Country:
District:
Park in the car park on the edge of the T30 near the Agriate café-restaurant, east of the access road to Ostriconi beach.
(S/E) Follow the track north-west across the wetland until you reach the Vadellare stream, which you can ford. Immediately afterwards, you will see the first rocks covered with prickly pears. You will soon reach the junction with a footpath.
(1) Continue north on the track to the Monticellacciu sheepfold.
(2) Continue north on the track and, after a slight climb, you will reach Bocca di Mercuriu.
(3) Here, a long dry stone wall blocks the pass, leaving two passages open at either end. The one on the left gives access to the path that leads to Punta di l'Acciolu (see alternative route).
Take the passage on the right through which the track winds and continue walking. The track winds through the scrub, descending towards a stream and climbing back up the opposite slope through rocky outcrops of varying degrees of steepness.
Shortly after the ruins of the Terrice sheepfolds, the track reaches Collu di Puricciulu.
(4) Begin a long, easy descent to reach the Luogo Pianu sheepfold.
(5) Pass the sheepfold and cross the sheep park (there are gaps in the wall on either side). The path enters a tunnel of vegetation that leads to the bottom of the valley (spring). It descends the stream to the confluence with another stream. Here, there is no longer a track, but a rough path where you may encounter wild pigs at every turn.
(6) At the confluence of the streams, cross the stream and follow it upstream to the left. Winding its way along the bottom of the thalweg, it progresses up the hillside, alternating between easy sections and much steeper ones. Reach Collu di Griffiu, the highest point of the circuit.
(7) Descend to the sea via a beautiful balcony path. Reach the sandy beach of Sotche.
(8) Important note here: the coastal path that branches off to the left towards Acciolu beach is closed.
Climb back up the valley above the beach, then climb a steep, sandy path to the upper plateau where the coastal path continues.
After passing several coves, the path returns closer to the sea. Shortly before Acciolu beach, a path framed by three large wooden posts leads down to the shore.
(9) At the end of the path leading up from the beach, continue straight ahead. At the foot of the hill overlooking the point, turn left onto a path, then left again a few dozen metres further on. Head south towards Ostriconi.
(10) Leave the path that leads to Bocca di Mercuriu on your left. After crossing the long wall that blocks the entrance to the valley, the path becomes steeper. Facing the valley ahead, take the path that branches off to the left. Shortly afterwards, you will reach the ruins of the Chimia sheepfolds. Ford a stream, then make a wide S-turn to the Sualellu sheepfold and follow the course of the stream.
As you descend, the slope becomes gentler until you reach the shore at the beautiful Vana beach.
(11) There is one more point to cross, on which two stone columns have been erected, to reach Ostriconi beach. Several coves precede it before the path enters the dunes behind the beach.
(12) This part is not the easiest of the route, as it involves walking in sand. The rock reappears shortly before the hamlet of Gradu.
(13) Cross it via a steep path. Continue along the right bank of the Vadellare stream to return to the initial crossroads.
(1) Take the trail on the right, cross the wetland to return to the car park where you started (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
Moderate 
