A hike into the Varaita Valley (Valle Varaita) and the Valle di Bellino in early autumn brought us to this beautiful mountain valley clothed in its autumn colours. The light from the late afternoon sun bathed the peaks of the Cottian Alps and saturated the colours of the valley: we had come upon nature's "Secret Garden". These valleys lie on the border between France and the Province of Cuneo in north western Italy. The valley has been carved by the Varaita River that rises not far from here on Monte Monoviso, becoming the first right tributary of the River Po.