Hiking Le Gran Mont-Grammondo

Starting from Castellar. The Grand Mont (or “Grammondo” for our Italian friends) truly dominates the Mediterranean, which is only 6 km away.

From the small road to Castellar (310 m), go up the gravelled laces of the historic path of La Penna until you reach the homonymous point; cross level (north-east) until you reach the St. Bernard pass (769 m), go around the chapel and go up the path that leads to the ruins of Morga.

Go up north along the GR 52 by a path to the Fayche Fonda drop, then by a track to the drop and the ruins of Colla Bassa (1,110 m).

Turn right onto a fairly steep ramp that climbs steeply up the western side of the Grand Mont before leaving it for the steep final shortcut (1,379 m).

After the tour of the summit, continue to the East summit of the Grand Mont and descend towards the Italian side to quickly join the balcony path that winds just below the border ridge.

We reach the Pas de la Corne (short ascent) which we cross to return to the French side; we reach the Col St-Bernard by alternating portions of paths and tracks and return to the starting point by the Penna path.