From the picnic area beyond the chapel of San Bartolomeo di Lemie, follow the track heading uphill. At the second switchback, leave it and turn left onto a secondary track closed off by a chain (alternatively, you could continue on the main track, which is very scenic but slightly longer).

After a few dozen metres, past the ruins of the San Bartolomeo huts, turn right onto a mule path, bordered in places by dry-stone walls, that leads into a beech wood. Higher up, the path runs alongside a lovely clearing before re-entering the beech wood.

On joining a track, follow it downhill for a few dozen metres, then pick up the mule path as it branches off to the left, emerging from the woodland almost immediately.

Follow the path, not always entirely obvious, as it cuts across beautiful grassy slopes dotted with old stone farmsteads, leading to the Frontera huts.

Continue along a ridge, passing another building in an excellent position. After passing it, rejoin the track coming up from the car park. Follow it uphill, leaving it a kilometre and a half further on at a switchback just below Alpe di Ovarda.

Take a path that keeps to the left of the Ovarda Brook. A short way above, leave it and turn right (note: the junction is not signed), crossing the stream.

Picking up the odd waymark, make a series of short ups and downs across two gullies, then climb more steeply through grass and stones to reach Pian del Gioco (1,997 m, Pian del Gieugh in the local dialect), a beautiful grassy plateau dotted with striking erratic boulders, including one slender rock tower.

After crossing the full length of the plateau, continue with short ups and downs along a contouring line across the slopes of Monte Turlo, including some sections of boulder field.

The path steepens as it climbs a grassy slope, reaching a junction (2,095 m, signpost): the left branch, which is easier, leads directly to Lake Grande, while the right branch, slightly exposed and partly equipped with chains, leads first to Lake Piccolo, then to Lake Bleu, and finally to Lake Grande.

Taking the latter (you will return by the other), contour across the steep slope above distinctive rock formations. After rounding a ridge spur, a steep rocky section follows, with chains in two places.

Continue on easier ground, crossing the outflow stream before reaching the shores of the lovely Lake Piccolo (2,152 m), with a spring just before it, nestled in a hollow of grass and debris.

Continue along the right-hand shore on a grassy ridge dotted with rhododendrons. Further on, the path fades, but the direction is clear: head towards the hollow of Lake Bleu (2,209 m).

Reversing direction and heading roughly north-west, cross the outflow of the lake and, without a clear path, cut across a large grassy plateau to reach Lake Grande (2,217 m), the largest and most beautiful of the Ovarda lakes.

Again, on a faint path (with only the occasional cairn), follow the east and then the south shore of Lake Grande. After crossing the outflow, climb a ridge spur for excellent views down to Lake Piccolo, which you now skirt from above.

Continue with short ups and downs, cross an awkward boulder field, then descend a grassy slope back to the junction you met on the way up.

All that remains is to retrace your steps, this time following the track all the way rather than the mule track.