Standing on Top of Andorra's Summit

Ramble Worldwide walk leader Jane hits the heights in Andorra's mountains

Every guide has that one moment when everything comes together, when weeks of preparation, days of gradual building, and hours of careful route-finding culminate in something that transcends the ordinary. For our Andorra group, that moment came at 2,943 metres above sea level, standing on the rocky summit of Pic de Coma Pedrosa.

The ascent began deceptively gently, winding through grassy ridges that rolled like green waves beneath our feet. The morning air was crisp, full of promise, and the group moved with the confidence they'd built over our week together. These weren't the same people who'd struggled with the pathless terrain of our first day, they'd become real mountain walkers.

As we climbed higher, the terrain revealed its true character. The grassy slopes gave way to proper mountain paths, carved by countless feet over generations. Then came the pièce de résistance, a lovely rocky ridge that demanded both physical effort and mental focus.

Four hours. That's how long it took us to reach the top, but it felt like both an eternity and an instant. Every step was earned, every view was a reward for the commitment we'd made to this challenge.

Standing on that summit, looking out over the whole of Andorra with France and Spain stretching beyond, I felt something I've rarely experienced in decades of guiding. This wasn't just a successful climb, it was a moment of perfect clarity about why we do this.

The rocky slopes we'd climbed were still carpeted with those incredible pink alpenrose flowers, as if the mountain had dressed itself in celebration of our arrival. The blue lakes we'd discovered in previous days sparkled far below, looking like scattered gems in the landscape.

But it was the faces of my group that truly made this moment special. This was a great achievement for them, not just physically, but emotionally. They'd pushed themselves beyond what they thought possible, and the mountain had rewarded their courage with this spectacular gift.

This summit became the highlight of what was already a week of superb mountain walking. But it wasn't just about reaching the highest point, it was about the journey that had brought us here. Every challenging ascent in previous days had prepared us for this moment. Every rough descent had built the strength and confidence we needed. The pathless terrain, the steep climbs, the technical sections, they'd all been leading to this.

As we stood there, sharing the euphoria of genuine achievement, I realised this was what serious mountain walking should feel like. Not easy, not convenient, but absolutely, completely worth

What struck me most powerfully throughout this week was the wild, remote nature of the mountain scenery. We rarely saw other walkers, which meant we were truly immersed in rocky peaks, flower meadows, and mountain lakes that felt primordial.

This isn't the Alps, where every peak has been conquered by cable cars and tourist infrastructure. This is something more precious, an unspoiled area where you can still feel like an explorer rather than a consumer.

There's a huge amount of mountain walking to do in this small country, easily enough to fill two weeks without visiting the same place twice. Every valley holds surprises, every peak offers new perspectives, every day brings discoveries that remind you why you fell in love with the mountains in the first place.

That moment on the summit of Pic de Coma Pedrosa, surrounded by the immense beauty of three countries, having followed ancient smuggler's routes and discovered hidden lakes, with the whistle of marmots still echoing in our ears, that's when I felt we were truly 'rambling worldwide.'

We weren't just tourists passing through. We were travellers who had earned our place in this landscape through commitment, preparation, and respect for the mountains themselves.

As we began our careful descent, I watched my group move with the confidence that comes from genuine achievement. They'd faced Andorra's challenges and emerged stronger, more connected to the wild places that matter most. This is what real mountain walking should feel like. This is why we seek out the places that demand our best effort. This is why Andorra, with all its hidden valleys and secret peaks, has become one of my favourite places to share with people who understand that the best experiences aren't the easiest ones.

The eagle that welcomed us on our first day had been right, we were entering something special. And we'd been worthy of it.