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

What to do en Ripoll · Ripoll

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/things-to-do/ter-river-walk-ripoll · Revisado: 2026-11-12

- Para quién: All ages

A 6 km round-trip walk beside the Ter from the Roig colony, in Ripoll: weir, canal, the d'en Botei power station and quiet spots to stop. Low difficulty.

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.

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Coordenadas: 42.2003, 2.1906

## Cerca de aquí

- [Ripoll Ethnographic Museum and the Scriptorium](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/things-to-do/ripoll-ethnographic-museum), a 61 m
- [Santa Maria de Ripoll Monastery, portal and cloister](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/things-to-do/santa-maria-monastery-ripoll), a 82 m
- [Ruta del Ferro i del Carbó Greenway, from Ripoll to Sant Joan de les Abadesses](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/things-to-do/iron-and-coal-greenway-ripoll), a 100 m
- [La Trobada Boutique Hotel](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/where-to-stay/la-trobada-boutique-hotel), a 126 m
- [Restaurant Reccapolis](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/where-to-eat/reccapolis), a 1.3 km
- [Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery and the Santíssim Misteri](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/things-to-do/sant-joan-de-les-abadesses-monastery), a 8.7 km
- [Núria Rack Railway, from Ribes de Freser up to the valley at 2,000 metres](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/things-to-do/nuria-rack-railway), a 11.8 km
- [Roca de la Creu via ferrata in Ribes de Freser, with a guide](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/things-to-do/roca-de-la-creu-via-ferrata), a 11.8 km

## Consejos

### Ask for the VORATER notebook
Without it, it is a pretty walk; with it, a different way of looking at the river.

### Go without hurrying
The route is designed for stopping at its calm spots.

### Follow the Ter by bike
If you want more, the Ferro i Carbó greenway leaves from the station towards Sant Joan de les Abadesses.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long is the VORATER walk in Ripoll?
6 km there and back, with 70 m of ascent and low difficulty.

### Where does it start?
At the Santa Maria, or Roig, factory colony in Ripoll, beside the Ter.

### Where do I get the materials?
At the Ripoll tourist office, and the route can be downloaded from the Ripollès Turisme website.

Destino: [Ripoll](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll.md)