GR20 – Corsica

Guidebook to walking Corsica’s GR20, known as the toughest waymarked trail in Europe. It makes a complete traverse through the high mountains, sometimes with hands-on scrambling. Covering 190km, it can be completed by fit walkers in about two weeks. The guide includes high- and low-level alternatives, plus extra mountain climbs.

Seasons

Possible mid-May to mid-October; June or September is ideal, with July and August being the hottest, and busiest, months.

Centres

Calvi, Vizzavona, Porto Vecchio. Limited accommodation and facilities on or near the route.

Difficulty

Isolated mountainous terrain. Challenging trek (with scrambling) for experienced, fit walkers. Backpacking throughout.

Must See

Ascent of Monte Cinto, Cirque de la Solitude, Ascent of Paglia Orba

GR20: Corsica

The High Level Route

Author

Paddy Dillon

Cover

Paperback - PVC

Edition

Second

Published

16 Feb 2009

ISBN_13

9781852844776

Availability

Reprinted

Price £14.00

The route of the GR20 is well marked throughout. While walking without maps can never be recommended, it is true to say that the waymarking is so good that walkers might never need to refer to a map for directions. However, this would mean walking in complete isolation from the surroundings, never knowing the names of nearby mountains and valleys, never knowing in advance the shape of the terrain, and never knowing of other route options. To walk without a map is to walk with no real knowledge of your surroundings.

The best maps of the route are produced by the IGN (Institut Géographique National) at a scale of 1:25,000. These maps have blue covers and belong to a series known as Top 25. Order these in advance of your visit from map suppliers such as Stanfords (12–14 Long Acre, London WC2E 9BR, tel 0207 836 1321), The Map Shop (15 High Street, Upton-upon-Severn WR8 0HJ, tel 01684 593146) or Cordee (3a De Montford Street, Leicester LE1 7HD, tel 0116 254 3579). Six sheets are needed to cover the entire route, as follows:

4149 OT Calvi

4250 OT Corte and Monte Cinto

4251 OT Monte d'Oro and Monte Rotondo

4252 OT Monte Renoso

4253 OT Petreto-Bicchisano and Zicavo

4253 ET Aiguilles de Bavella and Solenzara

The popular Didier-Richard series, at a scale of 1:50,000, covers the GR20 on two sheets. The relevant numbers are: 20 Corse Nord and 23 Corse Sud. It is also useful to carry a small reference map covering the whole of Corsica, partly to give an overview of the GR20, but also in case you decide to move off-route and travel on buses or trains to other parts of the island. The IGN Mini Corse map is recommended, at a scale of 1:250,000.

The maps in this guidebook are basically diagrammatic, at a scale of 1:50,000. Transferring the route from these maps to one of the recommended walking maps should be fairly straightforward. The gradient profiles provide an immediate visual appreciation of all the ups and downs along the way.