The hills around Bardineto are covered in some of the finest chestnut and beech forest in inland Liguria. These woods were managed for centuries as a food source — chestnut flour was the staple of poor mountain communities long before maize arrived from the Americas — and today they offer excellent walking on well-marked trails through cool, dense canopy.
In autumn the forest floors are carpeted with chestnuts and the beech turns golden. Several trails link Bardineto to nearby villages including Calizzano to the north, passing through the forest for much of the route. The higher ridges — Bric Agnellino at 1,083 metres is the most accessible summit — give views south to the Ligurian coast and north toward the Po plain on clear days. Take water and a good map; the trails are not always well-signed.