Maritime Alps

The coastal hills which begin around Cantalupo are the foot-hills of the Alps. They rise steeply and within a short drive you are already 2,000 m above sea-level.
Naturally there are innumerable walking paths to explore: you will find plenty of walking guides in the house to start you off. Below is a description of one walk we did in the summer of 2007.

Alpine walk above Carnina Superiore, Piedmont

Just 65 km (a 90-minute drive from Cantalupo) is the Parco Naturale Alta Valle Pesio e Tanaro
nature reserve.
A walk in the high Alps makes a perfect change after the heat of the coast.
(Here is a Guardian article about the many delights this region has to offer.)

There are many well-signposted walks. This one starts at Carnina Superiore (1397 m) and goes to the French border at Colle dei Signori (2130 m). At a comfortable pace with enough breaks to enjoy the stupendous panorama of this karst area, we took three hours there and about two to return.

Location

Take the road north from Oneglia, through Pieve di Teco, over the pass of Colle di Nava and down to the River Tanaro. Over the bridge, turn west and follow the river upstream to the village of Viozene and afterwards turn right to Carnina Superiore,where the road ends.

Clothing

Wear stout walking shoes or boots and take a fleece pullover, even if it is hot in Cantalupo. In the mountains the temperature is often a good 10° cooler and the weather can be changeable.

Fauna

You will see plenty of Alpine marmots on the high pastures. First you will probably hear their whistle, but you will certainly see them, too.
The park authorities say there are three Golden eagles resident in the reserve. We did not see them the first time but on a subsequent walk had a splendid view of one quartering the hillside right above us. We also saw a peregrine falcon.
The park's rarest residents, the wolves, are more likely to be in the northern part, in the Pesio valley.
On a walk in early July 2008, the most notable feature was the profusion of wild flowers, including gentians and edelweiss.

Hostel

The destination is the Rifugio Don Barbera, on the French border. Food and drink is available.
Such hostels also offer overnight accommodation (reservation advised).

There are more trekking guides here.