Congost de Mont-rebei

The Noguera Ribagorcana cuts a narrow slot between Aragon and Catalonia, and the walls rise several hundred metres almost vertically from water held flat and green by a dam. There is no road and no railway through it, which is unusual in the Pyrenean foothills. Access is on foot along a ledge blasted and chiselled into the rock, in places barely wider than your shoulders, with the drop unfenced on the river side. From the north the approach crosses two hanging footbridges and climbs steel steps bolted to the cliff. Kayaks can be hired on the reservoir for a view from the water, which is the easier option.

What you actually see

• The cliff ledge - a path cut into vertical limestone with an open drop to the water.
• The hanging bridges - two suspension footbridges on the northern approach.
• The Montfalco steps - steel staircases bolted directly to the rock face.
• Kayaks on the reservoir - the gorge seen from the water rather than from above.

When to go

Spring and autumn suit it best; the gorge is a heat trap in July and August and there is almost no shade on the ledge. Weekends and holidays fill the car parks by mid-morning and both sides now cap numbers, so arrive early or come midweek. Winter walking is fine but the path can ice over in shade.

Honest expectations

The path is unfenced above a long drop and is not for anyone uneasy with heights, or for small children left to wander. It is there and back unless you arrange transport, so budget four hours. Parking is charged, limited and often full by nine. There is no water, no shade and nowhere to buy anything on the route.

Nearby

Ager and the Montsec range, a designated dark-sky area for night viewing.