Trekking in the Apennines: The Grande Escursione Appenninica (International walking series)

The mountainous Apennine chain, forming a rugged spine along the slender Italian peninsula, is one of Italy's best-kept secrets. Nearly 400km in length, and ranging between 400m and 2000m above sea level, the exhilarating Great Apennines Trek (GEA) spends just over three weeks criss-crossing the central-north section of the range, following routes established by long-gone invaders and traders, and trodden by pilgrims and shepherds since time immemorial. Dipping in and out of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, the trek makes its way northwest up Italy traversing two national parks dotted with pretty lakes. It undergoes memorable transitions passing through extensive pine and beech forests, negotiating rocky crests surveyed by birds of prey, and pasture coloured by a riot of wildflowers. The countryside is alive with boar and deer, but there are few other walkers.Accommodation is in comfortable inns located in picturesque villages and hospitable high-altitude huts, each proudly continuing the Italian tradition of specialist regional cuisine. The walk can be joined or left at a variety of points thanks to the excellent public transport network.