Above the gleaming white fishing town of Port de la Selva, in the province of Girona, stands the Benedictine monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes constructed into the side of the Verdera mountain.

This is a very pretty circular walk above the charming Albères village of Montesquieu, which anyone interested in the flora of this delightful region should enjoy. It follows a well-marked trail with some lovely views from Canigou to the coast. It is about 6km long and takes about 2 hours. Some of the climbs are a bit steep and overall it is a medium level walk, so good boots and sticks are recommended.

A medieval detour to Besalu WALK THE REGION WITH CHRISTIAN PIQUEMAL This outing in Spanish Catalonia combines easy rambling and cultural discovery. The morning walk explores, almost on plain level, a beautiful countryside hiding remarkable…