Through the Italian Alps. Gillian Price

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and British Airways. The best way to cover the 50km into town is by bus to Gallarate station then train to Milano Centrale. Better placed is Linate: with flights by Alitalia, British Airways, British Midland (www.flybmi.com) and Easyjet, it is linked by regular buses to central Milan (7km away), from where ongoing trains reach Turin in just under 2hr.

       Genoa (Genova, www.airport.genova.it) has flights operated by Alitalia, British Airways and Ryanair. Buses run to Genova Brignole railway station every 30min for the 3–4hr trip via Savona to Ceva (or Cuneo).

       Just over the border in France, Nice’s Côte d’Azur airport (www.nice.aeroport.fr) is served by British Airways, British Midland and Jet2 (www.Jet2.com). After the short bus trip to the railway station Nice Ville, passengers embark on a scenic 3hr trip via the Roya valley to Cuneo.

       The airport at Geneva in neighbouring Switzerland (www.gva.ch) has flights by British Airways, Easyjet and Jet2. A convenient train heads south for the 4.5hr trip via Domodossola to Milan, from where there are plenty of runs for Turin. (It is only marginally faster but more complicated to change at Domodossola for connections via Novara to Turin.)

Local Transport

      The alpine valleys traversed by the GTA are served by a decent network of buses and the odd train, aiding walkers who need to enter/exit at intermediate points. Information is given at the relevant stages in the route description, and contact details for the transport companies are listed below in the order encountered on the GTA.

      Assistance concerning public transport for the whole of Piedmont can be obtained at toll-free 800 990097 (011 6910000 from a mobile phone) or www.regione.piemonte.it/prontotrasporti.

      Italian State Rail is 892021 or www.trenitalia.com.

      The bus companies:

      Viani 0174 391161 operates the Imperia–Cuneo coach service via Ormea.

      Minazzo 0174 391503 does the Ormea–Viozene summer bus.

      Val Pesio 0171 734496 serves Val Pesio and covers the midsummer Terme di Valdieri run.

      Benese 0171 692929 means the Limonetto–Limone bus, the Entracque and Terme di Valdieri services, Acceglio in Valle Maira, all connecting to Cuneo.

      ATI ( 0171 67400 or 0175 43744 or www.atibus.it operates the year-round lines from Cuneo to Pontebernardo and Valle Stura, also lines from Saluzzo to Pontechianale and Paesana in Valle Po.

      Parola Viaggi 0171 940711 operates the Valle Varaita midsummer run serving S. Anna and other villages in Valle Varaita di Bellino, and extending to Casteldelfino.

      SAPAV 800 801901 or www.sapav.com does the Bobbio Pellice to Torre Pellice run as well as proceeding to Pinerolo and Usseaux. Moreover it operates from Perosa Argentina in Val Chisone to Ghigo di Prali in Val Germanasca, as well as the twice-weekly Perrero-Didiero and Balsiglia services in summer; it also covers Valle di Susa.

      SATTI 800 990097 or www.satti.it (click on ‘extraurbana’) does Usseglio to Lanzo (trains connections to Turin) as well as Valle Locana, namely Ceresole Reale via Noasca to Pont Canavese, and branch lines to Talosio, Ronco Canavese and Piamprato. It is also responsible for the Ivrea–Traversella run.

      SADEM 800 801600 www.sadem.it serves the Valle d’Aosta including Ivrea, Quincinetto and Aosta.

      ATAP 015 8408117 with runs from Biella to Oropa and Valle Cervo, also Varallo to Alagna Valsesia and Rimella, as well as to Rima and Carcoforo both via Rimasco.

      Comunità Montana Strona e Basso Toce 0323 87022 or www.vcoinbus.it is responsible for the Valstrona service from Forno to Omegna and the Novara–Domodossola railway line.

      Comazzi 800 011404 or www.vcoinbus.it connects Domodossola (on the Milan-Sempione railway line) with Molini di Calasca and Macugnaga on a daily basis.

      Bus tickets should usually be purchased beforehand – often from a café, newspaper kiosk or tobacconist in the vicinity of the bus stop, and stamped on board. Where this is not possible just get on and ask the driver, though you may be charged a modest surcharge.

      USEFUL TRAVEL AND TIMETABLE TERMINOLOGY

biglietto di andata (andata-ritorno)	single (return) ticket
cambio a	change at
coincidenza	connection
feriale	working days (ie Monday to Saturday)
festivo	Sundays and public holidays
giornaliero	daily
sciopero	strike
scolastico	schooldays
soppresso da… a…	no service from… to… (date)

How to use this Guide

      During the route description the term ‘track’ is used for a vehicle-width lane that is unsurfaced. A ‘path’ is narrow and means pedestrians only, whereas a ‘road’ is sealed and open to traffic. Directions include compass bearings (N, SW, NNW and so forth) in addition to right (R) and left (L). Useful landmarks are given in bold type with their altitude in metres, abbreviated as ‘m’ (100m = 328ft). The Route Summary at the end of the book is helpful for planning purposes and includes accommodation, grocery shops and local transport.

      Timing given in stage headings does not include extra time for resting, taking photographs, responding to the call of nature or indulging in picnics, so be flexible and always allow for extra when planning the day. Groups cannot expect to travel faster than the pace of their slowest member.

      Ascent/descent or height gain

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