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The Camino de Andorra is a walking trail in the Pyrenees in northern Catalunya, Spain. It starts near the town of Oliana in the valley of the Segre river, and winds its way northwards through beautiful mountains and forests, ending in Andorra. Historically it was used by smugglers and political refugees to move unnoticed from Spain into France. As such, it avoids all main roads and large towns. In the Spanish civil war, it was used as an escape route from the Republican sector to the Nationalist sector, via France. In the winter of 1937, St Josemaria, founder of Opus Dei, with a party of 7 others, made use of this route to escape from Republican Spain. It was a highly dangerous endeavour. Parties intercepted by the military while attempting this route were normally executed on the spot. Travelling at night to avoid detection, in poor physical shape, and with even poorer equipment, after many adventures and near misses, the party safely reached Andorra.

In the last few years, the route has been developed, sign posts added, books and maps published. The total route is 92km long, and is normally covered in 6 days, with hike times of 5-8 hours per day.

Ely University Centre is proposing to get a group together to do a hike on parts of the Camino de Andorra. The dates currently being proposed are departure on Wednesday morning (23 Sept 09) and arrival back in Dublin on Tuesday evening (29 Sept 09). More details on the proposed 4-stage hike can be found here (plan and elevation views)

The cost is estimated to be about EUR 500 to cover flight, car rental and accommodation, but add to this money for pack lunch and evening meals, which each one will pay for separately.