Els Metges (the restaurant at the end of the universe)

The viewing platform at puig d'Arques

I love this place... Els Metges is just 15 km from our house (the Om) and hidden in the middle of the Gavarres Massif, it feels like the restaurant and the end of the universe. It's a great local hike that also includes nice cold beer and a really good menu free from pesticides and artificial additives and flavourings. However, they only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and I'd suggest that it's a little too hot to hike it from June to September.

The dolmen at Puig d'Arques

You can also walk to this little village of Sant Cebrià de Lledó, made up of one house, a church and various sheds and outbuildings from CCD. Today, was my yearly pilgrimage for very large and very cold beer, then another one to keep the first one company (I deserved it 15km !!!). To keep the beers company, I had some lovely Jamón Serrano on a beautifully crispy baguette served Catalan style with "Tomaquet", garlic and olive oil. Simple and delicious and the two large beers and an open ham sandwich came to just €15

Snow in the Pyrenees in the distance

So, even though it's May, you'll need suncream and plenty of water for the trip. You can fill up with water at the restaurant, but there are no natural fonts on the way. The restaurant only serves hot food after 13.00, so if you arrive early, either expect to wait at a table with a drink or have a sandwich. The food here is really good and despite the long hike in or the long drive in via country roads from Casa de la Selva (Girona) it is extremely popular with the locals and this is one of our off-the-beaten-track secrets.

Jamos serrano and a cold beer

Easy trails in the Gavarres Massif

The menu at Els Metges

The trail is quite easy and very gently rises over 9 km to the top of the Gavarres Massif where you can visit the radome at Puig d'Arques and the late neolithic dolmen situated there. There is also a viewing platform with quite stunning views of the Gavarres hills the seaside towns of Palamós, Platja d'Aro and Torroella de Montgrí and the Mediterranean coastline and the Pyrenees with the last snow still on the peaks.

The ruined mania at Sant Cebrià dels Alls

From there, it's a 6 km short walk along easy tracks with flowering hedgerows full of wild lavender, blackberries, rock rose, lupins, sow thistle and honeysuckle. The bees were having a great time making honey today. The trails are very well marked and it's nigh on impossible to get lost although I did take the scenic route back home, half on purpose to see where it went and half because of the two large beers.

The view from Els Metges towards La Bisbal

You don't need a reservation unless you have a large party and I can recommend:

• the Escalivada (roasted onion, aubergines and red peppers) served on crunchy toast with olive oil and anchovies

• the "sausage tree" a quirky way of serving different types of cured sausage with toast, garlic and tomaquet

• anything from the BBQ (a la brasa) and especially the lamb (Xai).

Hedge row trails full of spring flowers

The views from the terrace in front of the restaurant are fantastic, the food excellent and all at a price that won't break the bank. To come home, simply retrace your steps.... without taking the scenic short cut.....