We start in Gravellona Toce, near the confluence of the Strona stream into the Toce River, once the site of an ancient Roman river port and now an extensive commercial center.
After the obligatory passage from the four roundabouts along SP229 in the direction of Lake Orta, at the fourth one (the one at the top of the Santa Maria climb), we turn right for Casale Corte Cerro, from where we begin to have a view over the Corcera Valley, the one that connects Lake Orta to Lake Maggiore.