After some very strange rain, literally 2 seconds of heavy rain about 5 times in the space of about half and hour, during the night we awoke to brilliant sunshine and what turned out to be a very warm day.

Continuing our journey along the coastal road a mere 5 miles to the next resort, we found our Sosta way up the hillside, sandwiched between the two carriageways of the motorway, though oddly surrounded by vegetation we are only aware of seemingly distant traffic noise and it is a freebie so what is not to like?

We got on with some stuff in the van until early afternoon before making our way a veritical half a mile or so down to the sea front. From here we had distant views of the colourful Old Town of Celle Ligure and it’s beach….

But opted instead to continue eastwards passing the pretty Spiaggia Celle Ligure….

Following an interesting tunnel through the headland, lined with an art installation of ceramics….

At the other side of the tunnel, rejoining the footpath, overlooking Spiaggia ‘Ex Colony Milansi’, named after the huge derelict (though there are signs of refurbishment or remodelling ongoing) Colony Milansi which was built to accommodate children holidaying from the cities to enjoy the fresh coastal air during difficult times of the 20th Centuary….

A little further on was our first look at Varazze and it’s huge Marina and the somewhat abandoned beach of Ponente Nuovo Porto…

We did find a dog friendly section on Spiaggia dei Varazzini but the sand was way too hot and so we opted to take a break in the shade of the palm lined promenade….

Before wandering back to Celle Ligure via the shady and quiet cobbled streets of the town….

Today’s stats:

• Miles driven – 5
• Miles walked – 6
• Beaches – 5
• O/N – free

Pretty reluctant to move on today as the Aire has emptied a lot and the location is so ideal, literally being across the road from the beach and a short walk into town – but we have more of this beautiful coastline to explore, not before a last look though….

We joined the coastal road and drove alongside the huge industrial port of Vado and through the busy streets of the semi industrial towns of Vado Ligure and Savona (neither place offering anywhere sensible and safe to park) and were soon parked up in our Aire for the night in Albisola Marina, about half a mile from the sea front and after a brief chill that is exactly where we headed.

Arriving at the sea front fairly centrally we opted to walk back the way we had driven along the brightly coloured mosaic promenade (which in the bright sunlight was a little dazzling) of Albisola Marina to the far end of the beach….

A sort of sand / gravel mix with plenty of space for everyone but with a mix of manicured private sections and only a little patch of dog friendly beach at this far end. After a little off lead time, we continued to walk towards Savona to catch the little Spiaggia delle Madonetta, with the rocky outcrop housing the Madonna Shrine and Albisola as a backdrop in one direction and the Port in the other….

At this point we headed back the way we came, crossing the river that divides the two villages and crossing into Albisola Superiore to enjoy a stroll along the thankfully paved promenade, passing the main beach Spaiggia Albisola Superiore and down onto the l’ultimo Spiaggia Abisola to find a little bit of shade for Tilly behind some rocks….

Before wandering back to the Aire in the shade through the narrow alleyways and streets of Albisola Superiore….

Thoughts of the day:

• Even though roadside outside of the villages the footpath is consistant alongside the coastal road and feels quite safe as it is protected either by barrier or wall, unlike in France where it was often just a gravelly or grassy verge and often just disappeared altogether.
• This Aire or Sosta is just below the motorway so is a little on the noisy side but really nicely laid out with a bit of shade and level concrete grid to park up on.

Today’s stats:

• Miles driven – 10
• Miles walked – 6
• Beaches – 4
• O/N – £4.69 (no EHU)

Still some cloud around keeping it a little cooler we enjoyed a more leisurely stroll today, wandering west around the headland passing Lido delle Sirene and Grotti de Bergeggi….

Getting a lovely view across Bergeggi a small hillside village with a lovely mostly course sandy beach….

A much smaller and less touristy place than either Spotorno or Noli of yesterday but all the more welcome with quieter beaches and for a change mostly public beaches with seemingly no dog ban! Spiaggia de Luna and Spiaggia di Bergeggi…

Such a welcome treat to be able to sit on the beach and let Tilly play whilst I relaxed – just as a sunday should be.

Thoughts of the day:

• We decided to stay put as the roads at the weekends appear to be particularly chaotic with the huge numbers of groups of bikers and cyclists enjoying the coastal road (totally get it as this road is pretty spectacular) and we are quite content to have a lazier day.
• I have been somewhat distracted today, as my son was running in the London Marathon and I wanted to keep an eye on his progress – very proud of his achievement of completing the challenge and raising money for Make a Wish an amazing charity.

Today’s stats:

• Miles walked – 6
• Beaches – 3
• O/N – £13.87