Old barn

Traditional tiles (coppi) on the roof of one of our neighbour's barns as we leave Regione Sconi heading south

Acacia woods

The road descends here through a stand of predominantly acacia trees.

Chestnut

The leaves of the chestnut trees turn a vivid and very pleasing yellow; the road underneath is littered with fallen fruit.

Burnished copper

This understated red foliage blends perfectly with its brasher neighbours

Autumn vineyard

The leaves of these moscato vines have turned a pale apple green; the mixed woodland behind forms a colourful backdrop

Vineyard and valley

Here, vines are being cultivated right up to the banks of a steep side valley running down from the road

Free range chicken

Passing one of the farmsteads by the road, we are accompanied by a flock of chickens. This one is foraging in a vineyard.

Autumn hillside

The cultivated south-western slopes contrast with the wilder, shadier hillside across the stream. These are freisa vines above moscato.

Dolcetto

The autumn colours of the dolcetto vine, contrasted here with moscato, are a pleasing deep burgundy. Rather like the wine itself.

Pastel reds

This backlit foliage shades to pink as the autumn sunlight filters through

Country lane

The road continues to drop gradually down; here the valley has narrowed again and the trees emerge from a bank of tufa

Valley bottom

The road describes a reverse curve as it crosses the bridge over the torrente; from here it ascends quite gently to the village of Monastero Bormida

Towards Sessame

As we climb out of the valley, we see the higher hills beyond that protect the neighbouring comune of Sessame

Garden flourish

These cultivated feathered grasses put on their fine plumage in autumn

The castello

The massive castello of Monastero is built on the site of the founding Benedictine monastery that gave the village its name.

River Bormida

Journey's end by the ancient bridge over the river, which now flows freely following autumnal rains.