Monte Sette Termini from Grantola via Montegrino Valtravaglia

Of the three slopes to reach Sette Termini, the one that climbs from Voldomino I consider the least interesting, at least for the section 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 rising. After the traffic circle with the road leading to Cucco along the Margorabbia, the climb begins fairly gently with gradients of 7％ until the first right-hand hairpin bend. Then the gradient becomes more hostile becoming 9-10％ fixed except for a short stretch after the road junction to Biviglione and remains hard until the entrance to Montegrino dwhere 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 stay deep in the woods. At an elevation of 750 m asl in a left-hand hairpin bend the climb from Castendallo engages. A little more than 2 km more and you reach the top of the hill: at an altitude of about 900m asl. One of the quietest places with nothing, as the recreational facility that was on the left has been closed for years. All that is left is to descend toward Cugliate Fabiasco or retrace the climb we just faced. 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.