Monte Bregagno from the Monti di Breglia

Monte Bregagno, 2107 metres, is a long climb; from the summit the view takes in much of the Alpine arc and the lakes of Como and Lugano.

From the car park at the Monti di Breglia, at 1080 metres, a path leads to a junction where you turn right for the Rifugio Menaggio and the Sentiero Panoramico; you climb among birches and at a fork keep right for Sant'Amate and the Bregagno. The path steepens to 1643 metres and drops to the Sant'Amate saddle, at 1623, with its little church, about an hour and a half from the start. Northwards you follow the grassy ridge, with level stretches and short pulls, to the Bregagnino, at 1905 metres; you lose a few dozen metres and climb again to the summit cross, looking over the Val Chiavenna to the north, the Mesolcina range, the Val Cavargna and Lake Lugano to the west and Lake Como to the east. You return the same way, or from Sant'Amate head towards the Grona and along a short stretch of ridge go down to the Rifugio Menaggio, at about 1400 metres, and from there to the Monti di Breglia.

1. 01Ten and a half kilometres and a thousand metres of climb from the Monti di Breglia to the top at 2107 metres, three hours twenty up. The route is of moderate difficulty. April to November is the recommended period, depending on ground and snow conditions. Check the weather forecast before setting off.
2. 02The Monti di Breglia are reached from Menaggio on provincial road 7 towards Plesio; to drive up to the car park you need the daily access ticket from the machine at the start of the road. Alternatively the C113 Menaggio–Plesio bus goes to Breglia, and from there it is about an hour's walk up.
3. 03Check whether the Rifugio Menaggio is open and book if you plan to stay overnight. In winter, climb only in stable snow conditions; crampons are needed on the final stretch if there is ice.

WhereMenaggio