Despite the fact that we liked being on Sardinia, on our last full day on the island we were already quite tired. And so, for this day we planned a little easier trip, short walk to (and around) Monte Pino. As always, we learnt about this hike in our favourite guidebook “Sardinia: Rother Walking Guite”, written by Mithra Omidvar. In the 3rd Czech issue of the book (from year 2003), this track is listed under number 45.
Monster
Since today’s hike was shorter, we set out from camp a little later, at 9:40. At first we went to the south to Olbia, got on the ring around the town and went to the west. We got off the highway on the 2nd exit and continued in the direction to Tempio Pausania. After 9 km we got to big T-crossroad, where we turned right (still following the direction to Tempio). Another 650 m later we turned right again, to the gravel road (sign “Rist. Angelo & Archangela” and “Monte Pino”). We went along it for about half a kilometer and then for the last time turned right, passed the iron gate and stopped about 50 meters behind it on the left side. There’s no “official” parking lot, but our car was fine there…
Monte Pino
Shortly after half past ten, we started walking along the wide path (unpaved road), that was slowly ascending up to Monte Pino. We passed two branches and at about eleven came to the third branch. It’s the important one, because, as you may have noticed if you have the guidebook, the described track creates a circle, starting (and ending) on this branch. I marked this place as a waypoint, you can download GPX file containing its coordinates (and coordinates of other important places).
After having a short break near the crossroad, we turned to the right – to the very nice path, that leads at first to the south-east, than to the east along the hillside and offers a beautiful views of the country to the south. The path is also surrounded by bizzare rock monoliths – the one I liked the most looks like some kind of monster. After about kilometer from the branch, the path slowly turns to the north and starts ascending. On the next branching, at about 630 m ASL, we turned left and after 500 meters we got to another branch. There’s an old wooden sign “Punta Casteddu” (another name for “Monte Pino”), pointing to the right. From this place, it’s just half a kilometer to the top of the mountain.
View from Monte Pino
On the summit there is quite a big radio station, with a lot of aerials in all directions. Despite that, I liked being on the mountain a lot: there’s a beautiful view from there – to the city of Olbia, to the whole Costa Smeralda coast, as well as to the inland.
After enjoying the view (and as always, taking a lot of photos), we set out for the way back. On the branch under the top, we didn’t turn left to go back the same way (which would be longer), but to the right. After 20 minutes long descend we got to quite a big building, that (according to the guidebook) serves as gamekeeper’s house. From the house it was just 300 meters to the branch, where the “circular part” of the track started. We just kept descending the well-known way down to our car…
As usually, here’s a link to the GPX file containing the track record.
| Start/finish |
Main POI |
Distance |
Max. elevation |
Min. elevation |
Download link |
| Parking place |
Monte Pino |
7.1 km |
742 m |
411 m |
link |
You can also look at the elevation diagram of the track (generated by GPS altimeter and processed by Garmin Basemap application). Please click to the miniature to see the diagram in a full size.
Elevation diagram - trip to Monte Pino and back
And last but not least here’s the list of some important waypoints. You can download all of them in one GPX file.
| Name |
Description |
Approx. Elev. |
Latitude |
Longitude |
| NAD BRANOU |
Parking space under Monte Pino |
411 m |
N 40° 56.386′ |
E 9° 21.486′ |
| ROZC02 |
Branch; “circular” part of the track |
567 m |
N 40° 56.734′ |
E 9° 22.009′ |
| BIZARNI SKALA 01 |
Bizarre rock monolith; looking like monster |
579 m |
N 40° 56.548′ |
E 9° 22.260′ |
| ROZC03 |
Branch; just under the summit |
681 m |
N 40° 56.673′ |
E 9° 22.320′ |
| MONTE PINO |
The top of the mountain |
742 m |
N 40° 56.758′ |
E 9° 22.447′ |
Sardinia 2010 – Monte Pino (27th July)
Despite the fact that we liked being on Sardinia, on our last full day on the island we were already quite tired. And so, for this day we planned a little easier trip, short walk to (and around) Monte Pino. As always, we learnt about this hike in our favourite guidebook “Sardinia: Rother Walking Guite”, written by Mithra Omidvar. In the 3rd Czech issue of the book (from year 2003), this track is listed under number 45.
Monster
Since today’s hike was shorter, we set out from camp a little later, at 9:40. At first we went to the south to Olbia, got on the ring around the town and went to the west. We got off the highway on the 2nd exit and continued in the direction to Tempio Pausania. After 9 km we got to big T-crossroad, where we turned right (still following the direction to Tempio). Another 650 m later we turned right again, to the gravel road (sign “Rist. Angelo & Archangela” and “Monte Pino”). We went along it for about half a kilometer and then for the last time turned right, passed the iron gate and stopped about 50 meters behind it on the left side. There’s no “official” parking lot, but our car was fine there…
Monte Pino
Shortly after half past ten, we started walking along the wide path (unpaved road), that was slowly ascending up to Monte Pino. We passed two branches and at about eleven came to the third branch. It’s the important one, because, as you may have noticed if you have the guidebook, the described track creates a circle, starting (and ending) on this branch. I marked this place as a waypoint, you can download GPX file containing its coordinates (and coordinates of other important places).
After having a short break near the crossroad, we turned to the right – to the very nice path, that leads at first to the south-east, than to the east along the hillside and offers a beautiful views of the country to the south. The path is also surrounded by bizzare rock monoliths – the one I liked the most looks like some kind of monster. After about kilometer from the branch, the path slowly turns to the north and starts ascending. On the next branching, at about 630 m ASL, we turned left and after 500 meters we got to another branch. There’s an old wooden sign “Punta Casteddu” (another name for “Monte Pino”), pointing to the right. From this place, it’s just half a kilometer to the top of the mountain.
View from Monte Pino
On the summit there is quite a big radio station, with a lot of aerials in all directions. Despite that, I liked being on the mountain a lot: there’s a beautiful view from there – to the city of Olbia, to the whole Costa Smeralda coast, as well as to the inland.
After enjoying the view (and as always, taking a lot of photos), we set out for the way back. On the branch under the top, we didn’t turn left to go back the same way (which would be longer), but to the right. After 20 minutes long descend we got to quite a big building, that (according to the guidebook) serves as gamekeeper’s house. From the house it was just 300 meters to the branch, where the “circular part” of the track started. We just kept descending the well-known way down to our car…
As usually, here’s a link to the GPX file containing the track record.
You can also look at the elevation diagram of the track (generated by GPS altimeter and processed by Garmin Basemap application). Please click to the miniature to see the diagram in a full size.
Elevation diagram - trip to Monte Pino and back
And last but not least here’s the list of some important waypoints. You can download all of them in one GPX file.