IM_14 San Michele (train station) - Monte Grammondo

the itinerary starts beside Olivetta San Michele railway station (141 m; trail sign white-red, wooden signpost). By a mule-track and some stretches on asphalt road you rise along the Rio di Tron brook as far as Olivetta (292 m), attractive village located on a hill which overlooks the Bevera Valley. Walk by the church and the town hall and start descending as far as Ponte Roncone (251 m) on the Bevera stream. Follow a steep mule-track which gains elevation by a series of hairpin turns. The landscape is initially rural with olive groves, but it is soon replaced by pine woods, mediterranean shrubs and evergreen oak woods. The mule-track crosses limestone outcrops covered with the wonderful pink flowers of the cistus. Passing below the rocky slopes of Monte Butetta you enter the wood; a short deviation takes you to Rifugio Patrick Gambino (1014m). Walk uphill along a dirt road by some ruined military buildings and at 1300 m above the sea level the view opens on the trees of the Bevera Valley. Here you turn off the footpath, turn right and, through rocks and shrubs, rise along the ridge and in c. 300 m, between thyme and lavender shrubs you reach the top of Monte Grammondo (1378 m). The summit offers a wide panorama. The return is by the same itinerary.