Catalan Pyrenees to the Mediterranean – La Ruta del Ter on gravel

Let's face it, what cyclist hasn't thought about riding a long route that goes steadily downhill? Although they must exist, I've never come across one! The route presented in this Collection is no exception, but at least I can assure you that you’ll spend more time going down than going up. What I propose is to follow the course of the River Ter, from almost its source in the Catalan Pyrenees to its mouth at the Mediterranean Sea.

This Collection faithfully follows the route of La Ruta del Ter, a tourist, naturalistic and cultural route promoted by the Consorci del Ter. With a distance of 219 kilometres (136 mi), the route has 1,840 metres (6,037 ft) of ascent and 3,980 metres (13,058 ft) of descent. Along the way, you explore protected natural spaces such as the Parc Natural de les Capçaleres del Ter i el Freser, les Guilleries, the Cavallera mountain range and the Parc Natural del Montgrí.

The constant presence of the river not only allows you to enjoy the landscapes and the riverside fauna, but you can also discover the industrial footprint that remains in the form of bridges, locks, textile colonies, mills and canals. The River Ter was one of the protagonists of early Catalan industrialisation, which began in the mid-19th century. Its course was harnessed for the textile industry to flourish, converting the power of its waters into mechanical and electrical energy that fed these ‘river factories’.

The route is waymarked with two types of signs: green for walkers and red for cyclists. Although the promoters of the Ruta del Ter recommend using a mountain bike, the truth is that a gravel bike is also suitable. There are only a few complicated sections, all in the first half of the route.

In any case, I encourage you to consult the route’s official website at rutadelter.cat/ruta-en-bicicleta, for any updates. You should bear in mind that, as this is a route that follows the course of a river, there are often small landslides, flooded fords or overgrown paths.

Given that this isn't circular, you have to think about getting to and from the start and finish. Information on public transport is available on the website. The bus only goes as far as Camprodon, so a possible variation would be to spend the first day going up from there to the start of the route at Vallter 2000. The other option would be to get there by taxi.

The best time for this ride is undoubtedly spring and autumn. This way you avoid the most extreme temperatures in the Pyrenees, especially in winter. In summer you can find very high temperatures, although the vegetation of the riverside forests that you’ll pass through provides much-needed shade. Except for the section that crosses the Sau and Susqueda reservoirs, the route never strays too far from the towns, so you’ll have no difficulty in finding restaurants and accommodation. Once again, I recommend you take a look at the website of La Ruta del Ter; in the directory of services tab, you can find all the information you need.