EPIC VIEWS ON TOP OF CASTILLO D’ACHER

By Julia Van Peer

"The further you look, the hues begin to change into daze blue tones, until they finally merge with the sky. I could admire this view for hours and become at one with nature."

The Pyrenees, being a Mecca for every type of hiker, offer a wide variety of day-hikes, multi-day hikes, peak ascents, Vias Ferratas, mountain bike trails, and other (sometimes extreme) outdoor activities. In this article I will take you to the top of the crowning jewel of Parque Natural Valles Occidentales, namely Castillo d’Acher.

At 2384 metres above sea level, the summit reveals one of the most captivating vistas I have witnessed so far. It matches the Rysy summit in Slovakia and the Musala Mountain in Bulgaria. When seen from below, the top of the mountain can best be described as ‘a stone fortress made up of a circle of towering peaks’, hence the name Castillo d’Acher – a true spectacle for the eye.

On the way to the 'stone avalanche'.

The signpost indicating the start of the trail is situated next to a parking lot at Selva de Oza. The first section of the hike is not spectacular in terms of far reaching views, seeing it is a small dirt track traversing a dense forest area. Even in June, this will be your last chance to refill your water bottles, so take this to heart and try to use your water sparingly from here on.

After an hour the veil of trees opens up and reveals an open landscape.

After an hour of plodding through the forest, the green curtain of trees opens up and reveals a different kind of green paradise. This time one of fresh meadows and open grassy plains, surrounded on all sides by imposing rock monuments. It feels like a breath of fresh air after the forest part. Furthermore, your best climbing skills will be challenged in this next section of the trail. Make your way from hill to hill, taking occasional short breaks to enjoy the area. Since the walk is a round trip, you are lucky to get to see all the views twice – double the fun!

TIP

Although a decayed sign can be discerned here and there, and the trail is very self-explanatory, I still recommend keeping a hiking app by hand, just in case.

Three colors dominate the landscape: foresty green, heavenly blue and earthy brown.

An exhausting hour later you face your biggest challenge of the day – climbing the ‘stone avalanche’. As is often the case in the mountains, the passage through the ‘fortifications’ of the stone castle seems inaccessible from afar. But once at the foot of the avalanche it becomes clear where you will break through. Be careful where you put your feet, seeing the stones can be very loose in several places, and shifts can occur.

The rounded peaks make for a unique sight.

As a preview of the real summit, you will first be treated to a unique sight – viewed from the ‘inside’, the stone walls of the fortress take on amazing shapes. It’s like looking down on a dragon’s back. One rounded peak after another shoots out of the ground, creating something you’ve never seen before – it is truly breathtaking.

One peak rises after the other.

Less than 15 minutes later you reach the 2 384 metre high top and you can enjoy a unique phenomenon. Wherever you look, 360 degrees all around, one mountain rises after another. The further you look, the hues begin to change into daze blue tones, until they finally merge with the sky. I could admire this view for hours and become at one with nature.

Try to take in as much as you can before descending the same way back as you came up earlier.