Walks in the Langhe, walking in beauty!

Trails in the Langhe, discovering it through its paths.

The Langhe is an area located south of Piedmont that in 2014 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its wine landscapes…there must be a reason.

The vineyards in the Langhe are not all the same, and walking through them slowly, following the countless trails in the Langhe, will allow you to see the differences between one area and another.

Walking in the Langhe: Ideas and suggestions.

In our opinion, one of the best and indeed most sustainable ways to discover a place is to do so by walking.

A one-day walk in the Langhe, or one that encompasses several days through an itinerary in stages that can become a real walk, will allow you to discover the wonders of this corner of Piedmont called Langhe.

Yes, we are talking about trekking, but what does “trekking” mean? The word trek comes from the English verb to trek, which means to undertake a long journey, walking slowly and leisurely. Where? Amid nature, of course! Our Piedmont also defends itself well from this point of view; throughout the region, there are many trekking routes to take; today we suggest 3 of them to start intriguing you and make you want to learn more about the subject (hopefully together with us):

Here are some routes in the Langhe that we think are worth a walk!

• Pavese Trail in Santo Stefano Belbo

A genuinely compelling route that begins at Santo Stefano Belbo station, where a plaque commemorating Cesare Pavese takes up a stanza from his writings:

“I could hear the train coming and filling the valley among the peach trees.”

The route continues at the Casa della Vedetta, an extraordinary viewpoint over the Belbo valley. After leaving the paved road, the trail proper begins, passing through vineyards and some wooded areas until it reaches Bauda Hill. Toward the end of the trail you return to Santo Stefano Belbo, passing in front of Pavese’s places: the Mora, the Salto and Nuto’s House.

The trail is marked with two red and white rectangles.

• Langhe walk: trail from Sinio to Roddino

If you want to grind fewer miles, this is the route for you. It is about 4.5 km, which at a leisurely pace can be covered in an hour and a half. How about it. The walk starts from Piazza Guglielmo Marconi, from which you reach the hamlet of Borgonuovo. The walk continues on a scenic paved road. It then reaches the Chapel of Santa Maria and after another 1 km to Roddino.

• Langhe Trails: Johnny Partisan Trail

Another great Piedmontese writer whose places are mentioned in his works is Beppe Fenoglio, the author therefore of the book that gives this trail its name. Walking in his footsteps, it is like feeling part of the story and it is even easier to identify with it, if you walk on the trail having already read the book! We then pass by the Cascina di Paviglione, reaching the beautiful viewpoint near the small church of S. Elena. The trail concludes by reaching San Donato di Mango.

• The trail around Alba: from the Rocca climb, toward San Rocco Seno d’Elvio and back

A loop of about 12km, charming and varied. It allows you to immerse yourself in the partisan history of the town of Alba: very various trails, vineyards, hazelnuts, elegant houses, and even a small forest. Starting from Piazza del Duomo, you leave Alba following the signs for Treiso, Barbaresco.

The Rocca climb commemorates ROCCA Gino (Giuseppe Igino) – 1916 – 1944 Partisan shot by the Republicans. Giuseppe Igino Rocca, known as Gino, was born in Alba on November 10, 1916. He is remembered as a patriot who greatly assisted partisan formations. Taken by the Republicans from his home, he was shot, on November 19, 1944, halfway up the slope named after him on the outskirts of Alba.

San Rocco Seno d’Elvio, on the other hand, commemorates Elvio Pertinace, Roman Emperor: short and troubled reign.

• The Bar-to-Bar, one of the most beautiful Langhe walks

And why not think of an absolute path? Well, yes, even in the Langhe, there is one! It is called Bar-to-Bar not because you go from bar to bar, but because it allows in 7/8 stages to cross all the Langhe, from the hills of Barbaresco to those of BARolo, passing through the Alta Langa. A superb walk that is ideal to do in spring and autumn.

This is one of the most beautiful and complete itineraries in the Langhe.

We have tried it all for you. To avoid looking for the Langa trails map, you can ask us to arrange everything: we will provide you with the tracks to follow on your cell phone, the whole organization, and luggage transfer so you can be more comfortable and accessible.

We have modified it from the original to allow more pleasant stops in villages that, in our opinion, deserve a visit and to be able to complete the Langhe walk with tastings that will make it a beautiful food and wine walk.

If you are looking, however, for a walk to be experienced in a spartan way with few amenities and stopping to sleep in hostels or shared rooms, perhaps our proposal is not for you! The facilities are always of a good standard, often with an excellent food and wine proposal! So if you like comfortable living in addition to walking, this is the perfect proposal for you!

When to choose the Langhe for your hiking

Hiking in the Langhe is very different from what you can find in the mountains. The climbs are always gentle and interspersed with flats and descents; in short, nothing too challenging.

The most important thing, in our opinion, to tackle hiking in the Langhe is to choose the right season and, based on that, also the right places.

The Bassa Langa, one of the most famous villages where Barolo and Barbaresco wine are produced, is perfect for trekking in the Langhe in spring and autumn. At the same time, in summer, the Alta Langa, characterized by cooler air and many wooded passages, is advisable.

A little tip…watch out for wild boars! Needless to hide, in the woods, they can be there, especially at sunset time. But it will be enough to make some noise, whistling, clapping hands, or singing a song (langarola, of course!) to drive them away.

Before starting any route, carefully read these few rules to make the most of your walks in the Langhe:

• Respect your gait, find your pace, and stick to it, don’t overdo it; it must be a good day full of fun and relaxation. Please don’t overdo it!
• Check the weather, don’t get caught unprepared…. 😉
• Find out about the itinerary; if you are unsure where to go, rely on a guide or an organized excursion (so you don’t have to think about anything!)
• Pack your backpack, yes to water, snacks to nibble on along the way, and sunscreen, no to items that only create unnecessary weight (remember you’ll have to keep the backpack on your shoulders until the end of the trail…)
• Use comfortable shoes, and choose a good pair; comfort is the watchword!
• Throw your trash downstream, don’t leave a trail behind you, and respect nature and the environment around you 😉

Now you are ready to put on your shoes, load your backpack on your shoulders and start one of the Langhe hikes; get to the top of a hill in our beautiful Langhe and shout, “Viva La Vita and Viva Langhe!!!”

Walks in the Langhe with children

Are the Langhe suitable for taking a few walks with children? Yes, why not? Just choose the correct route after considering how much they want to walk and their age.

Stroller-friendly: Beautiful routes can also be walked with a stroller. One that I would recommend if you have come to La Morra and perhaps can enchant children is the one that takes you to the Barolo Chapel. Starting from the Belvedere in la Morra, you will reach the Cappella del Barolo, walking along a path that is partly unpaved and a bit bumpy but can be done with a stroller.

If, on the other hand, you want to see the Cedar of Lebanon, then it will be even more accessible. You will know that you can go comfortably to the Cedar after reaching this parking lot and down a short piece of paved road. You cannot go right under the Cedar because it has been closed to prevent the usual vandals from ruining this monumental tree!

Suitable for older children: If your children are older and are walkers, you can tackle with them, and for you, some lovely 8-9 km walks with not too much elevation gain. The Acino trail around Guarene, the Rocca dei Sette Fratelli trail around Barbaresco, or La Morra to see both Chapel and Cedar. If you want, you can already get some ideas on this page related to Trekking, where you will also find indications of the kilometers to be covered!

If, on the other hand, your “children” are teenagers with a desire to walk, then any trail in the Langhe can be enjoyable for them. Nothing could be nicer than to create a group of families and friends with teens and face the map on your cell phone that will take you to your destination! Our maps and routes always have an ultimate prize.

Trekking Piedmont: Better driven or autonomously?

• Trekking Piedmont. Guided excursions

I’ve always liked guided tours. The sense of sharing with other participants. The timely explanations if your guide is good and prepared. The safety of the route and the time is taken. So many positive aspects that have encouraged me several times to organize guided excursions in Piedmont and the Langhe in particular. Important and not to be underestimated: Choose a local guide!

1. Pro: Choose this option if you want total peace of mind. If you like to be guided along the way and have precise illustrations of the areas you are going through. With a guide dedicated to you and your friends you can decide the times and rhythms.
2. Against: You’ll always have someone who’s not part of your group with you. If the guide is shared with a heterogeneous group you will have to follow the rhythm and timing of the group.

• Trekking Piedmont. Excursions in Autonomy

Independent hiking is what I like best. They allow me to choose my walking companions and experience nature and friends at the same time.With maps you can download in many sites, you plan your route.

1. Pro: IThe group consists only of you and your friends. The timing and rhythm is up to you. Explore the areas with the “ramblings” you prefer. Choose the routes that interest you the most. Maps help you not to get lost.
2. Against: If you don’t know the areas you might get lost and maybe find yourself far from the place you wanted to reach. And even the map of paths and vineyards is not so easy! Maps are not so easy to follow and they make you lose a lot in “spontaneity”.