest flight departure time: Barcelona 1300; Girona flexible
*Connecting travel: return taxi from Girona (out 0h45/home 1h) £74pp;
return rail/taxi from Barcelona (out 2h/home 2h15) £82pp
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Extra night prices 2008 (extra nights can be booked at any hotel):

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