By Bike

We farewell the spectacular pale mountains, and head south to the beautiful hilly Chianti region of Tuscany. A week in a delightful old villa near Gaiole in Chianti. Six of us for a few days, then five. The pool set and… Continue reading

Rifugio Locatelli is set in one of the most spectacular parts of the Dolomites. Big call given every day has been spectacular! It is also one of the most popular and easily accessible, meaning – the place was packed!! Our… Continue reading

The penultimate day of our walk was straight down and up affair with some navigation of via ferrata, a tunnel and one last long climb to Rifugio Locatelli. The track went up… And up… And up… And up… And up…… Continue reading

Morning at Rifugio Vallndro waiting for the sun to shine on Croda Rossa. Light cloud swirls up its craggy red, grey and snowy slopes then disappears down the other side. A soft chilly breeze blows through from the north. We’ve… Continue reading

About to head off from Rifugio Biella when we learn that a big chunk of the Croda Rossa has collapsed and covered our route. Only happened a few weeks ago. Over two million tons of red rock sliced from the… Continue reading

En route to Rifugio Biella we traverse another stunning alpine limestone landscape. Layers of ancient coral reefs compressed, tilted, twisted and uplifted over hundreds of millions of years. Milky grey rock hardened through oxidation. Split and worn down through constant… Continue reading

The majestic forests of the Dolomites have been an important source of timber for thousands of years, and are still an important part of the local and national economy. Antonio Stradivari handpicked Norway Spruce trees from the Dolomites that he later crafted… Continue reading

Our next two days are wonderful walking. Over the top of a snow dusted rock plateau. A long, long descent through a deep narrow gully into tall stands of conifers.  An equally long ascent through the forest to an amazing… Continue reading