Framura, Delva Marino and back to Moneglia.

Breakfast was promising. Our group of ten also.

The railway along this coast connects all the towns directly whereas the roads are a convoluted and slow affair. Both commuters and tourists use the train. In the cool morning we await the train heading south to Framura, two stops away, only 10mins late today. Once at Framura the walking starts, typically we are to find, with steep steps out of town. Now is not the time to chat with one’s new companions. Soon we are high above the coast with spectacular views east.A sunny square materialised with an old defensive tower and then we were heading down again on a track through pines, giant heathers and strawberry trees.A few streets led us onto the beach at Deiva Marina and I couldn’t resist a swim in the invigorating Mediterranean, I was soon dry in the hot sunshine. A nearby cafe provided caffe macchiato. There was a chestnut festival in the village which was just getting going with music and roasted chestnuts.Jollities over a steep ascent through oak forests brought us out at a wooden cross high on Monte Telegrafo, 443m, but views were restricted by the trees. Downhill once again to the prominent village of Lemeglio with it’s black and white church –  – and then on old paved tracks back to Moneglia.

Moneglia

For a first day’s walking this had been quite tough with steep gradients and nearly 3000ft of ascent. This area is outside the Cinque Terre region and few other walkers were seen. A session in the hotel’s Jacuzzi helped aching muscles before an excellent meal of mainly fish and ten new names to recall.