Route of Can Borrell

Circular route that runs between the plain of the Vallès and the mountain range of Collserola, very close to Sant Cugat del Vallès. About an hour and a half, it has different links that allow lengthen it or shorten it according to our needs.

We come out of the riding centre by the access road to the right. About 200 m further, when the houses have finished, we take a path that descends on the left, between white pine with clear undergrowth, rich in Mediterranean buckthorn. To the left you will notice the effects of the gusts of wind with snow in the winter of 2010, when many branches were broken and some specimens of pine were knocked down and we can see the land emptiest than the rest.

When reaching the field, we follow it to the right. From here we have a good overview of the Prelitoral mountain chain, standing up the summit of La Mola of Sant Llorenç del Munt. At the end of the field we go through a path in the middle of the hurdle, with American cane, invasive species of our torrents. We cross the ravine of Sant Medir, carrying water from the reservoir of Can Borrell.

We come out to one of the main roads of the park, the GR-6, just below the Pi d’en Xandri, ranked as the pine tree with the largest crown of Collserola. It is bordered by a small fence with wedges since, despite of enjoying of the sympathy of the population, it has suffered some acts of vandalism.

We continue about 300 m on the right and we head for to the left margin to go by the side of another grain field, fields of torre Negra, that now are on our back, until the path turns to the right, now following the top of the fields of torre Cendrera. At the end of this, we go straight and up through a clayey path that passes beneath pine trees and holm oaks.

This path ends in a flatter forest track which we take to the right, following the indication of torre Cendrera: small forest masia. On the right we find a detour that goes down straight enough again toward the GR. All this stretch we pass under the dispersed holm oaks and white pine, with poor undergrowth. Periodically, there are drives of wild boars, to avoid the overpopulation in the park.

We go through holm oaks and oaks, and richer undergrowth with mastic, oak and steppe in the sunniest spot parts. The road goes down slightly until we reach another track: if we went to the left we would go to Flor de Maig and Can Coll, another possible route.

We will turn to the right, towards Can Borrell. We first see the fields, with the Tibidabo in the background. Here the land is richer in sand and in the margins we can see some vein of limestone rock. We observe a slight change of vegetation until we are surrounded by white pine, some dispersed pine trees and a dense undergrowth of heather. In a curve to the left we can see the masia well and the remains of forest exploitation in the area.

When we reach Can Borrell, old masia which is currently being remodelled, we can border it to the left, going to Can Jané, Sant Medir and Sant Adjutori (unique Romanesque chapel of a circular plan of Collserola), other routes of about 3 hours. We could also head for Can Catar and the Forat del Vent (behind the cemetery of Horta) or visit the Font Groga: a longer route, of about 5 hours.

If we return to our route, just past Can Borrell we take the track that goes off to the right: we have the forest to our left and a small fallow land and the parking on the right. This track goes down slightly to connect with the GR-6. The vegetation here is a forest made up of a mixture of pine trees and holm oaks. Just before arriving to the Pi d’en Xandri, we leave the main road taking a path to the left. Passing among 4 canes we cross the ravine of Sant Medir and we surround the torre Negra. We will take the path of the beginning again.

The different viewpoints of Collserola, Can Cató, the springs of Sant Vicenç and Gordi, the swamp of Can Borrell, the Forn Ibèric we find near the chapel of Sant Adjutori, the masia of Can Coll, the chapel of Santa Maria of the Feixes and the chapel of Sant Iscle are points of interest near this route.