NIGEL'S RAMBLES

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Summer Holidays

Just a week’s holiday this year.

First stop was three days in Bra, CN. Bra is between the Langhe e Roero, two of Italy’s most famous wine making regions. The most interesting part of the Roero apart from the wine are the Rocche. The Rocche are similar to canyons and stretch northward from Bra.

Pocapaglia, Bra, CN

S. Stefano Roero, CN

Pocapaglia, Bra, CN

I managed to explore right down into the bottom of one of these canyons, even though the footpath was rather overgrown. The Rocche are magical at sunset when the sandy wals become orange.

Pocapaglia, Bra, CN

La Morra area in the Langhe was interesting for the wine growing villages. In the bars here one can drink a glass of good wine for a couple of Euro's if you find the right place, for example the "Cantina Comunale" in Monteu Roero.

La Morra, CN

Pocapaglia, Bra, CN

Montaldo Roero, CN

Monteu Roero, CN

Sommariva Perno, CN

Then onto San Remo for four days.

Here it was unbelievably hot and humid. But it’s always interesting to explore the Pigna – the old part of San Remo.

The port, San Remo, IM

La Pigna, San Remo, IM

Liars gate, La Pigna, San Remo, IM

La Pigna, San Remo, IM

San Remo, IM

To escape the heat an hour in the sea was the only thing to do.

Last stop was Camogli with its towering buildings overlooking the sea.

Camogli, GE

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

To Madman Mountain

It was the last chance that I will have to dedicate a whole day to the mountains for a while.

I decided to go to one of my favourite places in the Apennines: the Cento Laghi Park in the province of Parma.

Rocca Pumacciolo, PR

I Lagoni, PR

Monte Orsaro, PR

Monte Sillara from Rocca Pumacciolo, PR

The route I decided to take started at the Lagoni Refuge and then continued on to the Sella di Rocca Pumacciolo. At the Sella the 711 footpath emerges from the woods to give a fantastic view of the 2 lakes that form the Lagoni.

The footpath the follows the ridge between the Sella and Monte Paitino. The path has some superb views across the Park, even though it’s a bit exposed in some places.

Below Monte Paitino, looking towards Monte Matto, PR

Monte Scala, Pr

I then visited Monte Sillara and the lakes below. This is one of my favourite places in the Appennines.

Monte Paitino, PR

Lago Sillara, Pr

Il Crinale from Monte Sillara

A 180 degree turn and on to Monte Matto ( Madman)along the 00 Crinale path. This is quite good fun with sheer drops down into Tuscany.

Monte Sillara, PR

Along the Crinale between Monte Paitino and Monte Matto, PR

Now it was time do descend down to the car. I took the path that passes the small Lake Bicchiere, Passo Fugicchia and Lake Scuro. I stopped for a while at Lago Scuro to admire the landscape. Then back into the woods for the last stretch to Rifugio Lagoni.

Lago Bicchiere, PR

Monte Scala, PR

Lago Scuro, Pr

Above I Lagoni, Pr

Glacier action, Lagoni, PR

It was a hot misty July day so the photographs were not the best I have taken in this area. Sometimes the more usual bad weather one finds here makes for more interesting photographs. (Cento laghi true to form).

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Summer Holidays

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

To Madman Mountain

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