Between rocks, forests, historic villages and glimpses of the sea, Liguria is one of the most popular lands for mountain bike enthusiasts.
We have talked to you several times about our passion for mountain biking and how our Residence offers various services for two-wheel enthusiasts (find out by clicking here).
We would like to introduce you some easy or medium level routes, which are suitable for all MTB lovers to explore the fascinating Ligurian nature on exciting and entertaining paths.
The trails around Finale Ligure and Pietra Ligure, with easy or more demanding routes for MTB and E-MTB, became over the years a popular meeting point for bikers from all over the world. (We will soon releasing a new article about E-MTB!) . In these places nature reigns supreme and offers suggestive shows in all seasons of the year, allowing you to visit forests, refuges, promontories and historic villages. There are also breathtaking views of the sea, as some of these mountain bike trails have steep sections along the Ligurian rock coast and descents back to sea level.
At the Residence Holidays you will not only find modern apartments, but also a bicycle depot with a workshop perfectly equipped for the maintenance and care of your bike, a local experienced guide for mountain bike tours from the region and a shuttle bus service for excursions with departure from your accomodation.
Here are the 4 easy and medium routes that we, from the Residence Holidays Team, suggest for your next mountain bike adventure with us:
MONTE CARMO – PIETRA LIGURE
Easy trip S0-S1.
Departure by shutlle bus from Residence Holidays – Fortino Del Melogno - Barbottina – Catalano - Giovo Di Giustenice – Strada Dell’uranio Fedele alla linea – Pian Delle Bosse - Castagnabanca – San Martino – Sagra Ranzi – Historical center Ranzi – Arrival at historical center of Pietra Ligure – Return to accomodation.
After arriving with the shuttle-bus on Mount Melogno at the fort of Melogno we will have an energizing coffee. Then we enter the trail that will lead us to the famous "Barbottina" beech forest (one of the largest in Europe). In the summer the tall shady green trees allow a trip in the cool, while during autumn the red and yellow colors invite us in a fairy world.
Continuing on the "Catalano" trail we reach Giovo di Giustenice where the pedaling part ends and the descent begins that will lead us to the street strada dell’Uranio.
This road brings us over a small ascent to the Pian Delle Bosse refuge where, we can have a taste of the typical ligurian cuisine. After the short stop, we continue on Oltre Finale trail, then passing by the “Cabanun” trail which leads to the region of Ranzi, a small village above Pietra Ligure, which we be pass through its narrow characteristic ligurian alleys.
Then along a paved road we reach the the historic center of Pietra Ligure and return to the Residence Holidays.
On this tour we have a fantastic panoramic view over the Ligurian Sea at an altitude of about 1000 meters above sea level.
NATO BASE- MANIE - PONTI ROMANI OR CAVE FALSARI NOLI
Easy trip S0-S1.
Departure by shuttle bus from Residence Holidays – Arrive to Nato – Sentiero Del Partigiano – Colla San Giacomo – Rocche Bianche – Vilmar - Andrassa – Area Manie Ferrin
1st VARIANT: ACCESS TO CAPO NOLI – FALSARI CAVE – DESCENT TO THE CENTER OF NOLI – RETURN WITH THE SHUTTLE BUS TO THE RESIDENCE HOLIDAYS.
2nd VARIANT: PONTI ROMANI – VALLE PONCI/ROCCA DI CORNO – VERZI DI FINALE L. - CALVISIO – RETURN WITH THE SHUTTLE BUS TO THE RESIDENCE HOLIDAYS.
The shuttle bus takes us to the famous area named Nato Base with impressive graffiti on the walls. From here we start on the "Partigiano" trail via the gravel road to the crossing of Colla San Giacomo. We continue along a forest road to Rocche Bianche, a rocky area with a panoramic view over the sea of Finalese. Continuing along the gravel road we will come to take an easy singletrack named Vilmar that will lead to the Magnone. From there you will enter the easy and fast path called "Andrassa" until you reach the plateau of the Manie passing by a panoramic spot overlooking the Gulf of the Bergeggi Island.
Version number 1: you pass from the white path to the military observatory and then descend to the suggestive Noli (Maritime Republic), but without getting lost, the famous Cave of the Falsari. Continue the descent to the seaside village of Noli. Small stop on the sea, return to Pietra Ligure with the shuttle that comes to pick you up directly in Noli.
Version number 2: Here the alternative way back leads to the still well-preserved Roman Bridges from the Romanesque period, pass the Val Ponci valley with a view of the cliffs of Monte Rocca di Corno. Then, in the Finale Ligure region, we reach Calvisio, from where the shuttle bus will take us back to Pietra Ligure.
MONTE CARMO – PIETRA LIGURE
Medium easy trip S1-S2.
Departure by shuttle bus from Residence Holidays – Fortino del Melogno – Barbottina – Catalano – Fedele Alla Linea – Titalana – Stop in Pian Delle Bosse – Titalana 2a Parte – Cabanun – Blupervinca – Scoglio di Verso – Armuin – Madonnina – Historical Center Ranzi – Return to Pietra Ligure.
The shuttle bus takes us from the Residence Holidays to the Melogno fortress, from where we reach the pass of the Melogno and enjoy a refreshing coffee. The route takes us to the famous regional park, the Barbottina forest (the largest beech forest in Europe). Then along the path called Catalano you arrive to Giovo di Giustenice (on the Monte Carmo pass, which is about 1000 meters above sea level) , from there we continue on a gravel path of the Fedele alla Linea trail.
We take a break at the Pian delle Bosse mountain hut.
After refreshment we start with the second part of the tour on the Oltre Finale trail, an exciting route with steep curves, edges and lane changes, and then through Giustenice on the Cabanun trail. We continue on the newly created trails Blupervinca, Scoglio di Venso (with a breathtaking view over the port of Loano) and Gabry trail, which leads us to the village of Ranzi and back, down to the the center of Pietra Ligure.
NATO BASE - MANIE
Medium easy trip S1-S2.
Departure by shuttle bus from Residence Holidays – Altopiano delle Manie – 24H of Finale – Toboga delle Manie – Ferrin.
1st VARIANT: BRIGA SINISTRA – FINALPIA – SHUTTLE BUS RETURN TO RESIDENCE HOLIDAYS
2a VARIANTE (Challenging trail, but with breathtaking views of the sea): DH DONNE – VARIGOTTI – SHUTTLE BUS RETURN TO RESIDENCE HOLIDAYS.
The shuttle bus takes us from the Residence Holidays to the Manie plateau above Finale Ligure. Here starts the famous racetrack where the legendary 24H of Manie takes place, wich attracts fans and champions of cross country discipline from all over the world. On this circuit we meet the fun Toboga trail that takes us to the Ferrin restaurant where we can relax.
From here there are two fantastic alternatives: the first descent from the left Briga sx trail with a fantastic view over Finalpia and the town of Finale Ligure with its mountains. Or the second descent on the equally famous Dh Donne trail (S3 difficulty in some places) that takes us steeply down to the town of Varigotti (Borgo Saraceno) with a breathtaking panoramic view of the city and the sea. In both variants, the shuttle bus picks us up and brings us back to Pietra Ligure.
