Circular walk taking in the sights on the Golgo plateau

To reach the car park at the start of the hike:
- if you’re coming from the north, leave the SS 125 just before Baunei, heading towards Ristorante Golgo and Il rifugio (the road branches off to the left).
- if you are coming from the south, you will find signs for Golgo and Goloritze in the centre of Baunei (the road branches off to the right). After driving for about 8 km, leave the tarmac road at a wooden sign indicating Sas Piscinas, Voragine and Goloritze. Follow this track for about 400 m until you reach a crossroads, then park.

(S/E) Look out for large, round boulders at the edge of the track that block vehicles from passing. Go past this line of boulders, cross an open area and, under the trees, you’ll find the first pool of the “As Piscinas” complex.
Go round it on the left and, keeping to the left, rejoin a path heading north-east. On your left, you’ll pass another pool. Follow this path, which is bordered by a low wall on the left-hand side and which, further on, turns left at a right angle. Continue along it for 100 m to reach the Su Sterru chasm.

(1) This is on the left, protected by a guardrail. Continue along the path north-west and then west until you come to a track.

(2) Cross this track at right angles, then carry on in the same direction across a meadow. At the end of the meadow, take the track heading due west to the Il Rifugio car park. Exit the car park by opening the single pedestrian gate and head uphill towards this hotel, restaurant and campsite.

Walk past it on the left-hand side, climb the steps, and follow a path that leads to another set of wooden steps, this time going downhill. Walk beneath the stone face.

(3) The best vantage point for the stone face is directly beneath it. Continue downhill, passing a chasm. From the chasm, head towards the dry riverbed. After this low point, the path climbs towards information boards about the Alvo nuraghe and then on to the nuraghe itself, at the top of the hill, clearly visible. From the nuraghe, a path about fifty metres long leads to a viewpoint overlooking the pebbly riverbed below.

(4) Turn back, following the same path as on the way there, back to Il Rifugio. Walk round Il Rifugio and head towards its northern exit. Take the track leading to the Church of San Pietro.

Ignore a path on the left and, at the next junction, turn left. Then head straight on towards the church. At the low wall, open the small gate on the right (close it again afterwards), and walk past a small column bearing a carved face. Go through a second gate and enter the church courtyard.

(5) From the church, retrace your steps, go through the two gates, then turn left (towards the east) and walk along the low wall. Follow this track, which is suitable for vehicles. At the next crossroads, head towards Baunei, due south.

(2) Continue straight ahead along the track. The ‘Su Sterru’ sign is high up in the foliage on the left. It points to a path that branches off to the left and leads directly back to the car park where you started (S/E).

- No water sources apart from the Il Rifugio restaurant and campsite.
- Shelter in the churchyard.
- Low-cut walking shoes are sufficient.
- The road leading to the start of the walk begins in the village of Baunei. The first two kilometres of this road are very steep and feature a series of hairpin bends; long vehicles cannot access this section.

(2) Alternative route: you can turn left to rejoin the path leading to point (1).

- As Piscinas are four pools of murky water where swimming is not permitted. They serve as drinking troughs for the pigs, donkeys and cattle that inhabit the plateau.
- Leaving the Church of San Pietro, at the car park, walk along the boundary wall towards the east; after about 100 metres you will find a junction signposted Cala Sisine (about fifteen kilometres away).
- Nuraghi are round towers dating from the Bronze Age. You can enter the Nuraghe d’Alvo (or Nuraghe Alvu di Genna’e Sarmentu): be aware of the risk of rockfalls. There is another nuraghe one kilometre north of the Church of San Pietro; you can reach it by taking the track leading to Cala Sisine, then following a footpath.
- Juniper wood was used to build the shepherds’ huts near the restaurant and the spectacular staircases leading up to the stone face, which is about ten metres high (Maschera di Pietra or Faccia Litica).
- The Church of San Pietro is closed to the public, but you can access its courtyard and a shelter by passing through two gates in succession; please ensure you close them behind you to keep animals out.
- To get to Cala Goritze, park at the Su Porteddu car park/campsite/restaurant, 500 metres east of the start of this walk, at the end of the track.