Stage 5 - Verres to Pont Saint Martin (Part III)

Then downhill to Donnaz, past orchards and another boulder barn 

walking along a Roman road and through the cool main street of the old town, which dips down.

 In 2000 the floods apparently went into the town wreaking havoc. I'll take Donnaz's faded beauty over the obvious charms of Bard any day.

Finally a blistering (32C) 2.5km along the A226, past adret vineyards 

and into the centre of Pont St Martín and its lovely Roman bridge. 

After a hasty lunch onto the (free) bus back to Aosta.  This route is rather more spectacular than the train or motorway, which go under the castle at Bard; there's a spectacular section outside  Castle St Germain, where the valley forms a high, steep gorge