In Catalan myth, a Dip is an evil black Hellhound and emissary of the Devil, lame in one leg, who sucks people's blood. The legend dates from at least 1602 from images on the altarpiece of Santa Marina de Pratdip church. Legend has it that the Dips sucked the blood of cattle, but only went out at night, and among their victims were drunken night owls who went to drink wine in the village taverns. According to tradition, the name of the village comes from these Hellhounds. The Legend of the Dip is the Catalan equivalent of the fictional Sherlock Holmes Hound of Baskervilles Novel by Conan Doyle.
Due to the Dip's thirst for blood, it inspired the 1960's play, Natural Stories, by author Joan Perucho and tells the story of Onofre de Dip, a noble vampire with the ability to transform himself into many animals. The central part of the play takes place in Pratdip at the beginning of the nineteenth century. This story has elements of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
This Meduim-hard circular hiking route starts and ends in Pratdip village and is around the Llaberia Natural park mountains. This is a great route for winter because of its proximity to the Coastline there is normally never snow in these mountains. The village is less that 2 hours by car south of Barcelona near Tarragona and is a lot warmer than the Pyrenees and pre-pyrennes.
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This is a great Catalan winter hiking route I have done three times, once in November, December and January. The route does involve some steep sections up some short ravines that have chains to traverse ascents of up to 2 metres so is not a route for anyone that has difficulty with vertical ascents or suffers from vertigo.
The route starts at Pratdip Castle ruin which gives 360 degree views of the village and mountains and follows the horseshoe shaped Cingles de Brancana cliffs.
Regarding the Dip or mountain wolves, I have never seen any and it is just a legend, even completing the last section of this hike at night there were no wolf howls, owl hoots, vampires or anything remotely scary. However, If you want to take a wolfs mask for drinks in the village bar and restaurant after the hike I am sure the villagers will appreciate the humour!
Allow 6-8 hours to complete the hike as always depending on personal fitness.
I advise at least 2 to 3 litres of drinking water.
NOTE: Pratdip hosts a rally on the T-310 road from the village into the mountains at the end of October. Avoid doing this hike on rally days because the road closures will block access to the start and end of this trail. Also the traffic to get to the village on the single access makes getting to the village very slow.
This is a predominantly forested hike in oaks, beeches and some pines that are in Llaberia Natural Park with a section of shrubland at the top. If you see Pines in the spring or summer then there may be poisonous Pine Processionary Caterpillars. However, I recommend this as a winter hike so there is a low probability of coming across Pine Processionary Caterpillars but be vigilant.
Note: It is possible to do it with dogs but you will need 4m of rope and a dog harness or at least three people to manhandle the dog up two of the chain sections. If your dog is the size of a pony then it is probably not viable! When I did this route I was with three people and two Yorkshire terriers so it was viable without the rope but the dog harness was needed. The descent includes a steep ravine section which was challenging for the dogs but they managed it without too much help from the humans.
I pack for wind when doing this hike because it is along a ridge line.
I recommend 3 to 4 litres of water because there is nowhere to top up along the route.
Address: Avinguda Catalunya 29-23, Pratdip. 43320
By public transport:
Pratdip is a small village with two busses per day on a Saturday, arriving from Tarragona at 14:20h and a bus leaving Pratdip at 07:25h on Saturday Morning. This bus service is not useful for a day's hiking activity. However, Pratdip is 15 minutes' drive from Hospital de L'Infant Renfe Regional Train station. From the Train station It is possible to get a taxi to Pratdip Village. Make sure you agree a pickup time or, 2 hours before arriving back at Pratdip village, call the taxi to avoid getting stranded.
By car:
Take exit 38 (hospitalet d L'Infant) of the AP-7. Village of Pratdip is about 15 minutes drive via the T-310. Park in Avenida Catalunya near the Piscina municipal (town swimming pool).
I have always traveled to Pratdip via car but I think the train and taxi option is viable if you start hiking no later than 10:00h and are back at the village by 18:00h approximately.
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Hiking in the hellhound & vampire village of Catalunya. A medium hard 15km circular route in the Llaberia Natural Park.
Distance: 14.39 Km
Difficulty: Moderate
Return Travel Fare: €29.50
Transport Network: Regional + Taxi
Mountain Forecast weather for Serra de Llaberia
