The MacNay Travel & Wine self-guided walking programme

You can view MTW’s portfolio of self-guided walks here.

As well as flexibility around group sizes, walking pace and start dates, you know you’re enjoying the best possible views and the ideal walking route, because we have spent a lot of time and used our local knowledge researching it and writing the detailed walking instructions.

You also have the pleasure of knowing that your bags will be waiting for you in the next hotel, and that our Local Manager – whom you’ll meet for a pre-trip briefing – is just a phone call away.

Our walks happen in three regions of north west Italy: the high Alps of Valle d’Aosta, the wine hills of Piemonte, and the Riviera coastline of Liguria.

Walking in the Italian Alps

In Valle d’Aosta there are two walks. One is called The Five Days of the Matterhorn. This walk starts in full view of the Monte Rosa glacier and concludes in the elegant, walled Roman city of Aosta. Along the way you enjoy spectacular views, come into contact with the ancient Alpeggio farming culture, and, as the name suggests, spend a lot of time taking in the Matterhorn (Cervino).

The second walk of the region, which is called Heart of the Italian Alps, departs from Aosta and finishes at the foot of Mont Blanc, where a return ticket on the Skyway cablecar to the top of the massif – Europe’s highest point – is included your trip fee. This is more wine-focussed, taking in the rich vineyards of the central valley and walking through Europe’s highest white wine vineyards at Morgex. Two wine tastings are included in the trip price and the accommodation includes two nights in a five-star luxury Relais in full view of Monte Bianco. Both walks are physically demanding, with the Five Days being slightly the more challenging of the two.

Walking in the Barolo hills

In Piemonte we explore the Barolo hills with our Borderlands trio of walks. These explore the UNESCO world heritage scenery, wines and cuisine of the extraordinary Langhe hills. Borderlands I takes in the wild woodlands and vineyards of the Roero; Borderlands II is a five-night circular walk around the world-famous vineyards and villages of Barolo; Borderlands III departs from Alba westwards, exploring Barbaresco and the rolling hills of the Monferrato. All the walks are a gastronomic and wine lover’s delight. The walking is challenging, although the climbs are not as long as in the mountains.

Walking to the Riviera

The final walk is not yet on our website as we are working on it now. This one takes in the vineyards and hills around Gavi and Tortona, the high, wild Ligurian Appenines, and the eastern salt roads to Genova. There is an extension along the Riviera coastline which can be completed on foot, by train or by boat. This walk is called Creuza de Ma, an evocative phrase in the Genovese dialect describing a narrow mule-track between buildings to the sea. It is also the subject of a song which kept the idea of a return to Italy alive in our imagination, by Fabrizio de Andre.