Walks from the house

 1. To the beach without crossing the main road

Go left from the house to the end of the street and cross the bridge. Turn left down the footpath (steep at first but not too bad). This leads to a subway. The footpath opposite leads past gardens to the beach. Alternatively bear left and reach the beach via the little park.

2. Circular stroll round Acquaseria 

As no. 1 but after crossing the bridge, go straight on up the hill and join the path. This used to be the Antica Via Regina, the path that pilgrims followed from Milano to San Moritz. The little church in the small square in the old village was built so they could give thanks for not being attacked by bandits on the way from Menaggio! The path will take you past old terraced gardens and eventually across the top of a tunnel to descend to the old lakeside road, which is now a walking and bike track. Follow this back to Acquaseria village. After the big yellow villa on the right, drop down to find the path to the beach. Cross over the river at the beach and follow the road round to Pizzeria and bar Creme Caramel. From here you can walk along the north beach and back up to the house past the municipio and the church.

3. Antica Via Regina to Santa Maria

Turn right from the house and go down to the road, turn left. Don’t go down to the main road but stay on this level, bearing right when the road forks. You will join the old cobbled footpath that takes you past quaint houses and gardens until you have to go right and join the main road. Take care here but carry on and you will come to the big church of Santa Maria, the bar, the bank and further on a lovely gelateria. The beach here is nice too, and in the summer there’s a beach bar.

4. To Santa Maria avoiding the main road 

As 3, but when you get to the cobbled path, go left and take a right onto another path higher up. This has lovely views and takes you to the village of Mastena. Keep heading north through the twisty alleys and you will come to a bridge. The path drops down from here and takes you to Santa Maria.  If you like, go up the steep path immediately after the bridge to see the pretty little church of San Giovanni.

5. To Rezzonico 

Rezzonico is the little village jutting into the lake, with the castle tower. It is really as picturesque as it looks and has a unique atmosphere. To get there without touching the main road, follow the instructions for No.4, but when you are almost at Santa Maria, pick up the Antica Via Regina again heading north. After a while you will come to an area of ruins on your right. This was the citadel of an infamous bandit king who used to claim the area’s brides on their wedding night, until a spirited young groom disguised himself as his bride and killed him. As you pass the “castello” you are crossing over the main road tunnel entrance and the path emerges onto the old road . Cross over and continue down to the old port. If you stay on the old road you will find the bar and pizzeria, and the castle. Passing to the left of the castle you come to the charming beach.  The ristorante Lauro is a lovely place to stop for lunch.

6. Up!

This walk is not advised in wet weather as the steep bits can be slippy.

From the house walk round the apricot coloured house opposite and start going uphill. Bear right past the parking spaces at the top and take the path past a field into the hamlet of Pezzo. Take the path uphill to the left (to San Martino). The climb takes around half an hour depending on how fit you are! When you get to a signposted t-junction, go left and you will ascend to the village of San Martino. There’s a lovely bar and restaurant here. It’s worth walking down to the southern end of the village to see the cemetery. You can continue the hike up to Carcente, or go back down the path, either turning right at the junction to come back the same way, or going straight on, which is longer but less steep. This path comes out on the path to Mastena and you can take a right to return to Acquaseria.

7. Menaggio

1. The old road still snakes around the edge of the lake, and it is now a walking and bike track. Turn left out of the house and walk to the car park, then cross the bridge over the river. Keep straight uphill onto the footpath. After a while you it takes you down to the old road. Just keep going heading south, past Villa Gaeta, past the water works, past the village of Nobiallo. There is just one section where you have to go through a tunnel on the main road, but this is just about 30 metres and there is a narrow verge for walking. After Nobiallo, just before the last tunnel, you pick up the old road again. It's a pleasant walk and takes about an hour. 

2. Start the walk as above. in the second stretch of the old road you will see an ancient stone path heading uphill to the right, signed 'Il Sentiero del Giubileo'. Follow this - it's quite steep to begin with but the views are worth the effort. You pass above the Villa Gaeta, which was a film set in 'Casino Royale'. Just before Nobiallo you descend into the village passing a beautiful church. Finish the walk along the lakeside. This walk takes a bit longer but is spectacular.