The river Brugent runs down the Vall d'Hostoles between wooded slopes, and in summer its clear pools, gorgs in Catalan, are where the people of the valley go to cool off. The point lies near Sant Feliu de Pallerols, a small village in the Garrotxa, between Olot and Girona, and on a hot afternoon on the way back from a long ride, a dip in the river is exactly what the body asks for.
The valley follows the route of an old narrow-gauge railway, the Carrilet, which once linked Olot with Girona, and its trackbed has been turned into a greenway for walkers and cyclists, running gently downhill through the forest and past the villages. The countryside is green and lush, with oak and beech forests, meadows and old stone farmhouses, and the cliffs of the Collsacabra rise to the west.
Just to the north lies the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone, a natural park of extinct volcanoes, lava flows and beech forests around Olot. The most famous volcanoes, Santa Margarida and Croscat, are easy to visit, and the Fageda d'en Jordà, a beech forest growing on a lava flow, is particularly beautiful in autumn. The volcanic soil makes the area very fertile, and the local cuisine, known as volcanic cuisine, uses products like buckwheat, potatoes, beans and pork.
The river pools are cold, clear and often quite deep, with rocky banks, so be careful getting in and out. There are no lifeguards, and after heavy rain the river can rise quickly. The roads in the valley are pleasant, winding through the forest along the river, and the road over the Coll de Condreu to the west climbs through the cliffs of the Collsacabra with great views. Fuel and services are available in Olot and Girona, and there are bars and restaurants in the villages of the valley. The best time for a swim is from June to September.