CANYONING IN SOUTHERN EUROPE

Canyoning – the descent of natural gorges by a mixture of hiking, scrambling, swimming and abseiling – is a spicy mix of the fun and the adventurous. This is a guide to canyoning in the limestone areas of the western Mediterranean, stretching from the Costa Blanca via the Pyrenees to Provence, Sardinia and Mallorca. Selective in nature, it includes a selection of recommended gorge descents, ranging from two-hour strolls to long-day aquatic expeditions.
The more technical expeditions invariably involve abseiling and scrambling. Yet most canyons are within reach for anyone in possession of these skills and, in the case of wet canyons, a one-piece wetsuit. The friendly Mediterranean canyons are great places to 'learn the ropes', and the guide therefore provides a basic grounding in techniques and skills for the less experienced.