A route with three loops of increasing difficulty that, without reaching any peaks, offers enchanting views of the upper Maira Valley and its stone hamlets.

This trail was strongly championed by those who knew and loved Davide Mana (Momo), who passed away far too soon in 2020. During his life, Davide was able to involve people in many projects related to volunteering, Catholic Action, and sports.

Davide also had a deep love for the mountains and was particularly attached to the Maira Valley, which he explored far and wide up to the highest peaks. Furthermore, he always tried to bring people closer to the mountains and nature, with a careful eye on everyone’s abilities. The idea of the 3 loop routes (long red route, intermediate blue route, and short yellow route – see map) reflects this attitude: everyone can choose the one that suits them best.

Easy route suitable for families: Yellow Loop

Yellow – Short loop (also suitable for families)

• Total length 6 km
• Elevation gain 300 m

Blue – Medium loop

• Total length 12 km
• Elevation gain 500 m

Red – Long loop

• Total length 16/17 km
• Elevation gain 500 m

The trail goes up the Maira Valley from Acceglio to Chiappera, returning to the starting point from the opposite side. A large part of the trail, which also offers many opportunities for water supplies, winds through the shade of dense vegetation among trees, shrubs, flowers, and butterflies, accompanied by the sound of the Maira river, which flows now to the right, now to the left in the first part of the route. Nature and hamlets alternate, also offering various points of reflection based on quotes from him. To reach the start of the trail, head up the Maira Valley to Acceglio. At the exit of the village, just after passing a playground on the right, cross the bridge over the Rio Mollasco on a wide bend; at the end of the bridge, turn left and in about a hundred meters you will reach the parking lot adjacent to the soccer field. The trail, the first part of which is common to all three routes (signposts with red, blue, and yellow markers), begins on the left of the field and goes around it before starting to climb with a gentle slope until reaching the hamlet of Ponte Maira (about 30 minutes).

After crossing the bridge, continue to the left, ignoring the signs for the short route (signpost with yellow marker) described in point A. After a few meters, the trail crosses the provincial road and descends, right in front of the start of the bridge over the Maira, onto the left bank of the Maira, then continues uphill until reaching the small church of Saints Peter and Paul (about 20 minutes from Ponte Maira). Cross the bridge downstream to pick up the trail again on the right heading towards the upper Valley until you reach the Maira springs (about 30 minutes from the chapel of St. Peter and Paul), which are reached via a short final stretch of asphalt. Continue to the right on the wide dirt road used for parking and in a few meters you will reach the trail again (signpost with red and blue markers) which, with a sharp but short climb, leads to another junction. Turning right, the trail loses elevation (about 70/80 meters) until reaching the fork where, to the right, the intermediate route (signpost with blue marker) described in point B begins.

Continue to the left (from here on, the signposts will only have the red marker) until you reach, through slight ups and downs, the paved road that climbs to Chiappera in about 200 meters (about half an hour from the Springs). Entering the village, the route passes in front of the church of Santa Margherita and continues through the hamlet. Thus begins the return towards Acceglio on an easy road which, after a slight descent, starts to climb gently again until reaching the locality of Crocetta (about 45 minutes from Chiappera) where it meets the intermediate (blue) route coming from Saretto. In a few minutes, still on a slight incline, you reach the Belvedere (wooden bench), a panoramic viewpoint worth a stop where the view ranges from Tete de L’Homme to Brec de Chambeyron, Sautron, and the Stroppia waterfalls, not forgetting Rocca Provenzale and Torre Castello. From here on, a long traverse begins towards the small church of San Maurizio, which is reached after rejoining the short (yellow) route on the right that climbs from Ponte Maira.

The trail, which at this point has become common to all three loops again, continues in a sharp descent towards Acceglio, passing through the hamlet of Bargia and reaching the provincial road near the bridge over the Rio Mollasco; before the bridge, turning right for about a hundred meters, you return to the soccer field where the trail ends and the three loops close.

1. A) After crossing the bridge in the village of Villar, the yellow route continues straight through the houses, crosses the provincial road, and climbs the opposite slope where it joins the other two routes just before the small church of San Maurizio.

1. B) Ignoring the trail to the left (signpost with red marker), descend to the right until you reach the village of Saretto; cross through it until you meet the provincial road, follow it uphill for a few meters until you cross the dirt road that leads to the locality of Crocetta, where you join the red route.

For further info on Davide and historical notes, please visit:

Facebook: Sentiero Davide Cammina

www.sentierodavidecamminaconnoi.it

www.sentierodavidecamminaconnoi.it› the-project