La muntanya Gran des de Sobrestany. Parc Natural del Montgrí, Illes Medes i el Baix Ter.
Mas Blanc. Parc Natural del Montgrí, Illes Medes i el Baix Ter.
Bellcaire d'Empordà. Parc Natural del Montgrí, Illes Medes i el Baix Ter.
Arrossars. Parc Natural del Montgrí, Illes Medes i el Baix Ter.
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ULLÀ AND THE MUNTANYA GRAN

Route
15/06/2016
Index card

Introduction

The plain and mountains of Montgrí

This is a very complete mountain bike route, with a variety of surroundings and difficulties. It crosses the Empordà plain easily, following smooth trails, some sandy and others paved, between the villages of Ullà, Bellcaire d’Empordà and Sobrestany, passing through fields of rice and other crops in a calm and tranquil setting.

The other part of the route, which is much harder work and has some technical sections, passes across the different slopes of the Muntanya Gran, through old dunes which have now been stabilised by forests of cypress and Aleppo pine, where you can see a variety of dry-stone structures, such as walls, vineyard huts and lime furnaces.

Route with sections with no signal. DO THE ROUTE OFFLINE.

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  • Typology
    Time Circular
  • Difficulty
    Median
  • Duration
    2 hours 27 minutes
  • Slope
    192.00 meters
  • Distance
    32.60 km
  • Theme
    Flora and fauna
    Environment
    Architecture and environment
  • Activity
    By bike
  • Rating

Slope graph

Description

The plain and mountains of Montgrí

The route starts in the car park of the Horta d’en Quintana in Torroella de Montgrí. It follows the course of the river Ter as far as the dam heading towards Ullà. The first part of the route passes through fields of crops and rice fields while connecting the villages of Ullà, Bellcaire d’Empordà and Sobrestany on flat and easy trails which allow you to look at and enjoy the landscape with complete calm.

On the edge of the municipality of l’Escala you leave the plain to follow a rocky trail towards the old church, now in ruins, of Santa Maria de Palau. The trail gets increasingly rocky and difficult as you get into the most isolated parts of the Muntanya Gran.

You pedal through garrigue on a sandy surface which hints at how close you are to old inland dunes now fixed by plantations of Aleppo pine and cypresses. Riding escorted by rows of cypresses on both sides is an enjoyable and unique experience.

The trail leaves the wide trails and follow paths which in some stretches are quite rocky and somewhat difficult. This stretch of the route is shared with the Windy Route, and you can take advantage to visit magnificent dry-stone structures like walls, huts and lime furnaces.

 

Tips

ROUTE

  • Route with sections with no signal. DO THE ROUTE OFFLINE
  • Wide sandy tracks alternate with paved stretches on the flat sections.
  • Rocky paths and trails with some technical difficulty on the Muntanya Gran.
  • Make sure you do not leave the marked paths. Remember you are in sensitive areas of the Natural Park.

WATER

  • Bring plenty of water, especially in summer. You will only find drinking water in the first part of the route.

PRECAUTIONS

  • Respect people’s private property and the surroundings in general. You are in a Natural Park.
  • Avoid the middle of the day in high summer, and in any case, take precautions to protect yourself from the sun.
  • The rocky descents can be dangerous.

WEATHER

  • The route can be uncomfortable on days with strong wind.

TERRAIN

  • The terrain is difficult in the rockiest sections of the high part of the Muntanya Gran.
  • Some small stretches of climbing with stones might force you to get off your bike.

EQUIPMENT

  • Protection from the sun or wind if necessary.
  • Camera.
  • Binoculars and bird guide for birdwatching.
  • On all of the mountain bike routes we recommend wearing a helmet and gloves, as well as a puncture repair kit and a basic tool kit (Allen keys and chain tool).

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What is there

What to see in: ULLÀ AND THE MUNTANYA GRAN

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Ullà Dam

Point of interest
Environment
15/06/2016

​​​​​The current dam appears to replace an older one. This specific one was built by Don Joan Çarriera i de Gurb in 1679. Although the original function of the Rec was to provide water for the Dalt...

TORRE FERRARA

Point of interest
Architecture
15/06/2016

This is a fortified farmhouse. Its architectural structure shows that a defence tower with a square floorplan was built close to the original farmhouse during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries...

The jay

Point of interest
Wildlife
15/06/2016

​​​​​Garrulus glandarius

This bird from the crow family has sedentary behaviour and is quite easy to see, something which makes it no less interesting. Always linked to woodland, in the summer it...

The rice fields

Point of interest
Environment
15/06/2016

​​​​​We have to go back to the fifteenth century to find the first mentions of rice cultivation on the Baix Ter plain. Despite the health risk of serious illnesses associated with mosquitos, this crop...

Santa Maria de Palau

Point of interest
Architecture
15/06/2016

Santa Maria de Palau and the old village, now in ruins, are located on a small hill and were close to the “Camí d’Empúries”, which from Empúries crosses the Baix Empordà plain to connect to the Via...

Cypresses in the inland dunes

Point of interest
Flora
15/06/2016

​​​​​Cupresus serpervirens

This long-living tree can survive for over 500 years. It has hard-wearing wood which is easy to work and also lasts very well submerged in water without rotting. It is said...

CALC I PEDRERA

Point of interest
Architecture
15/06/2016

Degut a la importància que va tenir la producció de calç en el passat i que en aquesta zona del Montgrí n’és propici degut al terreny de tipus calcari, entre els segles XVII i XIX una de les...

AIXART BUSQUETA

Point of interest
Architecture
15/06/2016

Bon exemple encara visible dels aixarts, antigament en plena activitat agrícola i ramadera, que ocupen alguns dels espais d’aquesta banda del massís del Montgrí, sent una bona mostra de l’antiga...

TORRE BEGURA

Point of interest
Architecture
15/06/2016

Aquest mas fortificat situat a la  plana del Ter, fou construït sobre una antiga vila romana en una petita elevació del terreny. Té una alçària de 22 metres i quatre pisos a diferents alçàries, amb pe...

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Rating
/5
2 votes
60%
Ratings with comments Publish rating
Ideal para recorrer el interior del Parque Natural en VTT.
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What to see in: ULLÀ AND THE MUNTANYA GRAN

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What to do in: ULLÀ AND THE MUNTANYA GRAN

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