La Duchessa

The Strada Romantica delle Langhe e del Roero (35 minutes) runs between Camerana (25 minutes’ drive) and Vezza d’Alba (an hour), a village renowned for its truffles. There are 11 suggested stops en route, including Mombarcaro, from where you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Ligurian Sea, and the woodlands around Benevello. Starting from the village of Sale San Giovanni, the Percorso Lavanda (35 minutes) comprises four trails that snake their way among colourful lavender fields (at least during the early summer months), plus sunflowers and medicinal plants. Along the route you might also come across centuries-old frescoed chapels. One of the highlights of the Piana Crixia Regional Park (40 minutes) is the Fungo Gigante, a huge mushroom-shaped formation with a granite boulder sitting atop a column of sedimentary rock and pebbles. Keep your eyes peeled for birds of prey flying overhead and badgers and foxes scuttling around in the undergrowth.