Short Treks on Corsica

Guidebook describing five mountain and coastal treks on the Mediterranean island of Corsica: the 2-day Sentier du Douanier (Custom Officer's Path), the 10-day Mare e Monti, the 11-day coast-to-coast Mare a Mare Nord, the 5-day Mare a Mare Sud and the 5-day Mare e Monti Sud. With information on facilities and local plants and wildlife.

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Overview

With spectacular mountain landscapes, beautiful rugged coast, forests, maquis and striking river gorges, Corsica is a walker's paradise. This guidebook details five of the islands's most popular shorter treks: the 2-day coastal Sentier du Douanier (Customs Officer's Path) around Cap Corse; two coast-to-coast routes through the central mountains, the 11-day Mare a Mare Nord and the 5-day Mare a Mare Sud; and two 'coast and mountains' routes, the 10-day Mare e Monti and the 5-day Mare e Monti Sud. (Corsica's famous 190km GR20 trail is described in a separate Cicerone guide.) The routes can be linked to create longer excursions and accommodation is provided by a mixture of walkers' hostels, B&Bs and hotels; camping is also an option.

The guide presents each of the waymarked trails in daily stages averaging around 12-13km per day, with route description, mapping and notes on accommodation options. There is advice on how to get to Corsica, when to go and what to take, plus accommodation listings, useful contacts and a French/Corsican-English glossary. The guide also offers a wealth of information about the island's rich plant and wildlife.

Considerably easier than the challenging GR20, these trails offer a more accessible option for trekkers wishing to experience the 'real' Corsica, away from the bustling coastal resorts. You'll find enchanting scenery - towering forests, gushing cascades, turquoise coves, aromatic maquis, rugged mountains and quiet villages nestling on hillsides of chestnut woods - not to mention a favourable climate and delicious local cuisine. Don't be surprised if you fall under the island's spell!

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
The treks
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 treks
Trek 1 Sentier du Douanier: Cap Corse
Trek 2 Mare e Monti: Calenzana to Cargèse
Trek 3 Mare a Mare Nord: Cargèse to Moriani Plage
Trek 4 Mare a Mare Sud: Porto-Vecchio to Burgu
Trek 5 Mare e Monti Sud: Burgu to Porticcio

Appendix A Useful contacts
Appendix B Accommodation
Appendix C Glossary of French and Corsican terms
Appendix D Further reading

Updates

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May 2022

Trek 2 - Mare e Monti

Stage 2: the Gite d'Etape L'Alzelli at Tuarelli appears to be permanently closed. Walkers need to proceed to Fangu, a further 1hr 35min.

Suggestion: stop walking at Tuarelli - ask your Fangu accommodation provider to pick you up at Tuarelli or organise for a taxi. You can always return to Tuarelli the next morning and pick up the route.

October 2021

Trek 3, Stage 9

p121 After Ferrera and the stone bridge, ignore the fork L and stay on the road into the village for the gite.

September 2021

Treks 2 and 3

The Gite at the end of Stage 9 on Trek 2 and Stage 1 on Trek 3 is now permanently closed and there is no water available at the Gite. The tourist information office in Cargeese recommend that people who want to do the compete trek take a taxi back to Cargeese spend the night there and then taxi back up to the start.

The URL for Ustaria Di A Rota should be https://www.ustaria-di-a-rota.fr/gite

Thank you to Graham Shorrock

Reviews

"Fantastic for planning and very well written"

"We have both your older version of Walking in Corsica and your most recent edition Short Treks on Corsica. These are fantastic for planning and very well written. Thank you for your informative guidebooks!"
- Barry Corbett, reviewer

Downloads

Sample route

GPX files

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