We love the range of walks around Le Marche and we’ve been thinking about getting a rescue dog since we first moved here 2 years ago, but in the meantime I’m lucky enough to have a good friend living nearby who has 2 very enthusiastic dogs that like nothing more than to go on long exploratory walks.
The lovely thing about this part of the world is the range of terrain over such a small area. There’s the coast – flat as a pancake, with wide open sandy beaches which are especially appealing out of season.
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| Porto San Giorgio in the winter |
There are the rolling hills between the mountains and the coast, and the actual mountains themselves. There are numerous lakes too, typically up in the mountains, which are wonderful all year round. Great for bird watching and for escaping the summer heat.
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| Lago di Fiastra in September |
On most walks – especially further inland – you’re likely to come across old, crumbling, abandoned houses and barns, all in various states of disrepair. I remember taking so many of these in when we were first house hunting all those years ago, and they still hold a fascination now.
On a recent walk near the village of Gualdo, we came across a huge abandoned water mill. Set – unsurprisingly – next to a small river and with no visible habitable houses around it, it was both magical and slightly foreboding. With no obvious way of getting inside, which of course we were desperate to do, we had to make do with a squint through the huge keyhole and a thorough stomp around the outside, peeking through gaps in doorways wherever possible.
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| River by the abandoned water mill |
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| Part of the water mill |
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| Peeking through the keyhole to get a look inside |
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| Graffiti from 1799 on the mill door |
I love imagining what these old derelict places were like before they were abandoned, and what they could be like if someone came along and gave them some love. We thought the mill could be a fabulous wedding venue, with wonderful outside spaces set up near the river, the sound of gushing water and the complete sense of privacy and relaxation. Hopefully someone out there wants to give it a new lease of life soon.
