Sant Mateu de Bages, Bages (Barcelona)

About the place:

What do you think of an adventure in the Far west style? With a small vehicle equipped with bunk beds and a kitchenette you’ll discover the Sierra of Castelltallat living a unique experience amid nature.

Among grain fields and forests you’ll stop for lunch and enjoy of the magnificent views over Montserrat or visit the Astronomical Observatory in Castelltallat. Children can feed the horse, and can help the adults to put on the horse tack (not always an easy task!). At the end of the day you’ll have deserved a nice swim in the pool of the farmhouse. And you are ready to spend the night at the carriage.

An adventure for those seeking a very different holiday!

Direction tips:

The starting point of the route is the farmhouse "Les planes" in Sant Mateu de Bages, where you’ll find the company “Paisatge i aventura”, which rents the carriages.  The route passes first by the local road BV3003 (very little transit) in Castelltallat direction. Just across the forecourt of the “Creu encapçada” you’ll have to take country road on your right (also pvaed) that takes you into in the wooded area of the shaded areas of the Sierra de Castelltallat. Without leaving the main path, you’ll pass the village of Castelltallat on your left to continue towards Biosca. Make a stop at the “Creu grossa” to enjoy of panoramic of Montserrat. At certain point you’ll have to leave the paved road to go to Biosca (on your right). You’ll find the farmhouse “les Corts de Biosca” on this path. The first day you will have ridden about 23km in about 5 to 6 hours (without including stops).

You must undo the way back to the starting point, but we recommend pay a visit to the Castelltallat’s Astronomical Observatory. The observatory is located about 4 km from the farmhouse (about 1 hour journey by carriage). To go to the observatory follow the signs to Castelltallat’s Observatory. In passing a building on the right and just the height of a cross, take the dirt road that goes left. At the first bifurcation, take the trail on the right that makes a steep ascent up to a terrace where you can leave your horse and cart. You must undo the way back to the main road to go to the start of the itinerary. 

The best season:

winter, autumn, summer, spring

Lunch tips:

The first day you can have a picnic at the area of Cross Encapçada. You’ll find a table and chairs at the carriage. On your way back you can have lunch next to the observatory of Castelltallat. You will find a stone table and a source. You can have dinner at the designated areas in the farmhouse. If you book in advance, you can also enjoy home cooking and fresh garden vegetables at Les Corts de Biosca.

More info:

Difficulty: Easy (no prior knowledge needed to ride the car as a guide will accompany you for 2 hours the first day)
Type: Linear
Duration: 2 or 3 days (depending on overnight stays)
Distance: approx. 50 km (including return)
Accessibility: The route runs largely through a rural paved road (just about 5km of dirt road). The only difficulty are the downloads where you need to stop the car with the brake.

Recommendations: take anti mosquito, sunscreen and hats in summer. In cooler seasons take raincoats and warm clothing with you. Bring enough water bottles, because on the road you will not find sources. Although everyone might want to ride the carriage, it is important that the horse has only one master, because otherwise it won’t obey.

Accommodation: you’ll overnight at the carriage parked at a farmhouse. We recommend to stop at the farmhouse “Les Corts de Biosca” where Anna will make you feel at home. The house has an area for guests with a dining area, a table football game at the former stables, a pool, toilets, two showers and a washing machine.
Around the house there is a small rural path (1km) that takes you along the old road that the goat shippers took so many years ago.

Renting the carriage: the carriage has to be rented at “Paisatge i aventura” (Tel. +34 938 360 060) located in the Farmhouse "Les Planes." Along with the carriage you’ll receive food and water for the horse, a roadmap and a guide who will accompany you during the first 2 hours to teach you how to put on the horse tack and lead it. Price of 2 day car rental with kitchen: 240 €; extra day: 105 €; parking place at the farmhouses: 25 € / carriage, dinner (optional): 18€ adults and 10€ children.

Photo: © ExploraTgn.cat