Collbató to Aeri de Montserrat via Ermitas de Sant Joan/Onofre/Magdalena and Monastery

Exploring the idea of a casual after-work trip to Montserrat with the bus to Collbató-Bruc which leaves from right by the Parc Científic.



HIKERS:

PEZ

TOMO

MIX


TRANSPORT:


We took the Monbus / Hispano Igualadina bus from Palau Reial (mouth of Metro station right in front of the Palau Reial itself; also stops at Maria Cristina). €5.75 to Collbató. Though the initial plan was to do a circle and come back with the bus, we got all excited at the top and ended up crossing the mountain and getting the FGC´s R5 line from the deserted Aeri de Montserrat station. 


THE ROUTE:


From Collbató, we headed towards the mountain to the foot of the Drecera de Fra Garí, which heads straight up steep (surprisingly steep!). Eventually we hit a smoother path and curled up among some little copses of woods. We went up to a collection of hermitages; la Ermita de Sant Joan and la Ermita de Sant Onofre, built into the rock. We went past Sant Onofre and up to the Ermita de Santa Magdalena, in ruins.

Here is where things went a little awry.

We knew we were looking to go to a Mirador, but we turned up and went to the peak nearest the hermitage, the Miranda de Santa Magdalena. Great view, but when we realised that we were not at the one we intended to be, we tried to figure out a way to get down to the path below... But it did look very far down.

Back to Santa Magdalena and we had to head NNE... and there was this very steep 'path' heading NNE just to the west of the needle that lies beside Santa Magdalena. The monastery looked very close, albeit far down, in that direction. We were standing there wondering if this was the way for a little while before we spotted a beautiful young goat just a few metres away. And then someone seemed to remember going that way before, and so we started going down and the goat made it look so easy...

It was not the path, pretty sketchy. Should have been the other side of the needle - oops.

Anyway eventually we made it down, and then along via Pla dels Ocells and Pas del Francesos to the Monastery, arriving after 2100 and shortly before sunset. Needless to say, the Funicular wasn't going any more, and the only way down was on foot. We went as quick as we could down the Camí de l´Aigua to the Aeri, which is a little over 3km from the Monastery for a 600m descent. It got darker and darker and the lights of the passing trains got brighter and brighter... As night fell we missed a train at 2145 when we were less than 10 min away. Lucky for us there was another passing at 2205.

After all that adventure and uncertainty and scrambling... it was only just 10km!




HIGHLIGHTS:

Improvising a route...

Plenty of scrambling, not least after the kid.

Three large male Ibex on the main path just below the Monastery.

Scrambling down in the dark...

Montserrat all for ourselves at midweek dusk.

Potatoes


PHOTOS:

Minor scramble to Ermita de Sant Joan

Ermita de Sant Joan





Feeling good at the Mirador de Santa Magdalena

I blame you

Follow the white rabbit


Starting to regret our decision

Pas dels Francesos

Big fella. He was wearing a collar...?

Getting there...

Darkness falling

Missing the 2145



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