VOTTIGNASCO
FAIRYTALE WOODS
Vottignasco: Octavia
5 km (3.1 mi)
A fun, easy stroll through open fields and dense woods as you enjoy the stories of the “Forest of Vottingham”. From the parking areas near the Vottignasco cemetery, take the road to the left, which turns almost immediately to dirt as it heads through the cultivated fields.
Please note that itineraries may include roads where motor vehicles are allowed. Authors and trail testers are not responsible for the information contained.
Fountain near the town hall (“municipio”). Although much of the itinerary is on dirt roads, there are a number of points that are too narrow for strollers. The Vottignasco Proloco association organizes themed games and guided tours. The itinerary follows a portion of the Maira trail from Raccognigi to Villar San Costanzo, running along the right-hand bank of the river through Savigliano, Villafalletto, Cavallerleone, Cavallermaggiore, Busca and, of course, Vottignasco. A great many events are held along this trail, including Mangia Maira, a culinary walk held on April 25th.
Do you want to know the surprise in the forest? OK, it’s Excalibur, sticking out of the rock. See if you can take it out!
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When you reach the tree line, ignore the dirt road to the left and take the trail to the left immediately after it (sign with Snow White and the Seven Dwarves). The trail heads through the trees as you and your children are immersed in the story, as illustrated by Vottignasco school children.
Pay attention after the twelfth story panel. Here, you will need to turn left, where you will soon find a dirt road near a sort of huge table. Continue along the dirt road to the left until you reach the dirt road you were on previously. Take this road to the left and pass the start of the trail from before, continuing on to a large intersection near the Maira river.
Now take the dirt road to the right and head upriver through fields and woods until you find the Tortoise and the Hare Woods (“Bosco della Lepre e della Tartaruga”), where there are three panels that tell the tale of that infamous race. You may notice that the panels are two-sided. In this way, you can enjoy the whole story even when doing the path in the opposite direction. The brief section in a clearing takes you closer to the river and back into the woods.
DO NOT try to get closer to the river. The bank is too steep. Keep to the trail at all times.
Here, you will enter the magical realm of King Arthur’s Round Table. Story panels accompany you through the dense forest, telling the tale of these epic adventures. These panels, too, are double-sided so that you can enjoy the whole story in either direction.
After the first four panels, you will find an odd frame. In front of this frame, there is a tree with a stand on which you can position your phone to take a selfie. The path continues through each chapter of the story until suddenly, in a clearing, you find… Well, let’s not say what so as not to ruin the surprise, but we can assure you the “wow” factor is great.
The trail continues through the final chapters and comes out, almost unexpectedly, from the tree line, as you remember all of a sudden that you weren’t in the dense forest of Nottingham, but rather just a stone’s throw from modern-day farmhouses and farmland. Take the dirt road to the right through the fields until you reach a small chapel. Continue to the right on the paved road, which you take you back to the cemetery from the start.