GTB Tratta 06: Mongrando - Pollone

Start: Mongrando (340 m)
Finish: Pollone (620 m)
GtB legs: 17-20
Passing through: Muzzano (520 m) Occhieppo Superiore (450 m)
Length: 14 km
Ascents and descents: 440 m (climb) 160 m (descent)
Time required: 4’45”
Difficulty: E - (Average)
Comments:  This section of the circuit brings you back to the mountains that overlook the province of Biella and whose austere profile contrasts with the gentleness of the hills. The  itinerary ends in Pollone, an elegant locality and holiday resort for many intellectuals and men of culture, for example, Benedetto Croce. 

The first stretch in Mongrando takes you along a cart-track parallel to the Ingagna Torrent. After crossing the torrent, climb towards Gallo on a paved road. After passing Cascina Galliano you enter a  wood; a fine cart-track will take you to Gerbiglie where you take a paved road on the left. The road rises towards Cascina Candireno, after which you head right on a path. When you come to the road to Muzzano, take it to the left for a short while before taking a cart-track on the right. Continue straight until you come to the old paved road to Occhieppo that descends to a farmhouse where you turn left and then immediately right. Follow a steep mule-track towards Elvo plain. Having passed a farmhouse on the left on the cattle-track, cross the river and turn right along the main road that will take you up to Occhieppo Superiore. Having passed over the provincial road, a paved road on the other side rises towards and passes the green area of Castellazzo before reaching the road to Pollone. Cross this road and take the paved road (which then turns into a dirt road) that runs along the ridge to the Church of San Grato, and from there head down to Pollone