The Lluçanès is a high, rolling plateau north of Barcelona, between the plain of Vic and the valleys of the Ter and Llobregat rivers, and this point lies near the village of Olost, in the heart of it. It is a quiet, rural part of Catalonia, a mosaic of wheat fields, pastures and oak and pine woods, with scattered stone farmhouses, called masies, sitting on the hills. Villages such as Olost, Prats de Lluçanès and Sant Boi de Lluçanès are small and unhurried.
The plateau has a long history. Romanesque churches dot the landscape, many dating from the tenth to twelfth centuries, some isolated on hilltops among the fields. The Osona region around Vic, to the east, is famous for its cured sausages, especially llonganissa and fuet, and its pig farms, which you will notice from the smell on a warm day. Vic itself has a large arcaded main square and a lively Saturday market.
On the swim, be realistic. The Lluçanès has few natural swimming places; the rivers here are small streams, often low in summer. There are municipal outdoor pools in several villages, open in summer, which are the easiest option for a quick dip. For bigger water, the Sau reservoir east of Vic, beneath the cliffs of the Guilleries, is popular, though swimming is allowed only in some areas, so check locally.
The riding is lovely: narrow country roads twist across the plateau, rising and falling over the hills and dipping into wooded valleys, with very little traffic. The BV and C roads around Olost are perfect for unhurried touring, with long views over the fields to the Pyrenees, snow-capped in spring. The surface is generally good, though some minor roads are narrow and patched. Watch for tractors, cyclists and wild boar at dusk. The weather can change quickly, with summer storms building over the mountains.
Olost and Prats de Lluçanès have small shops and cafes, and there is fuel nearby, but the larger towns, such as Vic, are better for services. On the way back from the Pyrenees and the N-260, the route south across the Lluçanès toward Barcelona is a peaceful way to wind down after the high mountain passes.