Ferrata delle Peredrette

Overview

The Ferrata delle Peredrette is a recently built fixed-rope route located near Donnas in the lower Aosta Valley. It is an easy-level itinerary, particularly well-suited for a first introduction to the sport. Its modest elevation and sunny exposure make it an ideal choice for the shoulder seasons and clear winter days.

Approach

The starting point for the excursion is the town of Donnas. The most practical parking solution is a large disused area of an old industrial zone, adjacent to the Dora Baltea river and close to the main road. After passing through the town, a roundabout indicates the continuation of the main road; instead, taking the paved road descending to the left leads directly to the parking area. From the car, proceed on foot, passing under the main road and heading northeast along a town street until you reach a distinctive stone arch. Go through it, then turn left to tackle a climb of about three hundred meters. On the left side, you'll notice a sign for "Pomeroud" with a small bridge-ignore this and continue straight. At the next small bridge, turn left, following local markers. From here, the rock faces hosting the via ferrata become visible. After another left turn, the trail leads in about three hundred meters to the entrance of the woods and the start of the fixed equipment, reachable in roughly twenty minutes from the parking area.

Via Ferrata

The route begins with a low-difficulty equipped trail that winds over some ramps and rock slabs within the forest. As the path gradually emerges from the tree cover, it presents no significant technical obstacles and offers the first expansive views of the valley and its characteristic terraced vineyards. Continuing, a short descending section leads to an easy equipped trail that alternates between passages in the woods and stretches on rocky ledges. A traverse on sloping ground lasting a few minutes concludes this first section, which feels more like an equipped trail than a true via ferrata, given the general lack of verticality. The pace is pleasant and steady, on solid, well-shaped rock, with a predominantly horizontal development that allows you to gradually get comfortable. Next comes a connecting stretch through the woods, well-marked and indicated by yellow signposts, which in about ten minutes leads to the start of the second part of the route. This section immediately becomes more vertical and dynamic. The cable resumes on sloping slabs, quickly bringing you to a first rocky step made easier by numerous iron rungs. Moving out to the right, the valley comes back into view; after a horizontal stretch, you tackle another short descent of about ten meters. Resuming the sloping path, you reach one of the most characteristic passages: the edge of the wall that plunges sheer into the valley. The exposure is significant and the panorama magnificent, but the technical difficulty remains modest. From here, you can see the parking area below, left about an hour and fifteen minutes earlier. The environment changes dramatically: you leave the wooded ledges behind and latch onto the actual wall, a compact limestone structure that drops toward the valley, offering a sudden sense of emptiness but always on comfortable holds. You then arrive at a fork. The right-hand route continues with difficulties similar to those encountered so far. The left-hand variant, slightly more challenging and rated as moderately difficult, involves a short traverse followed by climbing a slightly overhanging little wall, about ten meters high and rich in iron rungs. The two options rejoin for the final meters of the via ferrata, which unfold with a horizontal stretch to the left, then diagonally on an easy traverse, finally ending on a false flat. The time to complete the via ferrata is about one hour and fifteen minutes from the start of the fixed equipment, for a total of roughly one hour and forty-five minutes from the car. The character of the route is therefore predominantly scenic and easy to approach, with few vertical passages concentrated in the second part, which nonetheless require more attention than physical effort.

Descent

The return is via a perfectly marked trail that winds through the woods, rejoining the final part of the approach path. From there, you head back to the car by the same route, taking about forty minutes from the end of the via ferrata. The complete excursion takes roughly two hours and thirty minutes.

Useful Notes

The Ferrata delle Peredrette is part of a project to enhance the area that also includes new sport climbing crags suitable for all levels: the Piramide di Pomerou (from 4a to 5c), the Falesia delle Ciliegie (from 4b to 6a), and the Masso Vigneti di Reisen (from 5b to 7c). The route is ideal for beginners and, given its brevity and ease, can be combined on the same day with other via ferratas in the area. Heading up toward Cervinia, you can tackle the more challenging Ferrata del Gorbeillon, or the Ferrata Casimiro or the Ferrata José Angster. Staying in the lower Aosta Valley, you might consider the Ferrata di Covarey, while moving toward Biella you'll find the short Ferrata della Balma. The via ferrata was inaugurated on November 6, 2021.