A walk along the Ter from the Santa Maria colony, on the VORATER route

What it is

This is Ripoll's VORATER route: a 6 km round-trip walk beside the River Ter, of low difficulty, with only 70 m of ascent and as much descent, and a maximum altitude of 668 m. It starts at the Santa Maria factory colony, also called the Roig colony, and so it shows above all the industrial side of the river: the train, the weir, the canal, the d'en Botei power station and the sewage treatment plant. Along the way there are natural spots chosen for stopping: places for calm, meditation, observation and even writing.

VORATER is a project of the Consell Comarcal del Ripollès, co-funded by European ERDF funds, with four routes on the banks of the Ter: Camprodon, Sant Pau de Segúries, Sant Joan de les Abadesses and Ripoll. It is not a route for going fast, but for strolling slowly, sitting by the water and looking.

What you will see along the way

• The Santa Maria or Roig colony, the starting point: a factory colony on the banks of the Ter.
• The train, which runs alongside the river on this stretch.
• The weir and the canal, the dam and the channel that carried water from the river to industry.
• The d'en Botei power station, a former electricity plant.
• The sewage treatment plant.
• The calm spaces, spots by the water chosen for sitting, observing and writing.

It is a there-and-back route: you return the way you came. It is signposted as the Ruta del Ter and with GR waymarks. The route can be downloaded from the Ripollès Turisme website.

How to do it

With the VORATER notebook and map, which the tourist offices hand out, the walk suggests exercises for looking at the river calmly: listening, observing, writing. Ask for them at the Ripoll tourist office, in the plaça de l'Abat Oliba, next to the monastery. The project also has a web app. Allow about two hours at an easy pace, with stops.

How to get there

The Santa Maria colony is in Ripoll, beside the Ter. Ask at the tourist office how to walk there from the centre or from the R3 train station, and where to leave the car if you come by car.

When to go

All year. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons by the river. In summer, go early or in the late afternoon. After heavy rain, the path beside the river can get muddy: wear suitable footwear.

With children and with a dog

It is a flat, short walk, suitable for all ages. Children are interested in the train, the dam and the water; keep an eye on them near the canal and the bank. With a pushchair, ask at the tourist office about the state of the surface. Dogs are allowed, on a lead.