A group of 8 of us are going to stay in Lucca for a week in June .We are travelling by public transport and would be grateful if anyone could suggest any loop walks .We usually do 10-15K hill walking each week. Anywhere within an hour from Lucca via public transport would be good.

Read bout Bagni di Lucca just north of there---very pretty country.

You can train 30 minutes from Lucca to Bagni di Lucca. Some short trails from there are described at this link:

http://www.mapmywalk.com/it/bagni-di-lucca-tuscany/

You might also look for a book on hiking/walking in Tuscany. There is one by Jeff Taylor, but I don't know whether it covers much in the Lucca area. Also, there may be a Sunflower Guide for Tuscany.

If you can figure out how to get to Lago di Massachiuccoli, there are nature trails along the shore.

We enjoyed walking from Barga to Sommocolonia and Barga to Tiglio a few years ago. We were travelling with a 9 and 12 year old so walks were not difficult but very enjoyable. The walk to Sommocolonia is fairly steep. Neither were loop walks.

Barga can be reached by bus or train and bus from Lucca. Timetables for both are online. There is a tourist office in Barga but it didn't seem to be open long hours. We picked up a rudimentary map there. Also check barganews - might be something on it which would help.

Have also read that there is good walking from Castelnuovo di Garfagnana but didn't make it that far.