Refuge Cascina Miera

Cascina Miera sits at 767m in the Ligurian Apennines, about 3km above Pignone in the Val di Vara. Reach it on foot in 90 minutes from the village, following marked trails through beech forest and open pasture. The hut is a working farm that welcomes walkers—expect a working environment, not a purpose-built refuge. This is the right choice if you want authentic mountain hospitality and don't mind basic conditions.

The refuge has 10 beds in simple rooms. Meals use produce from the farm and nearby valleys. Showers are available. The hut stays open year-round, though winter visits need advance warning. It's a good base for day walks into the upper Val di Vara and the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri. The location works well as a stopping point on longer Ligurian Apennines treks.

Book directly by email or phone. The hut is family-run and responds best to contact in Italian or English. Weekends fill in summer, but this is never a crowded refuge—capacity limits demand advance notice regardless of season. Contact them 2–4 weeks ahead for July and August, less notice needed for shoulder seasons.