Grande Traversata del Biellese

The Grande Traversata del Biellese (GTB) is a long ring-route that takes place mostly at moderate altitudes or on the plain; it is well signposted and easily accessible by public transport. The entire route can be completed in 15 consecutive days, staying in B&Bs, hotels and agritourism farms along the route. Alternatively, it can be divided into sections that can be covered in one or more days and chosen according to the time available and training. The GTB was created by the Province of Biella in 1996. In 1998, signposts were installed along the entire 234 km route. Most of the route takes place on trails, cart tracks and carriage roads with natural terrain. Some stretches of the route have to be covered on paved roads, which, given the low traffic, present no particular danger for hikers.

The route has been divided into 57 short stages, with lengths from 1 to 8 km and a journey time from 20 minutes to 3 hours. The stages have been divided into 15 sections that can be covered in a day. The entire itinerary takes place at medium-low altitudes, so it can be covered for most part of the year. The maximum altitude is reached along the Tracciolino, in the last stage, and is approximately 1250 m. The rest of the route takes place for the most part at altitudes of less than 1000 m also in the mountain section. The best times to cover the entire route are between April and June, when you can admire extraordinary daffodils and rhododendrons along the mountain stretch, and between September and October, when autumn colours the woods and you can pick chestnuts. If, on the other hand, you decide to divide the itinerary, the cooler and shaded mountain stretch can be covered even in the hottest periods, between July and August; the hill and plain stretch can be tackled even on beautiful winter days without any particular problems.