Els Degotalls — the quiet north path

Everyone who comes up to Montserrat walks the same two hundred metres between the station and the basilica. Els Degotalls is what happens if you turn the other way: a flat, wide path that runs north from the monastery under the cliffs, past dripping rock faces, ceramic panels and old ex-voto tiles, with the valley opening on the left.

Because it is level and shaded it is the one part of the mountain that suits a family session, grandparents, or anyone in shoes that were not chosen for a hike. It is also the part where you will meet ten people rather than a thousand.

The north-facing wall means soft, even light for most of the day, with no harsh shadow across faces — useful when the rest of Montserrat is unusable at noon. In late autumn the deciduous trees along the path turn and the whole walk goes copper.

It takes about fifteen minutes from the monastery, and the far end reaches a small viewpoint over the valley that works as a closing frame.