Exodus Travels have changed the itinerary today as the weather tomorrow looks poor. So today we will walk The Path of The Gods which has reputedly absolutely spectacular views. The walk from Bomerano to Positano is about 9 km and will take between 3-5 hours. Our group is not the quickest – we like to chat at lunch and stop for photos so I think it will be nearer 5 hours for us. The walk from our hotel is through the centre of Bomerano and then uphill along a little used road. Cyclamen abound and are in full bloom in the woodlands and it is a beautiful walk.

Here we are at the start of the Path. There is a plaque on the cliffside with quotes from DH Lawrence and Italo Calvino, which translate as:-

“Is this the view that from on high along the Path of the Gods, opens to our sight: it is the picture of the great loop of the Amalfi coastline that looks towards the west, towards the Island of Capri, that precipitous coast, steamy, hot, with the crystalline mountains where the gods of today are forsaken and you find a lost self again. Mediterranean, before you.”

D.H.Lawrence

“A journey is on occasion which can be renewed as a choice and a measure of an interior wish: in a sense it is right to restore the fantasy again, starting from the Path of the Gods, that road suspended above the magic bay of the Sirens, furrowed again today by memory and myth.”

Italo Calvino

We set off along the ancient mule tracks and the views are stunning.

What I didn’t expect to see were mules carrying washing machines. Apparently the trails are still in use and are the only way to access the remote houses on this part of the coastline.

We look back at the route behind us and are surprised to see how far we have already travelled. The mules have followed us along the path and are now accompanied by a sheepdog and pigs.

In places the path is very rough and it would be no good at all if you suffered from vertigo. We admire the view. You can see the path ahead winding along the cliffs in the left-hand photo below.

Our guide Severiano leads us to a spot where he says we must take photos. One by one we clamber onto a strategic rock with the best view behind it. It feels very precarious and I daren’t look down. I do think the photo was worth it though!

We stop for lunch at a quaint hillside taverna. We buy refreshments and sit on the verandah eating our picnic lunch and admiring the view. Severiano opens i-tunes on his phone and plays Dean Martin singing “Amore”. We all sway and sing along. This then turns into a full singing session and a ”Name That Tune” competition. Great fun. The group has bonded very well and we are having the best time. This is a very special place indeed. Our guide then plays a classic ballad – the hairs on my neck stand up and we all have tears in our eyes. It feels like The Gods are close. A truly magical experience.

We reluctantly setoff again on the path down to Positano which we can gaze down on as we leave the taverna.

Along our route is a mini statue of Christ The Redeemer.

An hour later and we are high above Positano. There is a choice of hundreds of steps or the bus. We opt for the bus. Included in the bus fare is a wonderfully cool and refreshing iced lemon drink.

I absolutely love Positano. There are wonderful shops to browse and they are not all the normal tacky tourist variety, although of course there are some of those. We meet at a bar on the sea-front for well-earned sundowners.

Finally we board the boat back along the coast to Amalfi. We gaze up at the cliffs which we have now walked the whole way along. We all have a well-justified sense of achievement.

In Amalfi, the coach is waiting to take us back up the winding cliff road to Bomerano. It is absolutely astonishing that coaches can traverse these roads. They are so narrow with extremely sharp hairpin bends. I would not want to drive here. Every car has scars!