For one simple reason La Vall de Núria is without doubt the best-preserved valley in the Eastern Pyrenees: there are no cars. The upper reaches of the valley can only be reached on a 3-km long rack-and-pinnion railway that winds up from the town of Ribes de Freser on the Barcelona-Puigcerdà railway line.

At the centre of the valley stands El Santuari de Núria, a complex of buildings that include the terminus of the railway line and a hotel.

Mike organises summer butterfly walks in conjunction with La Vall de Nuria that take place on weekends in July.

Visitors arrive under their own steam (so to speak) and will be met at Núria by Mike at the start of the walk.

The group then walks down to the village of  Queralbs, the previous stop on the railway line, where they can eat in a restaurant, return to Núria by train or head off back to Barcelona.

Walks will take place on July 9, 15 and 23. Please check the web page of La Vall de Núria for dates, prices, etc.

Go to the species list for a complete list of the butterflies of the valley.

Click here for the species list from Mike's guided walk on 17 July 2005.