5 places to swim with the family beyond the beach

BarcelonaThere's life beyond the crowded, touristy coast. Catalonia is full of rivers, pools, and reservoirs where you can take a dip and shelter the little ones from the heat. We recommend five places to swim with the family throughout the region.

Located in Monistrol de Calders (Moianès), the Sant Joan stream is an ideal destination for a refreshing getaway near Barcelona. Along this stream, formed by the Calders River, you'll find several perfect bathing areas for children where they can splash around without losing their feet. Between these clear water spots, there are several ponds, and the Saladic pool, a small waterfall formed between stone slabs that is usually quite crowded. But don't worry, some of the most spectacular swimming spots on this route are further ahead. These are the pool at the Molí d'en Sala, a former flour mill that now houses rural tourism apartments and a picnic and barbecue area, and the Rubió lock, a spot accessible by car with picnic tables perfect for a bite to eat. In fact, this blue-water lock was built to deliver the water that powered the millstone and irrigated the surrounding orchards. To reach these landscapes, you need to take a simple, kid-friendly 6-km circular route that begins next to the village church and follows a path parallel to the stream, surrounded by lush natural vegetation. Just wear your water shoes and be careful on wet rocks!

If you visit Ripollès and Sant Joan de les Abadesses, the smallest town in the region, but one with a rich historical heritage, you can head to the Malatosca pool for a dip. This waterfall is reached by taking a 10-minute walk from the parking lot in front of the Ruta del Ferro hostel, a former railway station, located at km 9 of the Iron and Coal Route. If you're keen to walk and connect with our industrial past, this section of the Girona greenway, which runs from Ripoll to Ogassa and follows the old railway route, is also suitable for children, as it is 18 km long and has very little elevation change. To get to the pool, the path from the parking lot, surrounded by vegetation, is well signposted and easy to navigate, except for the descent to the pool, which is somewhat steeper. Descending has its rewards: the blue waters of the pool await you (icy cold, if you're sensitive to the cold) and, above all, a charming calm. Charming and enchanting, because popular beliefs place witches' encounters there. In fact, legend tells that it was here that a midwife helped a witch give birth, who paid her with a handful of lentils that the midwife angrily threw into the River Ter. But the next day, the midwife found a lentil stuck to her apron. It had turned into gold.

Neither sunbathing on a deserted beach nor cooling off in a mountain pool: reservoirs offer the balance of a shady landscape where you can retreat from the heat and warmer waters. In the heart of Montsec, in the Noguera region, lies Sant Llorenç de Montgai, a village built on the banks of the reservoir of the same name, irrigated by the Segre River and belonging to the municipality of Camarasa. Surrounded by riparian forest (willows, poplars, and plane trees), it is a peaceful setting for strolling, diving, and water activities such as kayaking. It is also a Wildlife Reserve, and you can see a wide variety of aquatic birds thanks to its consistently high water level. If you take a long look, you can lose yourself in the privileged views of rugged mountains, including the Oso wall, the Mont-roig and Monteró mountain ranges, and the characteristic Coma de Gelis ridge. As you might have guessed, it's an iconic destination for climbers. And if you're up for a hike, there's a two-and-a-half-hour circular route around the reservoir that lets you see everything and is suitable for little ones. It also has a prehistoric surprise in store, as it passes by the Roca dels Bous archaeological site, where Neanderthal occupations dating back more than 50,000 years have been documented.

Pallars Jussà has many charming spots, such as the Sant Antoni reservoir, a great oasis for connecting with nature located near Tremp, amidst the Pyrenean foothills. With over 9 km² and over 11 km in length, the reservoir is considered the deepest freshwater body of water in Catalonia. The reservoir is located in the municipality of Talarn and extends through La Pobla de Segur, Salàs de Pallars, Cuenca de Dalt e Isona, and Conca Dellà. It's ideal for cooling off with the family because it's easily accessible and has several areas designated for swimming and picnicking, and is rarely crowded. Furthermore, there's plenty of shade, and its waters are perfect for water sports such as kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, and water skiing. If the reservoir's waters are very low, you can see the tip of the bell tower of the Sant Antoni de Susterris hermitage emerging, submerged as a result of the reservoir's construction between 1913 and 1916. It's not a beach, but there is a beach bar where you can stop. It's the La Pobla beach bar, located near La Pobla de Segur along the Aramunt road. If you'd like to enjoy the immensity of this landscape, you can also take a 17-km circular bike route from La Pobla de Segur to the village of Aramunt Vell (Cuenca de Dalt), with views of the reservoir and shaded areas for resting.

Looking for a cool place to escape the heat? In Les Planes de Hostoles, in the heart of La Garrotxa, you'll find pools to choose from and stir your way. This is the natural area of the Brugent River, which is currently regulated, and requires advance reservations for paid admission for adults and free for children through the Town Hall website. However, although the pools are usually crowded, it's well worth going (and if you can, go early). You can park in the multipurpose room parking lot, located in the town center, and walk along the Carrilet greenway, a path that follows the old railway line between Olot and Girona. The route is well signposted, and you'll soon find the Can Poeti pool, and if you continue, you'll reach the Santa Margarida pool, one of the most impressive. If you want to go further, you'll find the Molí dels Murris pool, but this will take you a 40-minute walk. Another option is to park in the designated parking lot near the village cemetery, from where you can walk across the road to the Poza de la Plana. The crystal-clear waters invite you to dive safely, but watch your feet, as the path passes through places where the river rises and can be slippery.