Routes and paths by bicycle, walks, trekking and Nordic walking at Valledoria in Sardinia

A description of the nature routes and paths available (bicycle, trekking and Nordic walking)

Route from La Ciaccia ? Baia Ostina: by bicycle or on foot

To be able to walk out of the house with a rucksack on your back and find yourself straightaway in a world of extraordinary natural beauty is wonderful. In fact, once you have gone through the little village of la Ciaccia, (a few hundred metres) the dirt track that follows the coast opens up in front of you.

Immediately on the right between land and sea are the remains of the only nuraghe to have been built near the water. All of the more than 7,000 nuraghe still visible in Sardinia are found in the hinterland, away from the sea. This one was built about 3,000 B.C.

As you continue, the path winds its way among black trachyte cliffs and the scent of the Mediterranean scrub becomes stronger and stronger. Here it is possible to pick out lentisk, wild thorn bushes and pear trees, myrtle tangled up with wild asparagus plants, numerous examples of the dwarf palm, rare in the Mediterranean, cistus and wild thyme, not to mention the splendid variety of colours: the red poppy, the yellow horned or sea poppy, lavender, broom, stock, asphodel, heather, wild orchids and the multicoloured flowers of the different varieties of thistle, all the daisies (white, yellow, pink) anemones etc. .

Among the natural things to eat that Nature provides, there are cardoons, chicory, rocket, wild fennel, mint, garlic, asparagus, blackberries, myrtle berries and so on

Once you arrive at the promontory and bay known as ?Lu Freddi? it is possible to admire the view that was previously hidden by the rocks and which now opens up in front of you: the mediaeval fortress of Castelsardo, which will leave you breathless.

Do not miss taking a moment to observe the volcanic rocks and the way they slope gradually down into the water. Leave the path and go down to the water?s edge, and you can see how the black trachyte rocks, once incandescent lava, fell into the sea. The stones are still the same shape as when they entered the water, different and fascinating forms frozen in time.

Carrying on for a few hundred metres, you will be able to admire one of the most suggestive bays in Northern Sardinia. Baia Ostina is an inlet sealed between walls of black rocks, blessed with white sand and an emerald colour sea. Swimming in this sea makes you feel like Adam or Eve, and if you bring a mask with you, you will be able to admire numerous different types of fish: white sea bream, red mullet, rockfish, mullet, octopus, cuttlefish, crabs, whelks, starfish and so on.

During the near-complete silence of your walk, you will also be able to see many different types of falcons, buzzards and seagulls that nest among the rocks and which return home around sundown, including goldfinches, doves, crows, sparrows, greenfinches, tomtits, cattle egrets and numerous other varieties. You will also be able to enjoy the typical sight of herds of sheep grazing in the open spaces.

This trip along the coast is easy, there are no gradients and no dangers so it is suitable for everyone, but in one or two places it is advisable to keep an eye on the cliffs.

Advice and information::

• Distance on foot of about 4 km
• Closed shoes or boots are recommended
• Excursion bikes or mountain bikes (MTB)
• If you are tired and you don?t want to return home under your own steam either on foot or by bike, from Baia Ostina you can walk up the path opposite the bay which will take you to the main N? 134 road. Carry on along this for about 2 kms towards Castelsardo and from the centre of the town, the ARST bus leaves at 3 pm which will take you back to La Ciaccia in about 20 minutes.

Route from La Ciaccia ? Monte Ossoni: By bicycle, on foot and by motorbike or car

With its imposing height of 348 mts above sea level, Monte Ossoni dominates the Asinara Gulf and the view from its summit is unique and marvellous. There are many approaches to Monte Ossoni, given the different roads that reach the summit, and many different ways to do it: on foot, by bicycle, by car and by motorbike.

Certainly the shortest route, with no motorized traffic, is the one that goes up the two slopes and which starts from La Ciaccia. Leaving the supermarket, you take the asphalt road on the left of the supermarket and after about 300 mts you arrive at the crossroads with the asphalt road that goes to la Muddizza. In front of the road you have just left, is a dirt track which little by little climbs up the small hill.

Take this dirt track, and you will go past the small hill and arrive under the main Santa Teresa ? Castelsardo road. Turn right, proceed for another 400 mts and turn right again. From here a gentle ascent of the South-East side of the hill begins that after several bend will take you up to the plateau on top. Turn right again and then straight on up to the hill top

Setting off to climb Monte Ossoni is an undertaking that will captivate you for all its charm, its few difficulties and its magnificent panoramic views. You imagine that you have the whole Asinara Gulf at your feet! You will be able to admire the views in total silence and surrounded by the heady smell of the Mediterranean scrub, the blue of the sky and sea and understand how beautiful and varied our coastline is, just as a seagull sees it.

Towards the West above all at sunset, you can admire the Isola dell?Asinara which encloses the gulf of the same name and which is separated from Stintino by a narrow channel. Starting from Stintino the sea has created a large bay, known as Porto Torres and Platamona which is enclosed by the mediaeval town of Castelsardo. Directly below, you will be able to admire the coastline with its rocky black trachyte cliffs and flat reefs that go all the way from Francina to la Ciaccia.

It is well worth looking down and finding the Villaggio Sa Fiorida (before La Ciaccia) which was entirely created by Surveyor Gavino Tortu. It?s easy to recognize because even from above, it is particularly special. An ingenious and imaginative work, it will surprise you with the harmony of its layout and the way in which Surveyor Tortu was able to create space and interplay between the different villas, their gardens and the roads and public areas.

From la Ciaccia going East, you will have the chance to admire one of the longest stretches of sand in Northern Sardinia, a good 15 kms of beach in the shape of a half-moon right up to the promontory at Isola Rossa. Beyond Isola Rossa the rocks of Costa Paradiso can clearly be seen, and on the clearest days it is possible to make out the white cliffs of Bonifacio and the coast of Corsica almost as far as Propriano.

Equally spectacular is the mouth of the River Coghinas which stretches between Badesi and Valledoria.

This excursion takes you immediately into contact with some of the most unspoilt natural surroundings in the area protected by the Forestry Commission. Apart from the Mediterranean scrub, you will also find areas that have been planted with pine trees and numerous examples of the extremely rare dwarf palm, very difficult to find in the Mediterranean area. The wildlife is also protected here and hares, tortoises, quails, jaybirds, hoopoes and buzzards are frequently seen. Monte Ossoni can give you all this and more!!!

A journey along the cycle track between La Ciaccia, Valledoria and La Muddizza: By bicycle or on foot

Grade of difficulty: an easy route among fields and small hills.

You couldn?t ask for anything better. A peaceful stroll along a track created especially for those of you who are keen cyclists and walkers. This trip is entirely without gradients and will give you the chance to discover new beaches, new views and new places..

Starting from La Ciaccia (more precisely the Hotel Tartaruga Bianca), it is a good idea to have a look at the Sa Fiorida holiday village. This is a residential zone with restricted traffic and as such gives you the opportunity to admire the splendid architecture created by Surveyor Gavino Tortu. The route winds its way through gardens and villas in true Mediterranean style, and are often compared to the works of Gaud?. One suggestion: remember to look up so as not to miss the incredible variety of chimney pots, arches and roof styles. Sheer curiosity will make you want to wander around all the little roads of the ?Little trains? (the children gave them this nickname because all the houses lined up together looked like little trains) and take as many photos as you can from all the different angles possible.

Once out of the village, take the cycle track that goes alongside the road and after about 300 metres we start to cross fields where artichokes and potatoes are grown. Here the sandy terrain is such that it is possible to grow three crops per year. On the other side of the road are the hedges of prickly pear, which can grow up to between two and three metres, and which were originally planted to divide individual plots of land and which produce excellent fruit between August and September.

At about 800 metres, there is the junction where to the left the road goes down to the Maragnani beach. This beautiful stretch of sand is particular in that just a few metres from the shoreline the sand extends out to sea and the bottom is very shallow, and the sea thus acquires a fantastic turquoise colour. Once back on the main road, we continue towards Valledoria.

Passing the bridge over the Rio Cuggiani we continue for another 500 metres until a junction with the cycle track that leads down to San Pietro a mare. Here too the beach is one of the most beautiful in North Sardinia thanks to the lagoon created by the River Coghinas (SIC area).

Here there are two possibilities: the first is to complete a round trip through the pine and eucalyptus woods and go back to the bridge over the Rio Cuggiani, while the second is to go back in the direction of Valledoria and then turn left in the direction of the River Coghinas. Parallel to the river is a dirt track which goes alongside it, first very close, then at a distance, since the path we are following is in fact the dyke or embankment of the river itself.

This dyke runs alongside the river as far as Santa Maria Coghinas (about 8 kms) crossing the marvellous plain of the lower Coghinas valley, well known for its fertile soil and large scale production of vegetables ranging from artichokes to tomatoes, water melons and melons to strawberries and so on, which are generally sent to the North of Italy.

If you don?t want to take such a long trip, it is possible to head off in the direction of Valledoria, and so before long you arrive in the town itself, passing through it in the direction of Castelsardo before coming back onto the cycle path which we took earlier (towards the beach at San Pietro and the bridge over the Rio Cuggiani). Once on the cycle path, we continue on the direction of La Muddizza.

This small town is dominated by the little arched Church of Ns Signora di Fatima. Once you arrive at the church turn right in the direction of La Ciaccia. The road here has very little traffic and in a little less than 2 kms you are once more back at La Ciaccia.