On Foot

Out & About.

We enjoy walking and exploring (although we are not hikers or serious walkers, and usually aim for around 5 miles/7km). There are plenty of local tracks from the door. Sadly many of them have become overgrown, but from time to time we arrive to find some have been reopened. Our dogs especially enjoy our little jaunts, as they can run free without a lead.

Many of the tracks were the main routes before ‘tarmacced’ roads were created. The new tarmac roads had to take motor vehicles, so were routed on the least steep areas, often ‘hairpinning’ backwards and forwards to make up the rise. Other of the tracks were shepherd tracks, hunters tracks or animal tracks.

These are some of the walks we have established from our door.

Quick circular walk around the land.

From the house, leave onto the lane left, continue along past the two further holiday houses, keep on the lane, down the track which has become rough and steep.

Where the path splits in two, take the left path, then immediately left again, which is often only just passable through the blackthorn bushes, follow the path which is often rough and overgrown, generally downhill and into the woods. When you reach a ‘T- junction, turn left. Soon, reach another ‘T- junction’ (*1) and turn right. Eventually come to a ‘wild boar bath’ (*2) and bear left along the path, follow the track, which is more of an animal track. On the left is a steep bank up, and on the right, steep bank down into the wild woods. Continue on a little further and scramble up (*3) (to the left of a large empty centred chestnut tree). Enter into our lowest terrace – Walnut Tree Grove, then make your way up to the house.

(*1) Or – take the left turn, up a mud path, then follow it hairpin right upwards and then around a narrow bend out onto a fenced field, follow the fence to the right, and at the rocks, down into our land. Along ‘The Wall’, follow along the pathway and up to the house.

(*2) an extension – turn right through trees and come out onto an open field ( someone elses land which is often maintained, bear left round a bend and back into a copse of trees, follow the animal track onto a grassy hillside, and continue following the track, pushing your way through undergrowth into an open dell with piles of rock, and ferns (Fairy Dell), then forward and scramble up through coppiced hazelnut trees, to (*3)

To Croce/ Stazzana/ The Church at Stazzana.

From the house turn right onto the track, up, then turn right onto the Metello road. At the end of this road turn right onto the SS69 (direction of Castelnuovo). Travel downhill, around the sharp bend, and continue along the road to Croce, a small roadside village. There is no pavement, but is generally quiet and reasonably level.

At Croce, it is possible to take a right turn to Stazzana, a small, no through route village, visible from our house. Return from Stazzana along the same route.

At Croce continue on the road for another 0.5km, then take the right road downhill towards Caduti di Stazzana (Church with a triangular shaped roof).

It is positioned on a promontory with far reaching views across the valley, and was built as an symbol of peace, and to commemorate the actions of the Alpini resistance fighters of the Garfagnana, as they defended the area from the fascist forces during WW2. (for more information visit Garfagnana Gothic Line Museum)