Exploring Cinque Terre Villages

Make your own way to Monterosso aiming to arrive by early evening. The walk from the station to the hotel takes about 10 minutes along the coastal road, 15 mins with baggage. After checking in, you may have time to take a quick swim, or just walk along the maze of streets. The historical centre of the village is characterized by carrugi (narrow lanes) with little shops selling local handicrafts. It is only a short walk to the Capuchin Monastery where you can enjoy the silence as you look out over the sea. Accommodation: All nights for this trip are spent in a very pleasant and comfortable hotel located in the old historical centre of Monterosso, a short distance from the sea. The hotel is a family-run establishment with double/twin rooms having ensuite facilities. The hotel has a shaded garden, and a rooftop terrace which overlooks the sea and the town. Ask staff regarding upgraded rooms with balconies.

Take a half day hilly walk to Levanto along the beautiful coastal path and up to the romantic ruins of an abandoned Franciscan church on a peninsular. From near here you will get a great panoramic view across the Cinque Terre coast and maybe as far as Elba and Corsica. You then drop down to the popular resort town of Levanto, once a Lombard capital, past the old castle. You could then have a gelati and a swim before taking the train back to Monterrosso - there are usually a couple per hour. The route passes by some lovely viewpoints, giving the opportunity to pause on olive terraces overlooking the sea. If it is very hot, there is shade around with oak and pine forests clinging to the coastal hillsides. If you still have energy, just walk back the way you came, and get a different perspective in the afternoon light.

This starts the same way as the Levanto walk, but from near the Franciscan ruins, we take off on a wilder path across the line of forest smothered hills behind Monterosso. A very nice shady walk in places with heathers, pines, oaks and brooms as well as aromatic maquis shrubs. There are often marvellous views across the sea. On a clear day you may possibly see Corsica and the Alp Maritime of Southern France across the Mediterranean Sea. The walk reaches an old convent, before plunging down on a pilgrimage trail back to Monterosso.

Take the train to Corniglia to begin the route, then continue on to Vernazza and finish in Monterosso. The route gets harder as you go along, but if you are feeling the heat, or are tired, you could take a train back from any of the stations. If you’d like to walk the famous ‘Path of Love’ (Via dell’Amore), take the train to Riomaggiore and follow this coastal trail to Manarola.

This morning, start by taking the train to Riomaggiore. The walk starts by ascending the magnificent coastline steeply through extensive vineyard terraces and then undulates through mixed woodlands reaching the tiny village of Campiglia with views to islands out to sea. From here the trail gets more remote and rocky, with an excellent picnic lunch stop on a panoramic knoll. On the descent there are vistas of Portovenere and the church of San Pietro sitting on a rock in the Mediterranean. Although not a Cinque Terre village, Portovenere - the port of love - is a beautiful place and a couple of hours can easily be spent walking around the narrow streets. Return ideally by ferry. They run every couple of hours in reasonable weather. In bad conditions you need to take a bus to the train station at La Spezia, to return to Monterosso. Other walks are possible and can be done on extra days, or as alternatives. There is a beautiful 7 km /4.3 mile walk in the hills above Manorola and Corniglia, with some great coastal views, visiting the village of Volastra in the vineyards. Or you could try the tougher 12 km /7.4 mile walk which winds high above the bay from Vernazza into the littoral mountains to walk over Monte Malpertuso in ancient chestnut woodland. This walk has a steep descent back into Vernazza. All these walks are usually quiet compared to the 'Via dell'Amore.'

Depart from the Cinque Terre after breakfast.