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Journalist en contentmaker. Gespecialiseerd in toerisme en sport.
If you have ever made your way across the Selva plain towards Garrotxa you will surely have seen an unusual-looking peak on your way out of Cellera de Ter.
La selva.
Unusual because of its perfect conical shape, reminiscent of the mountains you probably drew as a child. And you are also likely to have seen paragliders flying above it as many paragliders use the summit of Puig d’Afrou, as well as that of the neighbouring Santa Brígida mountain, as a launch site, making the most of the area’s typically favourable weather conditions to enjoy this airborne adventure sport.
Our recommendation for today is a hike up to the 811-metre-high summit of Puig d’Afrou for some spectacular views over the Selva region and a chance to glimpse the Girona Pyrenees, the Costa Brava, the Ter valley, the Collsacabra mountain range and the Empordà plain.
The route sets out from the town of Cellera de Ter, specifically the school car park, from where blue route markers quickly lead us into the chestnut forests to begin our climb. The walk is over mountainous terrain, with an elevation gain of almost 700 metres, so it’s important to bring the right footwear, as well as the necessary provisions for a good morning’s hiking.
The path winds through the forest and, from time to time, crosses a forest track that also runs to the summit, providing the option of taking this dirt road for a while before picking up the signposted paths again. On the way up you’ll pass by the Sant Pelegrí Oratory and Can Vinyes, and, if you stick to the track for the final stretch, the ruins of the old blacksmith’s forge, La Ferreria.
Once at the top, take a breather as you enjoy the views from this natural vantage point and the beauty of the landscape, which, at this time of year, treats us to a display of vivid autumn hues.
Follow the blue waymarkers all the way back down the mountain until the forest gives way to farmland and we enter the town, taking a final cut-through past Can Bertran and ending up back where we started, at Cellera school. The whole round trip takes on average just over three hours to complete.
For a longer walk, take a detour on the way back down to the banks of the Pasteral Reservoir, the site of the Colldegria Dolmen and the Pasteral caves, abandoned marble mines that connect to an underground labyrinth, accessible only to speleologists. From there, head back to Cellera along the path that runs parallel to the C-63 road.
Photos: Selva Tourist Office and Wikiloc
