Right off the beaten track, the Pescone mountain stream offers more thrills and spills than many water parks and is ideal if you find lake beaches and swimming too tame. Though popular with locals and those in the know, this area is rarely crowded and is just 30/40 minutes drive from Stresa and Arona.

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The mountain stream flows down the west side of Mottarone, eventually emptying into Lago Orta at Pettenasco. There are several picturesque stretches of the river with natural pools, but the only easily accessible entry is across private land belonging to the wonderfully unsophisticated, Alpe Selviana agriturismo: “Il Glicine” just above Agrano.

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The owners of the agriturismo understandably prefer visitors to the river and waterfall to combine a trip with a meal on their premises - either indoors or in the farmyard overlooking their bilberry fields.

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There is also a small  shop selling their produce including jam and juice.

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After a short ten minute walk you reach the stream where you have to clamber down a slope to get to the water as it tumbles over waterfalls and through natural pools There are several shallow, still-water pools suitable for all ages whilst the highlight for children is undoubtedly a wonderful natural rock slide, culminating in an underwater dunking.

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With plenty of shade, several micro-beaches and still water pools, the stream is ideal for families though it’s best to keep an eye on small children to make sure they don’t end up wandering off to join the group of thrill-seeking teenagers downstream plunging off rocky crags into deep pools below.

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Some of the jumps are not for the faint-hearted and watching the local boys and their death-defying leaps into the water far below can be rather unnerving as the view of their trajectory into the water far below is obscured by rocks. Upstream there are many wild, unspoilt pools and gorges and before you know it, you’ll find yourself engaging in a spot of safe, entry-level canyoning: scrambling, climbing, leaping and  sliding into plunge pools.