|
ROUTE:
|
Km
partials |
DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE |
Km
totals |
| |
Ripoll |
|
|
0.00 |
- This route starts at the railway station in
Ripoll.
- You leave the station and take Progrés St. to
the left, then cycle straight on for about 1 km until you reach a
roundabout. |
0.00 |
|
1.00 |
- On the left side of the roundabout, you will
see the starting point of the cycleway that you are to follow. It is
the so-called Iron Route or, in Catalan, Ruta del Ferro.
- The Ruta del Ferro is a greenway
following the line of the ancient railway which once ran from Ripoll
to Sant Joan de les Abadesses, Toralles and Ogassa. It was mainly
used to take the coal from the old coalmines in Ogassa down to
Ripoll.
- The section Ripoll – Sant Joan de les
Abadesses – Toralles is a greenway of about 12 km, asphalted and
well surfaced, which goes up at a gentle gradient. You will have no
difficulty cycling, but you will have to pay attention to the people
who use the cycleway for walking which may be in large numbers at
certain times or on certain days! The section Toralles – Ogassa,
however, is much steeper and can only be covered easily by cyclists
in good physical condition; other cyclists will have to push their
bikes up some slopes, but they
should not be discouraged.
- More information about this greenway can be
found on the Internet:http://www.ffe.es/viasverdes/fichas_htm/ferro/ficha_ferro.htm |
1.00 |
| |
Sant Joan de les Abadesses |
|
|
9.10 |
- Following the first section of the Ruta del
Ferro, we reach the ancient railway station of Sant Joan de les
Abadesses.
- At this point, at the small guard’s hut on
the left, you will find the meeting place of the Ripollès Mountain
Bike Centre (Centre de BTT del Ripollès). In front of it,
you will also find a park and a play area with swings, a picnic site
and a bar.
- If the Mountain Bike Centre is open, you can
ask for a leaflet, in English, of all the mountain bike routes which
have been marked by the centre in the area.
- In any case, you can find information and a map of the routes
on the Internet: http://www.gencat.net/turisme/btt/ca/ripollesmapa.htm
- Most MTB routes marked in the Ripollès are
quite difficult due to the rough terrain. For this route, we have
selected some easier sections to be taken by our cyclotourists.
- From the meeting place of the Mountain Bike
Centre, you continue along one of the marked routes: Route Number 6,
which is called La Rovira. The information leaflet tells us this
itinerary is a good starting point for the inexperienced mountain
cyclist. The route runs along a forest track and is mostly flat. It
both starts and finishes at the meeting point at Sant Joan de les
Abadesses and is about 4 km long. |
10.10 |
|
3.70 |
- You come to end of Route 6 and reach the
meeting point again. This time you continue straight on, following
the Ruta del Ferro, which you had previously abandoned, once
again, until you arrive in Toralles, where another old station used
to be. |
13.80 |
| |
Toralles |
|
|
1.60 |
- Toralles is at the end of the asphalted section
of the Ruta del Ferro. Now, you turn to the left, taking a
path which is not asphalted at present, but with a good surface.
- In a while, you will face a serious slope. Most
cyclotourists will have to get off the bike and push. The beautiful
views will probably help you to endure the effort; the first
kilometres are hard, then it gets easier and you will be able to
cycle again with no difficulty for several more kilometres. |
15.40 |
| |
Surroca / Ogassa |
|
|
3.25 |
- You go through a small tunnel and you come to
the hamlet of
Surroca de Baix, in the municipality of Ogassa. You find a couple of
bars
and a fountain for a little rest.
- Here, you can continue to follow Route Number 3
for MTB, but only if you are in very good physical condition. You
will go up a very steep asphalted road in the direction Sant Martí
de Surroca, a Romanesque hermitage of the 12th Century
which is worth a visit. The upward ride includes slopes of about
10-15% and can only be recommended to the most well-prepared
cyclotourists!.
- Most of our cyclotourists have preferred
another option: that of taking a section of MTB Route Number 9. From
Surroca you go back the way you came for 200 m and you find your way
to Route Number 9 to the right. |
18.65 |
|
2.15 |
- You reach the top cycling up a gentle slope in
the middle of the woods and you will see the Torre Masseta. Coal was
once taken here in wagons and from here down to the station of
Toralles.
- This is the end point of the route. Now, you
have to cycle all the way back. It will be an almost continuous
descent: 4.95 km to Toralles, 6.55 km to Sant Joan de les Abadesses
and 16.65 to Ripoll. |
20.80 |
|
16.65 |
- When you arrive back at the railway station in
Ripoll, you will have covered 37 km. along this route. |
37.45 |
| |
Ripoll |
|
Sara Puigdemont – June 2005
Translation into English: Sara Puigdemont and Vivien
Greatorex
|
word/zip
