Hiking near Barcelona

[Peakseeker]

I'll be starting the Camino del Norte at the end of this month from Irún but I have 4 days in Barcelona leading up to this. I would love to spend one or two of these days out of the city hiking. I would absolutely hate to miss the beauty of the Pyrenees.
Can anybody recommend some hikes in the vicinity of Barcelona, either for a day or an overnight? It would have to be something that allows me to stay in an albergue as I don't have a tent. I would love to see a town like Girona, and I've read about a Camino leaving from here.
All input is greatly appreciated

Peace !!!
-Henry

 

[spursfan]

Or stay in Barcelona and take the train then cable-car up to Montserrat

 

[oursonpolaire]

Montserrat monastery has an albergue, and there is also an albergue in the Hotel Celler de la Guardia (call ahead for the albergue) in Sant Pau de la Guàrdia (11.4km from Montserrat) or in Castelloli, 6km from Sant Pau), and in Igualada (9km). Out of Igualada there is an albergue in Jorba, 7.3km on, and the next stop is in La Panadella-- while there is no albergue there, the Hotel Bayona provides a pilgrim rate of about 20 euro. 16km further brings you to Cervera (albergue at the Residencia Sagrada Familia), where there are frequent trains and buses to Barcelona.

The walk from Montserrat is alongside the road for the first 7km then through an arduous forest path until Sant Pau. From Sant Paul to Igualada is a combination of recreational paths and local roads until near Igualada, where one goes through commercial suburbs. Igualada to La Panadella is a combination of paths and local roads until the last 4-5km, a very uphill walk alongside a fairly unused road. From La Panadella to Cervera is on rural gravel roads until Cervera.

 

[jungleboy]

I hear that this hike in the foothills of Mt Tibidabo has an interesting side benefit...

 

[Rob the Slob]

A few hours north of Barcelona is Cap de Creus, the Bay of Rosas, the monestary of Sant Pere de Rodes, Cadaques and Dali's house, the Aiguamolls national park and the Roman and Greek ruins of Empuria. I spent a very happy week hiking there about six years ago. (The area is also the setting for much of the Hornblower novel A Ship of the Line.)

 

[Vacajoe]

We walked from Montserrat to Manresa, which is the last stage of the Camino Ignatius - great walk through the countryside! Albergue at the start and a youth hostel at the finish.