Just had a marvellous week's walking in the Apuane Alps of northern Tuscany. Anyone else know this area - I'd never heard of it previously?

Yes Cameron, they are a gorgeous group. I was told about the area by a climbing friend who had gone out to buy marble for his company and had explored a bit further North. I'm sure you noticed the enormous quarries north of the Pisa airport/Florence road, it's where Michelangelo got his marble I believe. Anyway, a year later soaking up Florentine culture, I headed up to Garfagnana, (is that how you spell it) and was amazed at this, to me, unknown area.
Other friends have since followed and all agree it's a real find although I'm sure the locals would insist that they were never lost!

There will be a feature on this area in the July issue of TGO.