To Cardoso, then across Monte Gragno to Vallico Sopra

This is one of our favourite walks.  We drive across the valley and up to the village of Cardoso.  Then we walk through chestnut woods upwards in the cold shade for about an hour.  At the top of the spur, we pass through into the warm sunny side, and a good path gently undulating along at the foot of the cliff on our right, but with an impressively steep wooded slope on our left down into the valley.  

At the village of Vallico Sopra, there is a community-run restaurant which we thought was open at weekends - it is, but sadly, on Saturdays only for cena (evening meal).  So it was bread and cheese for lunch before making our way back the way we had come.  Six hours walking in all - and for pedometer aficionados, about 13500 steps! A large gelato at the excellent Theobroma gelateria in Fornacci di Barga served as a consolation for our too-simple lunch ...

The panorama looking back from Cardoso across the valley of the Serchio
Barga is out of view to the right 

The imposing crags of Monte Gragno  - the path winds along the
foot of the cliffs 

Barbara below the last bit of cliff before reaching Vallico Sopra

Looking towards West - mystery mountain - could it be Monte Matanna? (Pietro?)

Cute little stonecrop at the wayside

The only mammal seen on the walk, this curious goat had probably
got separated from its flock ...

The path heading back

An autumn scene

Nearly there ...