Day 1

(Day numbers assume the 7-night medium option)

Arrive in Amalfi, and settle in to your hotel. If you do not arrive too late, there is the cathedral and the waterfront to visit, or just wander the streets looking for your first restaurant…

The Ravello Circuit. Your first walk makes the spectacular stepped climb (360m) up to Ravello in the morning, with the chance to look round the famed gardens of the Villa Cimbrone on the way. After a look at Ravello’s centre and cathedral, you descend to the little village of Pontone for lunch (picnic, or a choice of modest restaurants). For the afternoon, a visit to the dramatically sited castle Torre dello Ziro overlooking both Amalfi and Atrani is a must. Then you can return directly to Amalfi, or via Atrani, nice for a swim, or a drink in its secluded piazza.  (4-5  hrs, 9 kms, CUSs 650m )

Alternatives:  Take a bus up to Ravello and walk back down – 1½ hours without Torre dello Ziro circuit, CUSs 50m, 2½ hours with, CUSs 200m)

The Pogerola circuit. If yesterday you saw maybe too many steps, today’s foray into the mountains along hill paths will offer some relief, and splendid views. Get a bus up to Scala, then walk into the mountains along mainly flat paths! The walk ends in Pogerola, a lovely little hill village, well-endowed with bars for end-of-walk refreshments. You then have a very easy gentle paved path down through woods back to Amalfi. Scala has a nice bar, good for a second breakfast. (4¼ hrs, 13 kms, CUSs 320m)

Alternatives: None really until Pogerola (3½ hrs), though if you have had enough by then there are hourly buses back to Amalfi

Amalfi to Praiano. Now the journey west starts. Its quite a tough day, entirely on the old medieval paths with lots of views as always, some quite lonely places and a visit to the unique deep cleft of the Marina di Furore “fiord”. There is a pleasant trattoria in Marina di Furore, but take a sandwich in case Luigi decides it's out of season and time for his day off. (5¼ hrs, 12 kms, CUSs 800m - various shorter/easier options)

(Amalfi to Positano (easy-medium option missing out Praiano). Take the bus from Amalfi to Bomerano and join the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) from above. Follow it across a wild hillside to the mountain village of Nocelle. The views along and of the coast are unsurpassed. Then, passing through another village, Monte Pertuso, the descent takes us to the heart of Positano with its boutiques and milling hordes. (4 hrs, 10 km, CUSs 100m)

Alternatives: None – except to go by bus the whole way).

Praiano to Positano. We continue our journey westward, to Positano. We ascend to a now uninhabited monastery, San Domenico, join the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) as it tracks across a wild hillside to the mountain village of Nocelle. The views along and of the coast are unsurpassed. Then, passing through another village, Monte Pertuso, the descent takes us to the heart of Positano with its boutiques and milling hordes.  (4 hrs, 10 km, CUSs 600m)

Alternatives: None – except to go by bus the whole way.

Positano to S. Agata. Today’s continuation of the westward journey starts from Colli di Fontanelle, about 10km west of Positano. Once in Colli di Fontanelle, the plan for the day is to follow the coastal path, in remote terrain high above the sea. Gradually settlements start to appear and you reach Torca, an outpost of the main town of Sant’Agata. From here you have the option of a path down to the coast again at a splendid viewpoint, and if you have the energy, a path down to a fishing bay, good for a swim, before making your way up to your lodgings at our fine organic agriturismo. (2½ hrs, 7 km, CUSs 300m, or with detour to beach extra 1½ hrs, 9 km, CUSs 650m)

Alternatives:  None, except bus all the way to Sant’ Agata and walk the final 1 km. 

Extra day - The Sorrento Peninsula.  A day of many choices, as the tip of the peninsula has much to offer. It overlooks the island of Capri, and gives views across the bays of Naples and Salerno, from a fine network of paths. The official day consists of a walk to Nerano, with its congenial bar, and a choice of three optional walks, finally taking the bus back to Sant’Agata.

The options include a walk to the very end of the peninsula, and three beaches – Ieranto, and Marina del Cantone/ Recommone, the last a secluded spot with a splendid beachside restaurant. 

(2 hrs, 5 km, CUSs 130m to Nerano.  Additional sections: Termini – S Constanza viewpoint round trip 1¼ hrs, 2 km, CUSs 150m; Termini - Punta Campanello - Nerano 4 hrs, 11 km, CUSs 500m, Nerano – Ieranto beach round trip 2 hrs, 4 km, CUSs 220m; Nerano – Recommone and back to Marina del Cantone bus stop 1 hr, 2 km, CUSs 50m)

Alternative - for the unashamed hedonist: Bus to Marina del Cantone, walk to Recommone, swim and then lunch in La Conca del Sogno until the sun goes down. Bus back from Marina del Cantone.

S. Agata to Sorrento. We make the final stage of our journey along typical old paths, visiting the town of Massa Lubrense on the way. There is an option to make a detour to a headland viewpoint (terrific views over the whole bay) at one stage, but you may wish to save the time to explore Sorrento.  (3½ - 4½ hrs, 9 -11 kms,  CUSs 100-220m)

Alternatives:  None really, except to bus down to Sorrento for the day, or maybe take a boat from there to taste Capri.