I started a new job in August. Blogging, creative writing and photography have all taken a backseat while I have been settling in at the Oxford Martin School, part of the University of Oxford. It’s a great job and my first big project was to launch a report called ‘Now for the Long Term’, which makes recommendations to switch political and business focus from short term pressures to long term needs. It has been an exciting time and I’ve met fascinating people, from Pascal Lamy, former Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, to Al Gore, former US vice-president.
But now it’s time to make time for my personal passions. Before I started the job, I booked myself onto a wonderful week-long walking holiday in Tuscany. A small group travelled to an area in the north of the well-known region, which is a far cry from the busy, bustling tourist Tuscany that is flooded with us Brits each year.
Our wonderful tour leader, Liz, met us at the airport and made a quick nip into the centre of Pisa, so those of us who had never been could take in the leaning tower. I just couldn’t resist the very cheesy photo…
This was a week of pretty strenuous walks; we walked steeply up into the mountains most days, seeing very few people as we wended our way up to staggeringly gorgeous views. What really made the trip was having a picture perfect base to wake up in and return to each day. Braccicorti is an agritourismo – an agricultural location that welcomes guests into the farmhouse. Braccicorti is a stunner; it is run by a welcoming, friendly family who make glorious food from mainly homegrown ingredients (or local where it’s not produced on their land). And the setting couldn’t be better. I had a room with a view and there was a fabulous swimming pool for that essential post-hike swim. Here’s a selection of pics to give you a feel for just what an idyllic place it was.
The walks themselves were no less stunning. Here’s a selection of pictures from day one, which took us pretty high up.
Day two saw us climb higher – to 1,754 metres to the summit of Mount Sumbra. Another stunning hike.
Day three was a hot one but I didn’t mind at all, as we took a circular walk in the valley – no uphill climbing means I can cope with any amount of heat! Revisiting these photos in depths of late, chilly & dark, autumn is a joy. I am transported right back into the fields, villages and heat of those July days.
After three days’ walking, we were due for a break. I had been to Lucca in the past, so I decided to stay local and go to the local town – Castelnuovo. The rest of the group did too; I think everyone was too knackered to get up for an early train! It’s a sweet town but I failed to take a single decent photo apart from our gorgeous lunch – a deli just outside the town walls put together a great plate of cheeses and nibbles for us.
Two more days’ walking to come but I’ll leave that for another day!
By Carole Scott
Footsteps and Photos 
TOSCANA 🙂 🙂 !!!
I need to come back to Siena – I haven’t been since 1989 and I love the place. My favourite Tuscan city.
yes you should come back 🙂 long time 🙂
The Garfagnana is a gorgeous area of Tuscany. Your photos are wonderful.
Thanks Debra. I’ll blog the rest later or tomorrow – my photos were taking AGES to upload, so I decided to divide the story into two posts!
The view from the window brought back great memories of a house my family rented for a holiday near Lucca. Similar view – it was stunning and we loved the lifestyle of getting wine from the local winery and food from the markets – coming home and cooking and sitting outside enjoying those views into the long summer evenings.
Wow, that sounds superb. I think I’m going to have to get back to Italy next year – I had left it far too long.