Banyoles-Besalu-Olot

Banyoles - Besalu - Olot Volcanoes         Day Out 1


Driving directly from Girona to Olot takes 45 minutes.

Banyoles
Walk beside the lake ('Estany'), late breakfast in one of the lakeside cafes. You can swim too if you want.

Besalu
Walk over the originally Romanesque bridge to the medieval town. There are guided tours of an hour which you'll find easily. 


Have lunch.
Try on the other side of the bridge from the main town.








El Croscat and Santa Margarida Volcanoes (Santa Pau, Olot)
From Olot, head for Santa Pau. Before arriving you will find the Santa Margarida Area Parquing (car park). You can visit both of the volcanoes from here. It's possible to park a little nearer to el Croscat if it isn't a busy time of year/week. This is not a summer activity as it gets too hot, although Santa Margarida is shaded most of the walk. 
If it's too hot go to La Moixina, a wetlands area in Olot, for a walk of an hour or less, sit by the stream, have an iced drink in La Moixina restaurant terrace.

Now it'll be time for a cold glass of beer back in Girona

Olot-Girona Cycle

Olot  - Girona Centre (60kms)
It takes 45 minutes to drive to Olot from Girona. Radikal bikeshop in Girona has one spare bike they hire out for 18€ a day. Nice road bikes can be found in Girona but not as yet in Olot. Gironalet.com Holiday Apartment offers a bike transport service for small quantities of bikes. Then cycle back to Girona (60kms) along the 'via verde' or green route, made from the old up-routed railway line. On road bikes it is probably better to follow the parallel road passing through Sant Esteve d'en Bas, Sant Feliu de Pallerols, Amer. Anglès.
Val d'en Bas (Olot) Cycle 
This is an idyllic valley to cycle. The valley itself is completely flat, but there are several hills around which add interest to the circuit. Starting from Olot, there is a 3km climb up 'La Cantina', then a descent onto the Riudaura road. From there we pass La Pinya, Sant Privat, Hostalets and arrive at Col d'Uria for a 4km climb (or more if you want!). You can continue up the beautiful mountain to el Far restaurant and Sanctuary. We then retrace our wheels. 
Girona
Return the bikes, then rest and recuperation. A stroll around the old town, a beer in the Plaça Constitució, where there is a pleasant breeze, then supper.