CT Trail advice
 

Will be walking the CT trail between the 5 villages in early October. We intend to start from the northern end. As we will have to leave our Travelpacks in the first village, can anyone advise if there is a cycling track we could go back on and if so can we hire mountain bikes in the area?

The only track is the one you will be walking. You could take the train, or the boat as an alternative

The walking book we have eludes to an inland track, don't know if anyone has walked it, and if you could possible ride or horseride it if it were available?

Which walking book do you have? I'm interested in getting one.

Hi Lesa. I remember reading about (or seeing on a map) other trails besides the main one people take when we were there last spring. Unfortunately, I don't know whether one is allowed to ride bikes or horses on them. I don't recall seeing any bikes, much less bike rental shops, in any of the four southernmost villages. If there is a bike rental shop, your best bet will probably be the town you'll be starting from, Monterosso. <BR><BR>Anyway, I just wanted to tell you it's my opinion that starting at the northern end is the best way to hike the CT trail, from a visual perspective, because I thought the views of the the middle three villages -- Vernazza, Corniglia, and Manarola -- were best when approached from the north rather than the south. (The views of the plummeting hillsides and ocean are wonderful from either approach.)

The train is by far the easiest way to get back - a few minutes between each town, and they run quite frequently, about every 1/2 hour or so.

Thanks for all your help, might just catch the train back. The book is called Walks in Italy, but not sure of the Author, will have a look for you. (pls note I am in Aus)

It's interesting which direction to go. We stayed in Manarola and did the simple little walk to the south at Romiggiore and back the first day. For the main walk (the other four villages) at our hotel they advised us to walk northward to Monterossa, not to take the train there and walk back. We were glad we did. The very end of the walk was quite a long downhill to Monterossa, which would have been quite a long hike up at the beginning if we had gone north to south. Either way it is spectacular though.<BR>I sure don't know about an inland track, but would suggest either a boat or the train for the return.

Boat might be interesting!

Think I have the walking book referred to and plan to use it in April.<BR><BR>It's &quot;Walking Italy&quot; by Gillian &amp; John Souter, Off the Shelf Publishing, Australia<BR><BR>Enjoy the walks

We bought a hiking map by Kompass through omnimap.com. There are several different trails between the villages other than the main trail along the coast.<BR><BR>Have fun!

Yes that is the book I've got, see you on the trails! Also might look out for the Kompass maps for some more detail.<BR><BR>Thanks

Take the boat back to Monterosso at the end. Though more expensive than the train, you get great scenery with unparalleled photo ops of the villages from the sea. The train, on the other hand, is quicker, but largely through tunnels with no view at all. The walk is harder than it sounds (distance wise) because of the hills. You will enjoy the relaxing boat ride over biking those hills even if you could find a way to do it (which I doubt you can).