Circular route from Peralada to Cabanes. Route 8 Alt Empordà

This route starts at the Peralada Tourist Information Office, located in the centre of the town, in Plaça de la Peixateria square. You go down the street Carrer de la Sabateria until you reach Plaça Carme and then continue down the street Carrer del Call until it crosses the city wall portal. At the intersection you will see the vertical, AE171 «Itinerànnia» signpost, which reads «Cabanes 50 minutes». You then reach the bottom of the street, where you might have parked your car, on the other side of the roundabout, very near a white stork's nest. Carry on along the road in the direction of Cabanes and then cross the Llobregat bridge. Then take the take the fist turning on the right that runs alongside the river. The track passes through areas of orchard and olive groves until it reaches the road from Peralada to Cabanes. Stay on the left following the yellow Itinerànnia markers. Then take the first turning on your right and continue for 1,9 km until you reach Cabanes. The trail passes through some fields of crops and the occasional river bank tree until it reaches the cemetery of Cabanes. You should then see a vertical Itinerànnia signost reading “AE182 – Cabanes”. Head in the direction of Cabanes (5 minutes) and Vilarnadal (1h 20 min). Skirt around village on the right, following the yellow markings and then take the last dirt track on the right until it reaches the main road just before the end of the village. Then continue down a path bordered by plane trees, oaks and reeds, and go past two farms until you come to the main road and head towards Masarac. From there, follow the road to the right, cross the Llobregat bridge and take the first turning on the left, which follows the river. The track then becomes a path. Go across a small ditch, pass by two fields of crops, where the path is barely visible, and then finally look out for the yellow marker that tells you to turn right. You then come to a track where you will find the AE181 intersection, from here you must take the track on the right in the direction of Mollet de Peralada, from where you have a fantastic view of the foot of the Serra de Rodes mountain ridge. Next cross the track to Peralada and then head in the direction of the Masarac and follow the yellow signpost along a dirt track on the right, just next to a farmhouse. Then go over a ditch via a bridge on the left, leaving the main track, and start the climb up to Montpedrós. The track becomes a path which later forks. Take the path on the right. Shortly you come to a path on the right indicated with yellow markers. This path runs alongside the hill located in the foothills of the Albera hills, where the vegetation is typical of “brolla” (brush type land) with pines trees. Wollow the yellow markers until the path opens out into a track. Continue on the right until you come to the irrigation channel, cross this and continue on the right, following a track bordered by Cyprees fencing, olive groves and farms. Continue along this track until it forks. Go down the trail on the right, cross the river Anyet and follow the track to the road on the right following the yellow markers. Carry on along the track, which passes by vineyards and open land until you see a vertical “Itinerànnia” signpost (AE173 – Mas de n'Aldàs) next to a small building. Take the trail heading towards Peralada (1h. 05') bordering olive groves, vineyards and crops. You then pass by some very large poplars, after which you cross the River Orlina and continue along the track on the left. Follow the yellow markers; turn to the left until the track runs into another path, where you will find the AE172 intersection that you must take on the right, in the direction of Peralada, running alongside fields and farms, until it reaches Peralada. Finally, continue towards the car park at the start/end of the route, passing around the edge of the village, and then go up the street Baixada de la Font until you once again you are back at the Tourist Information Office.