COMA DE L'EMBUT

This is a fine hike with areas of limestone habitat and a great variety of flowers.  From the Santuary in Val de Nuria, head west on the track towards Puigmal and climb steeply though a wooded area. Crossing a small saddle you reach the valley draining Coma de l’Embrut.  This part of the valley is a small limestone canyon and is normally dry as the stream disappears into a swallow hole about 0.5 km above.  It is worth walking up the base of the dry canyon where there is a superb range of flora including Adonis pyrenaica, Daphne cneorum, Saxifraga pubescens,  Saxifraga media and Androsace villosa. 

Above the limestone area, the underlying geology is acidic and Primula latifolia and Primula integrifolia can be found.  In the grassy meadows to the right are Gentiana pyrenaica and Gentiana alpina. Turning away from the Puigmal track head north across the meadows towards l’Estanyola and a series of small cliffs.  In the screes are wonderful Viola diversifolia and Androsace vandellii grows under the overhangs.

For the energetic, the reference below recommends heading up to the col north of Puigmal and then up Pic de Segre. On the return one can follow the valley down below the limestone canyon to join the main valley below.

This area can also  be accessed from France via the road from Err to the parking lot at 2000 m which was built for the Err-Puigmal ski area.  The border ridge can be gained near the summit of Puigmal de Llo at 2801 m.  Viola diversifolia can be seen on the ascent and superb Androsace laggeri and Ranunculus parnassifolius are on the ridge.

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VIDEO of Flora of Nuria is  HERE

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Mountain Flower Walks:  The Pyrenees and Picos de Europa by Margaret and Henry Taylor.  Alpine Garden Society.