TUSCANY SINGLETRACK

Day 1
Start Agriturismo Le Casine di Braccicorti.

Day 2
A great introductory day through fields and meadows, mediaeval towns and villages, to discover the heart of the Garfagnana and its traditions. After a short transfer to Sasso Rosso (860m), we start to wind our way through the Orechiella Park up to the peak of Pania di Corfino (1609m). Our route starts on a dirt track to the village of Campaiana, before rising up to the peak of Corfino where we will enjoy our lunch and superb views across the valley. On our journey, we hope to spot some mouflon, deer, boar and the elusive wolves. Before reaching the bar for a refreshing drink, we enjoy a fun and fast downhill into the park via small walking trails and fast off road tracks. Then we take to the trails of the lower valley of the Garfagnana, through ancient chestnut forests and down to some old mediaeval towns, (with the chance of some singletrack walking trails).

Day 3
After breakfast we head out on our bike tour in the direction of Apuane Alps, or the Marble Mountains. From our base, we ride to Camporgiano and after a singletrack ascent through to Casatico we arrive at the beautiful little village of Roggio for a short bar stop. We then climb on to the historic village of Campocatino, where shepherds' huts (some date back to 17th century) have been built with dry stonewalls and slate roofs, once characteristic of this area. We pass the wonderful lake of Gramolazzo and explore some of the great trails in this area, where the terrain is a mix of paved and dirt roads and some great singletrack towards Casciana. From Campocatino, the route winds its way northwards to the upper reaches of the Garfagnana, and on our journey back to base we enjoy great views and tracks to be ridden - range from wide open to twisting singletrack routes.

Day 4
We transfer from the lodge up to the resort of Casone (1310m), which becomes a ski station in winter. We take to the trails and head up to Passo Forbici (1815m) and the main ridgeline of the Apennine Mountains. Then a fast descent leads us into the heart of the mountains before climbing back up to Lamalite (1800m) and Rifugio Battisti. After lunch, there is a singletrack option to test the nerves to Passo Pradarena, which takes us across the ridge and into a 10km singletrack descent before reaching the forest and more singletrack trails back to our base.

Day 5
A well deserved free day to relax around the farm, play a round of golf on the small course or explore the local area (on foot or in the saddle). There is also the opportunity to visit the Tuscan gems of Lucca or Florence, the traditional jewel in the crown of Tuscany's Grand Tour.

Day 6
Riding out from our base, we ascend via woodland paths and tracks to the villages of Castiglione and Collemandina. We pass through woodland and cultivated areas of the valley so we are able to see the locals working on the land. Our route mixes singletrack and drovers' roads. From the small village of Castiglione, we ride via Pieve Fosciana and other hamlets to the Castelnuovo area. After lunch a short 1 km steep road climb brings us to singletrack and dirt road descents, via the lake at Pontecosi, and continue along the river for final climb back to base.

Day 7
To complete the week, today's ride takes us through some of the area's wildest and most rewarding scenery on an exhilarating 1500m descent from San Pellegrino to Sillico. After a short transfer, we set off on a long traverse of this breezy Apennine ridge taking in several small peaks and passes, such as Giovarello (1700m), which offer superb panoramic views and an optional singletrack route to Passo Radici. From here, we take a contouring track section round to the small village of San Pellegrino. After stopping for lunch at Alpi San Pellegrino, we begin a long descent via some great singletrack towards the historic hillside village of Sillico. Here we are greeted with a great view of the lower valley and a choice of road or singletrack sections. For our final section back to base, we enjoy a riveting high to low (from 1800m to 370m) bringing us to the lowest part of the valley - a great way to finish riding in the Garfagnana.

Day 8
End Agriturismo Le Casine di Braccicorti.