I can’t remember why I decided that north-west Italy’s Aosta Valley would be a magical place to walk. Perhaps it was when looking at photos of the Tor des Géants ultra running race. It may have been a friend who showed me pictures of a ski holiday to the Valle d’Aosta. Then the destination popped up again when my friend Nat Taylor was first female in the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa recently.
It matters not because I was sufficiently inspired to start to plan a trip to the mountains of the region of Italy that is bordered by France and Switzerland.
A good place to start is Cicerone’s Walking in the Aosta Valley book. I haven’t yet decided if I fancy a walking or running trip but many of the walks detailed in the guidebook by Andy Hodges would serve both aspirations well.
Details of Cicerone guidebook, Walking in the Aosta Valley
The guidebook describes 32 scenic routes that explore the stunning, autonomous region of the Aosta valley in the Italian Alps.
The walks range from 4km to 20km in both the main valley and those to the north, including the Lys valley, Valpelline, Valtournenche and Grand St Bernard.
Some walks touch the edge of the glaciers, while others explore the dappled
shade of the valley forests and sun-drenched ancient fortresses protecting
the highways of a bygone era.
Long or short, easy or challenging, the routes abound in history, and soak up the rich and varied culture of the region.
This guidebook provides clear and concise route description, together with
1:50K mapping, gradient profiles and invaluable practical information, from
travel options and insurance to useful phrases and a handy kit list.
Information on via ferrata and trail running is also included.
Cicerone’s Walking in the Aosta Valley book is £16.95. (I receive a small commission for sale of the book through this website.)
The author Andy was born and bred in Northern England and first developed his mountain skills in the Lake District and Snowdonia. Since discovering the
joys of the Alps with a Cicerone guidebook in 1999, Andy and his wife Sue
have explored much of the Western Alps, walking, running, cycling, ski
touring and snowshoeing.
Review: Cicerone guidebook, Walking in the Aosta Valley
This is a wonderfully detailed guidebook with 32 walks and scramble routes in the shadows of Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa.
A map at the front of the book gives a quick overview of where the valley walks are located. Each walk is numbered so you can quickly see where it is and then look it up in the book.
There are about 30 pages that follow that give a great introduction to what you can expect in the Aosta Valley, such a geography, weather, wildlife, culture, places of interest, accommodation, food and drink and what else to think about when planning a walking holiday.
Each walk is then detailed with tons of information. There is a brief summary of the walking route, followed by a detailed point by point description. Vital stats are also included, such as distance, ascent and descent, as well as grading of the route and expected time to walk it.
I like the wee gradient profiles, so you know what you are letting yourself in for. These are mountain routes, which means there are plenty of ups and downs.
The maps and photos provide more details of what you will see and experience on each of the routes.
Cicerone guidebooks are well known for offering excellent information and detail. I also like that they are compact enough to fit into a pocket of your rucksack or jacket.
I will update this post when I have visited the area.
- I was sent the book in return for an honest review.