Barcelona blog

Walking in Collserola

The Sierra of Collserola is a green island in the metropolitan Barcelona area.  Surrounded by densely populated urban zones, this unusual natural park is inevitably marked by man.  Inspite of this, and sometimes as a consequence, there is a diverse range of plant and wildlife to discover and a labyrinth of trails to lose yourself in. Part of the pleasure of walking in Collserola is the startling contrast with the city at its boundaries.

There are varied Mediterranean landscapes to explore: mixed holm oak woodland, densely overgrown with lianas, or open hillsides, aromatic with the herbs and shrubs of garrigue and maquis.  All just a metro ride away.

Seasons in Collserola

• Spring comes early with many flowers already out in March.  By the end of April it’s in full swing: nightingales and golden orioles have returned and honeysuckle and rock roses are in bloom.

• As the days heat up, a good time to start walking is late afternoon, enjoying the shade of the woods.  As you head back to the city, the twilight is filled with the sound of nightingales, nightjars and midwife toads.  The end of the day is also the best time to glimpse a boar.

• Autumn is a fascinating time for insects, such as the praying mantis, stick insect and the spectacular Two-tailed Pasha butterfly.  Migrating song birds fill the woods, and raptors pass overhead following the coast to Africa.

• These coastal hills offer spectacular views all year round – of Barcelona, the Mediterranean and the mountains of Montserrat and Montseny – but the sharpest visibility is often during the winter, when the snow-capped Pyrenees appear on the northern horizon and on truly rare occasions, Mallorca materialises far out to sea.

Any time of year is good for hopping on the metro and spending some time in one of Barcelona’s wildest sides.

If you plan to visit Collserola, you might like a guide who regularly tramps its paths and knows some of its wildest corners: Lucy Brzoska and Nick Lloyd, long-term residents of Barcelona.  For a taster, check out Lucy’s Blog.

Get in touch with us to arrange a guided walk.  We’re flexible on time, length and group size, and charge reasonable prices.

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