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Welcome to Umbria Trail Tours
- with Jeremy Goodier as our guide.
Typically beautiful
Umbria trail riding scenery.
Jeremy Goodier finally moved to northern Italy lock stock and barrel, including wife and two young daughters, having travelled Europe last year
looking for an ideal spot to settle down, - and fitting in a few days trail riding here and there. He liked
 Umbria so much that he decided to stay, but only after his wife put her foot down about going to Bulgaria, but that's another story.
The family moved there permanently in February 2004, spent a few months finding an apartment and settling in - and also going out and about to route hunt.
Jeremy, who harks from Sidmouth in Devon, has much experience in riding having been involved in competitive Enduro in the UK - and also now here in Italy, having quickly made friends with many of the off road community here in Citta di
Castello.
Umbria Trail Tours (UTT)
are based in Citta di Castello
He is now found out in the depths of the countryside every weekend finding the best spots for the tours and routes for a variety of skill levels with varied and interesting terrains. If you have been riding with him before you will like the new challenges he has in store for you. For those who have not yet ridden abroad, you are just going to love the trails, views and the absolute minimum use of roads.
A natural break to
enjoy the views.
As eating is Jeremy's other hobby, he has also been out finding spots for snacks and lunch, (Is this one of the best jobs in the world?)
UTT are based in Northern Umbria on the borders of Tuscany in the Medieval town of Citta di
Castello. Trail riders who want to fly down there can hire bikes. Ryanair does a flight from Stanstead to Bologna
(FORLI) twice a day but you could also use Rome, Pisa or Ancona. Forli & Ancona are an hour & a half drive away and the others, two hours plus. UTT can organise a hire car from the airport, or in some circumstances they are able to arrange pick up and return.
When getting there by car and taking your own bikes, it is best to contact Jeremy for precise directions, entering Italy you will need to use the E45
Autostrada.
Although they cannot take complete novice riders for safety reasons, UTT have a range of tours and routes for all levels of ability. The hills around Citta di Castello are highly forested and have many ancient and interesting tracks and trails. You are likely to find an ancient Roman Arched bridge in the middle of nowhere, or an ancient paved route. So you could be following the footsteps of Legionnaires!
During a typical trail weekend there are water crossings, water falls, wooded tracks with mud, open going trail ways, moorland and mountain side riding, - it really is trail bike heaven. The aim is to go to at least one hill town and there are plenty of fantastic photo opportunities on the way. You might see wildlife such as Deer on the way, but rarely will you get to see the local delicacy - 'Wild Boar' unless it is in a sausage!
 Jeremy explain's the do's and don'ts at the start but essentially the riding is at your own pace and you can stop for refreshments or just stop to take in the views as much as you wish. The tour is your chance to enjoy parts of Italy not many tourists get to see so make sure you take your photographic gear.
Help is readily at
hand on a tricky loose downhill.
At present UTT have a range of KTM bikes available and they pay for all the fuel, so you just need to choose your bike, get on and go!
If you have seen the film, Under the Tuscan sun then you will recognise Cortona as the film was based there. It is one of the most beautiful hill towns in Tuscany with cobbled streets and lovely shops full of rich Americans! The route to Cortona is less challenging than one of the other routes to
Appecchio, a town just across the border in Marche. This route goes over mountain tops and through rivers which, depending on the time of the year can be just a trickle or a full spate. If it snows, the town gets cut off from the outside world for weeks so if you are planning to come in the winter time, pack a spade!
Mountain top sunshine
breaks are De-Rigeur.
UTT also do trips out to Montone, another beautiful hill town which is often missed by the tourists and has kept it's charm due to this, we also do smaller loops of the hills around Citta di
Castello, which is the Umbria Trail Tour base.
 Most importantly you need to remember to take your riding kit, UTT do have some spares to hire but you ride better wearing your own stuff. (A word of warning, check your luggage allowance with your airline as some budget airlines make up for their cheap flights with high over-weight baggage costs.) Washing and drying facilities are all available if you need them but they do recommend you take extra clothes if possible. Take wet weather gear too, just in case, as Umbria is not called the green heart of Italy for nothing!
Jeremy arranges accomodation with Annalisa. There is the use of various self contained units and options for single and double beds with full self catering facilities and also rooms within a beautifully restored house. Bed & Breakfast is provided for all clients but a half board package is offered for those booking a full weekend tour.
 The preferred accommodation is based up on the hills surrounding Citta di Castello and hiring a car is advisable if you want to stay any length of time. The pool is open in summer but there is a Olympic sized pool in the town to use throughout the year and an excellent in door Tennis facility.
Jeremy busy
fettling the bikes.
Another option is to stay in the Medieval town centre, where UTT can recommend hotels, self-catering residences or Bed & Breakfast accommodation.
Families are most welcome and UTT have a range of bookable activities on hand to keep them occupied whilst you are out trail riding !!!
Umbria Trail Tours run a very flexible package and are willing to adapt to any groups needs.
To tempt you more (as if I needed more tempting!) full information packs are available by calling this UK number - 01395 513921 and Jeremy has also set up a website at
www.umbriatrailtours.com
Jeremy can also be contacted directly by email - jergoodier@hotmail.com or by ringing him in Italy (0039) 340 126 5964.
Trail Ride in Tuscany with
Umbria Trail Tours
Articles
Copyright © Adrian Harris 2004. Not to be
reproduced without prior permission.
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