Heading north through Armo (848m), the path to Valle dell'Armarolo immediately enters a wood of Scots pines which includes several monumental specimens. There are also a few big beeches, such as the one next to the bend which the mule track forms before it reaches the ruins of an old mill and passes close to a waterfall. To the left of the beech-tree are a number of spruces, while willow and busbear thrive in the damp conditions along the stream’s banks. A little bridge takes you over the Armarolo stream. At the next bridge, which is perfectly safe despite the name of the area, Ponte Franato “collapsed bridge” (903m), there is a crossroads. The road, built during the first world war, goes south in the direction of Denai on the other side of the valley towards Messane. Take this road; shortly after, you’ll pass near a long cuel (an overhanging rock used as a shelter in bad weather) that seems cut into the rock. The landscape gradually opens out onto the mountains of Valvestino and the rural buildings in Vott. Once you reach the wide meadows of Messane (1100m), it is easy to descend to Persone (or go up along a track to Bocca di Valle). However, if you want to return to your starting point it is best to take the ascending, southwards path that branches off to the left from the rest area and passes near the shepherd’s hut. Going uphill, the first stretch of this recently-repaired track features a number of fine beeches, but as soon as you start the descent towards Armo (at a crossroads with an uphill path that leads to small hut) you enter a Scots-pine wood again. The cuts visible on some of the trees date back to the time when the locals harvested pine resin.
| Itinerary: | Armo - Valle dell'Armarolo - Ponte Franato - Messane - Armo |
| Approximate time: | 3 hours |
| Water along the way: | Yes |
| Ascent: | 400mt. |
| Practicability: |
loc. Cluse - Turano di Valvestino
tel 0365.745007 cell 334.6686327 fax 0365.745821
e.mail consorzio.valvestino@tiscali.it