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A delightful short way-marked circular walk
from Casa della Fontana amongst vineyards and
woodlands.
More information ?
If you would like more information please call me on:-
0039 0141 851 154
or send me an email,
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keep in touch, please fill in and
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We look forward to hearing from you.
© Kerrie Barker 2007
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This short walk (nominally 4.5km) is one of
many way-marked country paths that explore the quiet roads, country lanes
and tracks in the area where we live.
Brief description
The official "start point" is at the
small chapel of San Sebastiano in Cassinasco, but as the walk is
circular and goes past the short drive leading up to
Casa della Fontana, you can join
this walk here.
You stroll amongst vineyards along quiet roads up to the head
of our valley, then along the watershed, with the neighbouring village of
Rochetta Palafea (pictured above) before you on the skyline. You then take a lane down into the floor of the
Upper Merlino Valley, the next
valley to the east.
After crossing a small stream,
the route climbs back out
on a track leading through shady chestnut woodland, to emerge at a marvellous viewpoint
looking south across the Bormida valley. The church spires of Ponti and the
tower of Castelletto d'Erro adorn the distant skyline.
(From here, if you wish,
instead of returning directly to Cassinasco, you can take another way-marked
path to the neighbouring comune of Sessame.)
As always, stout shoes are a good idea for
tackling the off-road sections, and it is sensible to carry a bottle of
water if, like we did, you tackle this walk in the heat of summer. The path
out of the valley bottom ascends about 175 metres (appx. 550 feet)
Accompanying dog available, on request.
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Barbera |
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Straight away we pass vines of black grapes which are already fully coloured in early August |
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Orchid |
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Wild orchids grow in the road side verges |
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Geese |
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Our neighbour has acquired a small flock of inquisitive young geese |
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Regione Coda |
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With the comune of Rochetta Palafea is on the skyline
vineyards still cover the slopes up to the road. |
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Regione Chiesa |
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Looking back up the quiet lane which descends into the valley bottom |
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Prepared field |
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The path enters woodland, crosses the tiny stream and starts to climb out of the valley; here it crosses a field that has been cleared for cultivation |
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Fern |
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Deep in shady woodland, the path is bordered by ferns illuminated in the strong sunlight |
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Open view |
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As you climb out of the woods at the summit of the path a marvellous view opens up to the south across the Bormida valley |
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Hazelnuts |
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The hazelnut plantations have been scraped and swept bare in anticipation of the imminent nut harvest |
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Moscato |
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And thick, heavy bunches of moscato grapes adorn this vineyard |
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The panoramic view to the south over the Bormida valley
Click to enlarge this file (1.6mb)
E mail:
kerrie@anitalianadventure.co.uk
0039 0141 851 154
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