Commencing our walk in Campi Vecchio allows us to look around this elegant village with its commanding views over the agricultural land in the valley below, and the beautiful churches within its walls. Here we take a path to a valley leading up onto a high ridge with views both towards the Preci valley and the valleys that are home to neighbouring small villages, and the winter ski resorts above them. It is up here that we have our picnic, allowing ourselves time to take in this mesmerising scenery.

After lunch we follow a gentle path along the top of the ridge and over the occasional peak, where we walk past Norcia in the valley basin. We then descend into the awe-inspiring Piano Grande and finally into our destination, Castelluccio, one of Italy’s highest continually inhabited villages. With the surrounding area often shrouded in mist, papal edicts once forbade the crossing of this wilderness during the winter months, and to this day bells are still rung to guide shepherds home when visibility is poor.

With its stunning views, this is the ideal spot to have a refreshing drink overlooking the magnificent plain whilst reflecting on the weeks experiences.

.