When Fulcio Miari created a permanent route for gravel bikes in the province of Belluno in 2020, he probably didn't expect it to be such a success. His idea was Grande Anello Bellunese (GAB), a loop that touches the most beautiful and pristine areas in the northernmost province of Veneto.

Owner of a farm near Belluno, Miari, in a recent chat with cycle traveller and YouTuber Omar Martinello, said that ‘it's worth going slowly, because you get to observe your surroundings’. I recommend tackling this adventure with the same philosophy.

This Collection mostly follows the itinerary laid out on the event website ( grananellobellunese.com ). The only change is that this version sets off from Belluno station to make it easier to reach.

To better appreciate the ride, however, I advise heading to the official website before you set off. You can get your passport from here too, which commemorates your completion of the route. This is a long and hard ride, with two climbs over 12 kilometres (7 mi) and various passages over 1,000 metres (3,200 ft). Furthermore, well over half of the route is on dirt roads: a gravel bike with 40 mm tyres or a mountain bike is best.

As Miari advised, let adventure and discovery be your compass. Tackle the route in cycle touring mode and bring the bare minimum to spend a few days away from the norm. Apart from the capital Belluno, you won’t be in very populated areas so bring enough water and food supplies with you and book accommodation in advance. You can also wild camp if you prefer if the weather is on your side.

All you have to do is set off to discover one of the most magical and unknown areas of Northern Italy.