Montone Loop (Large) (Can also go via waterfall if want a swim) 1.5 hours of hard ascent! Skill 4 Stamina 8
(Waterfall variation Skill 6 Stamina 8)
Total time :(Incl. Rest stops and meals) c.8-00 to 4-00
Cycling time :3.5 to 4.5 hours mainly(65%) off-road.
Distance :28 or 34 Km
Start point : 8.00 Taverna di Mastro Dante (Nr.Montecastelli - exit E45 at promano and follow large roundabout round to head south towards montecastelli. After 05 km you'll see the Taverna on your left.)
Bring plenty of water to drink and swimming costume and a towel if you do the waterfall variation.
View of Montone from trail
General Description
A tough trail for serious cyclists it starts with a hard and long (Nearly an hour mainly ascending!) tarmac ascent but you'll be rewarded with great scenery and a cold beer at the top! At Montone we climb by dirt track onto the montone ridge where you'll get magnificent distant views of the mountains of le Marche and ancient (VI century) chaples clinging to rocky outcrops. After following the ridge for an hour and a half we turn of and slowly descend into the tiber valley on a beautiful panoramic trail descending through pine and then oak woodland. Finally we have a beautiful tarmac descent into the enchanted valley of the Lana. The Waterfall variation is similar but is 45 mins shorter and involves a couple of extremely steep descents - you will be rewarded by a swim in the most amazingly beautiful rock pools however.
Trail Breakdown
Start with a strenuous 5km tarmac ascent to the Montone ridge (Some shade and you can pause outside Montone for fresh drinks in a bar) 1 hour. From Montone ridge half an hour's hard cycling (4km) with 2 slightly strenuous ascents (4-5 mins). Plenty of shade from pine forests, amazing views across to le Marche etc. till arrive at waterfall turn.(Gravel) Easier cycling with only a few long though not steep ascents. Its 5Km (40mins) to the Pietralunga turn-off. Plenty of refreshing downs and shade however. (Gravel) Half an hour of easy cycling to the Candeggio turn off on dirt track apart from 10 mins tarmac (Deserted mountain road). Some shade. 5.5 km Candeggio to Vitiano fork: 2.5 km (20mins) beautiful off road with distant mountain views. Vitiano fork to standing stones. 2.5 km (20 mins) beautiful tolkienesque lanscape. Loads of shade. (Left turn just before standing stones is short cut across to Cass. Dei Soci) Sharply descent from standing stones navigating 2 steep rocky parts. Pine then oak woods- beautiful! After 3.5 Km (25 mins) arrive at tarmac (Star point) Can descend to the left or the right at this stage. (Left is probably easier) 6 km (30 mins)of beautiful tarmac descent arrive at Montecastelli taverna. Can take lunch stop before at Friend's agriturismo. Montone Loop (Waterfall variation) As above but cut across at waterfall turn and navigate some really steep descents to arrive at the pristine pools and falls to save about 6 km on journey.