Walking on Corsica

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.

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

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