From the beautiful remote place of Tempa del Fico I started on May 27, 2016 the long way over the mountains towards Cuccaro Vetere and further on to the coast of the Tyrrhenian sea. Because I was unable to verify the shortest possible route I took a longer one which comes quite close to the villages of Rofrano and San Menale. This makes it possible to split to route in 2 parts, the first part ending in Rofrano, the second one starting there.

Because of its length I recommend to only walk this way when there is daylight from early moning until late evening. So problems with sometimes difficult orientation would not cause having to walk in the dark. However the last part is asphalted and hard to miss.

The first 2 hours are easy walking on dirt roads (documented on http://www.meinhold-radebeul.de/ciucciopolitana/it.html, the first 30 pics). Before reaching the place „Forra dell’Emmisi“ this route turnes westward, at first along some remote agricultural and garden properties. After crossing a little river (Sagrato) over a wooden bridge it hits the pilgrim route from Rofrano to Monte Gelbison which I followed uphill until Passo della Beta. At first you pass some chestnut forest. Than there is a very lonely shepherd’s shack, another crossing of the Sagrato without bridge, a gate tha can be opened and should be closed after passing. After this there are a few hundred metres of scrub which might even block the way. I found it useful to have a secateurs with me on all trekking in Cilento.

The scrub changes into beech forest. At Passo della Beta you turn south. The beech forest ends at a cliff where some climbing downwards is necessary but not dangerous and with a great view until Monte Stella and Golfo di Casalvelino (?). At the end of this cliff there is a fountain with plenty of water even in dry season flooding the way because of bad maintenance.

Between the Mountains Lepre an Pietra dell’Erba there is a little bench and table on an open area. The place is called Chianu du Pignatiello on a brochure by Comune di Futani and Cugnolo Maffeo on the IGM map. The well visible path continues first south, later west through ilex forest and turns into a carriageway whith leads down to Futani. For Cuccaro you have to find the right place for turning right towards Acqua delle conche. Leaving the carriageway too early results in unnecessary climbing.

From Acqua delle conche an asphalted road leads directly to SS18 near Cuccaro Vetere. Walking this in full length I only met one car. The driver seemed to be some kind of ranger. He was in fear I could be wanting to go all the way back the same day and said I should not try the mountain paths down to Cuccaro (which might be shortcutting the asphalt road). I did not intend to use a shortcut because the road goes along the crest and is very panoramic.