Monthly Archives: April 2024

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Sori (Sunday, April 21) – Given the favourable weather, is anyone up for one last hike-without-swim? The plan for Sunday is to have one more walk away from the sea (but not too far, actually!) and conquer the scenic peak of Mt Possuolo, in the Sori inland.

The route is well described on at https://www.appenninista.it/teriasca-possuolo/ and features the picturesque hamlets of Teriasca and Canepa, narcissi in bloom and the ruins of a medieval shelter near the peak, as the path used to be well trodden because of the salt trade. if we’re lucky, we might be able to spot some of the wild horses that roam between Mt Possuolo and Bocchin di Levà.

Hike is rated as E (medium), has 750 mt of vertical gain and should take around 4 hours.

Return will be around 5pm, from Sori train station.

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How to get to Sori, and how to come back alive:

On Sunday, 21st April, let’s meet at 10:33am at the entrance of Sori station.

Suggested trains are:

for those travelling eastwards

REG – 10:05 Genova Brignole – Sori 10:33

for those travelling westwards

REG – Sestri Levante 9:27 – Sori 10:07

for those travelling southwards

REG – 07:32 Milano Lambrate – Sori 10:07

As usual, if you have doubts, questions, Hamlet-like dilemmas… feel free to message me ( vidlothianATgmailDOTcom ) or call me (+39 3297203364)

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Sunday, 14 April – Anyone up for exploring the mysterious and mystical lands of Borzonasca?

Known as the gateway to the Aveto park, the town of Borzonasca marks the beginning of a remote region that sometimes is also nicknamed “Ligurian Switzerland”. The trails around Borzonasca are not difficult, but they bear plenty of atmosphere: there’s an ancient romanic-gothic abbey, that’s among the oldest monastic complexes in Italy, a 600 year old cypress tree… and then there’s the so called “face of Christ”, a 7 metre tall / 4 metre wide monolith on which a human face has been carved. No one has yet been able to determine its origin!

Plan then is to follow the indications of http://www.verdeazzurroligure.com/index_htm_files/19%20-%20Borzone.pdf and have a loop around Borzone and Borzonasca. The route also includes “Rocca di Borzone”, a former castle whose ruins now serve as lookout point. We can choose to either complete the full loop and reach the Rocca or, if we skip the lookout point, we could perhaps consider replacing it with yet another enchanted landmark of the region, the Licciorno church ( https://www.genovatoday.it/social/san-martino-licciorno-storia-leggenda.html )

The trail features 500 metres of elevation gain, takes around 3 1/2 hours and is rated as “T/E” (easy/medium). Replacing Rocca di Borzone with the Licciorno church will add an extra 40 minutes.

How to get to Borzonasca and how to come back alive:

On Sunday morning, let’s meet at 11:03 am at the entrance of Chiavari station.

From there, we’ll take the 11:21 bus to Borzonasca. As it would be better to start hiking right away, please bring food with you! (of course, you may also get it in Chiavari, if you arrive early)

For coming back, I suggest catching the 5:25pm bus from Borzonasca, arriving in Chiavari at 6pm.

For more details about the bus, please refer to:
https://www.amt.genova.it/amt/trasporto-multimodale/linee-bus-provinciali-old/tigullio-centrale/borzonasca/

As for Chiavari, recommended trains are:

  • if you travel eastwards
    REG – Genova Brignole 10:05 – Chiavari 11:03
  • if you travel westwards:
    REG – La Spezia Centrale 09:47 – Chiavari 10:32
  • if you travel southwards:
    REG – Milano Lambrate 07:32 – Chiavari 10:12

Return will be from Chiavari station, shortly after 6pm.

As usual, if you have doubts, questions, Hamlet-like dilemmas… feel free to message me ( vidlothianATgmailDOTcom ) or call me (+39 3297203364)

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Ronco Scrivia Train Station h 10:00 am till 18:00

Since the weather this weekend it seems to perfect for hiking, shall we have a short hike to the royal mountain of Ronco Scrivia?
If it were so, let’s meet at 10:00 at Ronco Scrivia train station… and head up to the top of Monte Reale, across chestnut woods and pudding stone formations. The mountain peak hosts the shrine of Loreto, where once stood a castle. The shrine rises at a height of 902 mt and can offer 360 degree views over the Alps and the sea. While spotting the Alps looks a bit unlikely, we should have clear views over the west, south and east.
Despite there being almost 600 metres of elevation gain, hike is rated as “T” (easy). Hiking time should be around 3 hours.
You may read more about Monte Reale on:
– http://www.monte-reale.it/documents/scheda.html(detailed description of the hike, we’ll do a circular loop via Monte Reale and Minceto)
– http://www.parcoantola.it/gallery_dettaglio.php?id=6697


How to get to Ronco Scrivia, and how to come back alive:
On Saturday, let’s meet at 9:52 am at Ronco Scrivia station. Recommended trains are:
– if you’re going northwards
Reg 12120
Genova Brignole 09:13 Genova Piazza Principe RV 2122 09:30 Ronco Scrivia 09:52


– if you’re going southwards
RV 3067
Milano Centrale 08:30 Ronco Scrivia 09:59
Return may be around 5:00pm.


As usual, if you have doubts, questions, Hamlet-like dilemmas… feel free to text me or call me (at +39 3337756854)