Monte Sette Termini from Grantola via Montegrino Valtravaglia

Of the three slopes to reach Sette Termini, the one that climbs from Voldomino I consider to be the least interesting, at least for the stretch on the SP road from Luino up to Montegrino: a road with a fair amount of traffic, fast, although the climb is quite challenging and ascending. After the roundabout with the road to Cucco along the Margorabbia, the climb begins fairly gently with gradients of 7％ until the first right-hand bend. Then the gradient becomes steeper becoming 9-10％ fixed except for a short stretch after the junction of the road to Biviglione and remains hard until the entrance to Montegrino where there is a left-hand fork for the second part of the climb to Sette Termini. It is still 5-6 km but the gradients never exceed 8％ and you remain immersed in the forest. At an altitude of 750 metres above sea level, the ascent from Castendallo begins in a left-hand bend. A little more than 2 km more and you arrive at the top: at an altitude of around 900m asl. This is one of the quietest places with nothing going on, as the recreational facility on the left has been closed for years. There is nothing left to do but descend towards Cugliate Fabiasco or retrace the climb we have just tackled. As I anticipated, the climb from Castendallo or the one from Cugliate in my opinion are more interesting, with the former even more challenging.

Probably the best known ascent route for the Sette Termini. Gentle bends and a few ups and downs until Montegrino. Then a beautiful, sustained climb through chestnut and spruce forests. I have done it many times, even on rollerskis, and the Sette Termini is always beautiful.