Corsica is one of the Mediterranean's most dramatic and varied walking destinations, combining rugged granite peaks, ancient forests, river gorges, fragrant maquis shrubland, and a spectacular coastline of cliffs, coves, and sandy beaches all within a single island. With 25 graded day walks exploring both the mountainous interior and the coast, this guidebook opens up the very best of the île de Beauté to walkers of every ability.

This trusted Cicerone guidebook by expert author Gillian Price describes 25 day walks ranging from 4 to 19km (2 to 12 miles), completable in 2 to 7 hours, and graded 1 to 3 to suit beginners and experienced walkers alike. It pairs clear, walk-by-walk route descriptions with practical planning information to help you explore Corsica's landscapes with confidence, from the iconic white cliffs of Bonifacio to the glacial lakes of the Restonica valley.

• The 25 walks are graded for difficulty and organised from north to south, covering Cap Corse, the northwest coast, the mountainous centre around Corte, the southwest, and the far south around Bonifacio, so you can focus on a single area or combine walks across the island during a longer stay
• Clear, step-by-step route descriptions are supported by 1:50,000 maps for every walk, with detailed information on facilities, public transport, and accommodation to help you plan and navigate with ease
• Downloadable GPX files enable easy digital navigation on GPS devices or smartphone apps, as you walk the Calanche sea cliffs, wander through the Aïtone forest, or gaze out from the headland at Capu Rossu
• Rich background notes cover Corsica's plant life, wildlife, and history alongside practical advice on when to go, getting to the island, local transport, food and drink, and what to take, giving you the full picture before you set foot on the trail
• A glossary of French and Corsican terms, a full accommodation appendix, and a route summary table round out the guide, making it a comprehensive and self-contained companion for any visit to the island

Whether you're following clifftop paths above the Mediterranean or pushing into the wild mountain interior, the graded route descriptions, 1:50,000 maps, GPX downloads, and rich island knowledge provide everything you need. Tackle the best of Corsica's walks with confidence.

Walking on Corsica - Quick Facts

Island: Corsica, France (French Mediterranean) 
Walk format: 25 graded day walks 
Walk distances: 4 to 19km (2 to 12 miles) per walk 
Walk duration: 2 to 7 hours per walk 
Difficulty grades: 1 (easy) to 3 (challenging, with rocky terrain and occasional exposure) 
Areas covered: Cap Corse (far north), northwest coast (Calvi, Porto, Piana), mountainous centre (Corte, Col de Vergio), southwest coast (Ajaccio, Porto Pollo), south (Zonza, Quenza), far south (Bonifacio) 
Terrain: Coastal paths, granite mountain trails, river gorges, ancient forests, maquis shrubland, cliff tops, sandy beaches 
Highlights: White cliffs of Bonifacio, Cap Corse Sentier du Douanier, Lac de Nino, glacial lakes of the Restonica valley, the Calanche, Capu Rossu, Aïtone forest, Fango river valley, Girolata fishing village, Piscia di Gallo waterfall, Genoese watchtowers 
Best season: Coastal routes are suitable year-round; April to June is best for wildflowers; mountain routes are best from late June to September due to snow 
Getting there: Fly or take a ferry to Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, or Figari 
Maps: 1:50,000 maps included for every walk 
GPX files: Available to download

Author Highlight

“Walking on Corsica is intended to give a taste of the delights the island offers, with 25 selected day routes dotted over the island. Thanks to the wonderful network of pathways, a remarkable range of beautiful landscapes is covered: rough stony mountainsides and exposed airy ridges, ancient forests, grassy pasture, fabulous soft sandy beaches, river crossings – and fords more often than not. A bit of everything and for everyone.”

- Gillian Price, author of Walking on Corsica

Introduction
Corsica
Plant life
Wildlife
When to go
Getting to Corsica
Local transport
Accommodation
Food and drink
What to take
Waymarking and maps
Emergencies
Using this guide
The Far North
Walk 1 Cap Corse Sentier du Douanier: Macinaggio–Barcaggio
Walk 2 St-Florent coastal route
The North-West
Walk 3 Bonifatu loop: La Boucle de Ficaghiola
Walk 4 The Fango river valley
Walk 5 Visiting Girolata
Walk 6 Spilonca gorge
Walk 7 The Calanche: l’ancien chemin des muletiers
Walk 8 Capu Rossu
Walk 9 The Aïtone forest
The Centre
Walk 10 Beneath Paglia Orba and Capu Tafunatu
Walk 11 Lac de Nino
Walk 12 The Tavignano river valley
Walk 13 Glacial lakes in the Restonica valley
Walk 14 La Cascade des Anglais
The South-West
Walk 15 Punta Parata loop
Walk 16 Ajaccio Sentier des Douaniers: to Plage Saint Antoine
Walk 17 Porto Pollo–Cupabia circuit
The South
Walk 18 Zonza–Quenza circuit
Walk 19 Trou de la Bombe
Walk 20 Foce Finosa
Walk 21 Punta di a Vacca Morta
Walk 22 Piscia di Gallo waterfall
The Far South
Walk 23 Capu de Fenu
Walk 24 Strada Vecia Madonetta, Bonifacio
Walk 25 The white cliffs of Bonifacio
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Glossary of French and Corsican terms
Appendix C Useful contacts
Appendix D Accommodation
Appendix E Further reading

Seasons

Coastal routes suitable for year-round walking, with April-June best for wildflowers. Due to snow, inland mountain routes are suitable for walking between late June and September.

Centres

Macinaggio and St-Florent on Cap Corse in the far north; Calvi, Porto and Piana along the northwest coast; Col de Vergio and Corte in the mountainous centre; Ajaccio and Porto Pollo on the southwest coast; Quenza and Zonza in the south; and Bonifacio in the far south.

Difficulty

Walks are graded for difficulty and range from: 1 - easy going on mostly level ground; 2 - average difficulty, with some ups and downs; 3 - for experienced walkers as can be challenging with rocky terrain and occasional exposure.

Must See

Corsican watchtowers, Girolata fishing village, white cliffs of Bonifacio, beautiful sandy beaches of Cupabia and St Antoine, Fango river valley, the Aïtone forest, the Calanche, glacial lakes of Lac Nino Lac de Melo, peaks of Paglia Orba and Capu Tafunatu, Piscia di Gallo waterfall, Capu Rossu headland, Genoese bridge of Ponte Vechju

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