Capanne di Cosola-Casa del Romano-Monte Antola-Torriglia

Third stage of the Via del Mare e del Sale, which leads from Milan to the Ligurian coast.

For the tracks, I used guidance found for walking routes, with some variations to make them more easily rideable on a mountain bike. For some sections, from Varzi to the sea, I also used the route published by the bikers of Val Tidone (www.cinghialivaltidone.it).

For the first part of the stage, I made a variation because the program gets stuck on the original route.

Leaving Capanne di Cosola, we take the paved downhill road next to the hotel towards Bogli, with some shortcuts on dirt roads through switchbacks. Now 3 km of dirt road to Suzzi. Continuing on asphalt for 4 km of tough climbing, then turning right onto dirt. About 4 km alternating climbs and descents until we reach asphalt again, rejoining the original track at Capanne di Carrega (where there is a restaurant). Another kilometer and we reach Località Casa del Romano (hotel-restaurant - closed on Tuesdays). Now we take the uphill lane beside the hotel, pass by the Observatory, and after 6 km of mostly uphill dirt road, we arrive at Monte Antola.

NOTE: If necessary, you can descend to the Refuge (about 1 km) to eat and sleep (make sure of the presence of the managers and availability - tel. 3394874872) or to descend (about 6 km of rough road) to Donetta. I preferred a more panoramic route.

From Monte Antola we turn back for just under 1 km to take a dirt road on the right which, in about 3 km of downhill, leads us to Caprile (possible stop point at the "Poggio di Caprile" Hiking Refuge - tel. 3931071457 - 3488991743). Now a couple of km of ups and downs on asphalt lead us to Propata (hotel/restaurant Pauli - tel. 010945927), then the localities of Case Piazza and Caffarena. Now on dirt we descend to the southeast tip of Lake Brugneto, then follow the lake to the north tip. We cross the bridge and start climbing on asphalt to intersect SP 15. We turn right continuing uphill to Costa di Paglia and Garaventa. We keep climbing and cross the road coming from Donetta, thus rejoining the original track, which we do not follow because we want to stop at Torriglia. We reach Acquabona Superiore, then Acquabona Inferiore, cross the SP and take a path that, passing between houses, avoids a bit of asphalt. We turn right onto Via Coloma, then, at the height of a small chapel, we turn left onto a descending lane, passing next to the ruins of the Castle. We arrive in the center and reach the Centro per il Turismo Equestre ed Escursionismo 'Mulino del Lupo' (tel. 010944494), our stop point for today.