Sunflower Books: Landscapes of the ITALIAN LAKES: WALKS AND CAR TOURS

Italian Lakes (2004), updated 12/09/08

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Updates for walks and car tours (drives) around the Italian Lakes given below supplement those provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book and want to "upgrade" to the latest edition at half price, click here.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably in hard copy, by post, to Sunflower Books, PO Box 115, Exeter EX2 6YU (or if you prefer, by e-mail, to mail@sunflowerbooks.co.uk).

Transport Information (see reverse of touring map)
Buses
Web site: The web site is now www.vcoinbus.it (NOT conservco).
Walk 12: Line 3 ­ the telephone number given is for the 'Direzione' (the admin office), whereas information is available on 031 247 247.
Line 4 ­ minor timetable change ­ the bus departs Menaggio at 07.12
Line 6 ­ the return from Codogna should be checked again ­ a separate bus goes through Codogna, at 14.23 ­ though whether this is helpful for walkers is a moot point. (User, 12/06)

Walk 5: Do not be put off by the fence and forbidding notice at the exit from the car park at Cappella Fina. It states that work (one assumes forestry extraction) commenced several years ago and has not yet finished. In Sept 2005 there were no changes or disturbance to this route whatsoever. (User, 10/05)

Walk 10: At Alpe Selviana (23 min) there is no access through the gateway when the museum and restaurant are closed. The museum and restaurant are open from 13.00-19.30 daily during the season but after 31 August only at weekends. We walked further up the road and made our own way through a farm down to the path to the gorge, but this was not an authorised path. + On returning to the road after visiting the gorge (31 min) and retracing steps to the path on the left clearly signposted to 'PESCONE' in the book, there was no signpost to PESCONE, and there was no signpost at the turn
sharp left at a junction downhill. We were able to check we were on the correct path by the description in the book about the small stream and pipeline. (User, 9/04)

Walk 11: At the beginning of the walk, after 12 minutes, the lakeside picnic area has been fenced off due to collapse of the cliff and there is no indication that they are in the process of repairing it. (User, 9/04)

Walk 12, Alternative: Beyond the large meadow at the upstream end of Madri the path is not just indistinct - it disappears entirely. Have courage! Keep in sight of the river and eventually you will need a beautiful new wooden footbridge to take you to the continuation of the path on the far bank. (User, 10/05) + I suggest that 550m of ascent is not 'easy' for many people. Refreshments ­ the shop at Loveno has, sadly, closed. Codogna: there is a tiny shop near Piazza Camozzi but its hours are limited (mornings to 12.30, evenings; closed Sunday and Monday). In the absence of any clues in the book about the location of refreshments in Naggio and failing any indication on the ground, it seems likely that this may no longer exist... At the start: At the next junction take the left fork up Via Castellino da Castello. Follow this cobbled street to the right of a grotto and after 150m under an archway (on the left are the ruins of the castle, but they are not readily visible from the path), to reach the church of San Carlo, built in 1614 (10min). Continue past the church, to an asphalt road. Cross over and turn right, downhill, across the bridge that spans the deep gorge of the Torrente Sanagra. Carry on along this busy road to the Hotel Loveno and walk up Via Sauro, a path on the far side of the building, to cut out a bend. Further up the road, at a junction, turn left for Pianure (the shop here is gone). This road soon becomes cobbled and winding (there were no grand old villas, and I don't think this was a suburb of Loveno). Turn left at the top of the street on an asphalt road towards Pianure (the Hotel Royal is not obvious)... At around the 2h-point, the door of San Giorgio was locked, but the interior was visible through a small window... In Codogna, you meet the road opposite a sports field (not centre). (User, 12/06)

Walk 16: The ruined house no longer has COLMBERA painted on but there is a new finger post on the house opposite, pointing uphill. The previously unmarked path between the two houses also has a new metal fingeropost pointing the way. (User, 11/07)

Walk 17: After Mie we saw a green road barrier on our left with red waymarks on trees. We followed this for quite a way until we realised it was wrong and retraced our steps and found the real barrier on the main track. (User, 11/07).

Walk 19 : '(50 min) Walk up the road to PERLEDO. Just past a renovated chapel turn right down through woods.' We found two tracks down to the right, one at the side of the chapel and one a couple of metres further on. The correct one was the second track to the right. There was a signpost for the Sentiero in both directions, but the way it was angled was difficult to tell which track was correct. (User, 9/04) + Another user (6/06) confirms that there is a downhill woodland path JUST past the chapel; the cobbled trail you want is a few metres/yards further on. (6/06)

Walk 20: Although the authors suggest that there may be some residual snow into June, on 9th June this year, the snow was still so deep that I had to abandon the walk on route 25 shortly after the 2 hr 50 min point. Summit was tantalisingly in view thru low cloud, but without snow gaiters and poss crampons (I had shorts on!) decided not to continue. You might want to add a caveat in future editions. Great walk though! Great guide. Stayed on lakes Maggiore & Como in early june and did most of the walks. (e-mail, 7/06)

Walk 24: "Follow this downhill ... still on ROUTE 1": This signposted col is very difficult to find. There are signs with Route No 1, but there is no indication this all leads o Bellagio. A kilometre or so further on there is however a sign to Bellagio. The decision where to turn left may be confusing. (User, 6/06)

Walk 26: We thoroughly enjoyed the walk but found the timing to be very fast and would suggest that the grade is on the strenuous side of moderate. At the beginning of the walk, after crossing Piazza 111 Novembre, turn right on VIA DEL DOSSO which then bears to the left. (e-mail, 10/05)

Walk 28, Alternative: A few metres past the electricity substation turn right on the signposted path which is now only marked to BAR PRAIA, not MALCESINE. We followed the red and white markings along the way without any problem. After overnight rain we found the 'rough path' to be quite treacherous for the first 30 mins or so. (e-mail, 10/05)

Walk 29: At the 29 min-point the left turn is marked BORDAI and S.ANTONIO; there is no mention of a place called VORDA. At the 1h21min-point, where there is a left turn at DUMEZ to VACCO and MALCESINE, we followed the route until we were beside the old SHRINE. At this point ignore the track from the right and follow the track straight on. (e-mail, 10/05) + Developments have made alterations necessary. Between 4min and 29min when meeting Strada Panoramica it is not possible now to go straight across, but turn left to go round the bend. The previous update at 29min still applies, no mention of VORDA so turn left for BORDAI and S.ANTONIO. At 1hr 21min there is no indication when at DUMAS or any sign to VACO and MALCESINE, although there are a number of tracks to houses to the left. At more than 15min there is such a sign to the left . This is a track that crosses the road diagonaly(red/white waymarks). This track is the 'track from the right at the junction by the old Shrine'. [Note - If the intended track is still there, it would be best to indicate as 'take the track to house nos ...' There are new signs indicating the house nos down various tracks]. (User, 9/07)
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Walk 30: For the short walk we found shortly before the 40min point a seat and picnic table on left with a little path on the right by a fence. This path led quickly down to an open area by the river and a good place to stop before returning. The path did appear to go on up following the river. (User, 9/07)