Vallès Oriental is a county in the north-east of Catalonia, located in the province of Barcelona. With its green and hilly landscapes, it is a land of welcome for hiking enthusiasts, those who like to indulge in action tourism and experience stays in perfect communion with nature. The Natural Parks Network offers a wide choice of itineraries for walks with family or friends, to discover a varied and rich fauna and flora. And there is something for every type of sportsman! Whether you are a walker or a cyclist and more particularly a mountain biker, the Vallès Oriental has everything you need to enjoy your favourite activity in perfect conditions. With the mild weather of spring and summer, it is high time to start thinking about where to go to conquer the great outdoors. And the Vallès Oriental is certainly a destination of choice

1,000 km of signposted paths to cross the countryside on foot

Before getting to the heart of the matter, it should be pointed out that Vallès Oriental has a vast network of paths that allow you to explore every corner of the region. The advantage of this is that you will discover a wide variety of landscapes as part of an active tourism. From the 50 m altitude of the Vall del Bèsos to the 1,712 m of the Turó de l'Home, the vegetation changes. Gentle hills, mountains, forests, waterways, the panoramas offered are splendid and conducive to a multitude of photos. Although the routes are suitable for all types of walkers, with itineraries designed especially for families, there are four long-distance footpaths that pass through the Vallès: the GR-2, the GR-5, the GR-92 and the GR-97. The routes are signposted and walkers have access to a wealth of information to help them find their way around and understand the environment. Guides and educators are also available to help those who wish to understand the history and characteristics of each landscape. As proof that the Vallès Oriental wants to be a leading territory for hikers in Europe, there are also paths accessible to people with reduced mobility. And to discover the different areas in an original and fun way, geocaching routes are possible!

There are no less than four natural parks in the county of Vallès Oriental. All of them are ideal for short, medium and long walks. The Montseny Natural Park is located in the Catalan pre-coastal sierra. It is made up of several large mountain ranges: Turó de l'Home (1,712 m) and Les Agudes, Matagalls (1,697 m) and Pla de la Calma. The walks take place in the heart of a steep and contrasting relief, between mountains, valleys criss-crossed by torrents and green forests made up of holm oaks, cork oaks, sub-Mediterranean oaks, pines, beeches and firs. The park is inhabited by various species such as the badger, the shrew, the grey dormouse, the woodcock and the red frog. Among the possible hikes, we can mention the route from La Plana Amagada to Coll Pregon, which reveals meadows, juniper bushes until reaching the Turó de l'Home mountain and enjoying a breathtaking view of the surrounding peaceful nature

The Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor is another place for beautiful walks in the middle of nature. The massifs, integrated into the coastal mountain range, offer a great diversity of environments. The vegetation is lush due to the proximity of the sea, and the forests are made up of hazelnut trees, a wide variety of oaks, beech trees and other chestnut trees. At the bend in the path, you can easily come across a dormouse, a squirrel, a weasel or a northern red-backed vole. The numerous routes, while allowing you to enjoy the animals and plants, also reveal elements of heritage, such as the dolmens of Pedra Arca and Pedra Gentil. The resources of the massifs have attracted men at various times in history. The offer does not end here, and the Serralda de Marine and Serralda Litoral Natural Parks are also ideal for beautiful mountain walks, where the vegetation varies and fascinates with its Mediterranean influences, reminding us at all times that the Big Blue is not far away

Opt for bicycle tourism

The mountain bike is the perfect vehicle to ride along the paths, through the woods and down the valleys and mountains of Vallès Oriental. Different groups of people can find routes that suit them and enjoy a way of doing tourism that combines the pleasures of sport with those of contemplating the surrounding countryside. Moreover, mountain biking is a group activity par excellence and makes it possible to spend happy days in the middle of nature with family or friends. You can also take advantage of the opportunity to stop off in the towns and villages to meet people and take an interest in local life

In the Vallès Oriental, there is also a wide range of mountain bike rides to choose from, always in a mild and pleasant climate. You can start by heading for the Montnegre and Corredor massifs to ride 80 km through gentle terrain. From the town of La Roca del Vallès, we enter the natural park to enjoy the mountainous landscape and the diversity of landscapes. This route is ideal for intermediate level cyclists. Another option is to reach the Montseny massif this time, a route that experienced vėtėtists will love since it is more muscular. This is where you cross some of the southernmost fir forests in Europe, which have earned the park the status of a Unesco Biosphere Reserve since 1978

It is also possible to opt for a route that links the Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve to the Mediterranean: the Ruta de la Tourdera. This route follows the Tordera and Arbúcies rivers, ending up on a beautiful sunny beach on the Costa Brava. A cycling route where the landscapes change over the kilometres and which also has some nice surprises in terms of heritage. Fogars de la Selva and its church, Palafolls and its 12th-century castle are all stops on which to take a cultural and contemplative break

In addition, around the medieval town of Santa Maria de Palautordera, the Ruta Bici Blava and the Ruta Bici Blanca also allow you to combine the pleasures of ancient monuments with those of cycling through hilly landscapes

Many other cycling experiences

During a stay in Vallès Oriental that is dedicated to walking or cycling, you should not miss out on the other experiences offered by the county. For example, between two mountain bike routes, the town of Caldes de Montbui is ideal for soothing aching muscles by visiting one of the establishments specialising in thermal cures for which the town is famous. There are also many bicycle routes around the town of Cardedeu. You can also visit the Arxiu Tomàs Balvey Museum, a former apothecary who has collected many original pieces of furniture from the 18th century and more than 200 ceramic pots from the early 19th century. Finally, for those who wish to train on the road, before going on the many cycling routes offered by the Vallès Oriental, it is worth noting that the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya welcomes cycling enthusiasts all year round to practice on a track that also hosts the Formula 1 and Moto GP Grand Prix

More information on the website of Turisme Valles, on the Facebook page, on the Youtube page and on the Instagram account.