Cicerone Short Treks on Corsica

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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. 

Cicerone says: 

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!

Our Verdict

For nearly 50 years Cicerone have been producing guidebooks on recognised treks, regions, areas and general tips for hikers.

We have used them countless times and they’ve always provided excellent insight and knowledge that you only get through experience, giving you the edge to make your trip a success and more enjoyable too.

If you’re a gram counter you can easily remove sections of the book to take with you making your own ultra-lightweight guidebook with only the essential sections that you require.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Seasons: Spring to autumn – the majority of the walkers’ hostels open from April to October. Spring means mild weather that is perfect for lowland trekking, then as temperatures rise, walkers will appreciate the cooler uplands. Late summer into early autumn can be simply glorious – and the sea stays warm for swimming.
• Centres: Calenzana, Cargèse, Propriano, Porticcio, Porto-Vecchio, Corte, Moriani, Centuri, Macinaggio, Evisa
• Difficulty: The five treks are straightforward (easy to moderate difficulty) and explore a variety of different terrain. While no special equipment is needed, walkers need to be fairly fit to be able to enjoy the experience of exploring the island.
• Must See: Visit the divine bay of Girolata; hike Cap Corse on the old customs officer’s track; swim in the dramatic Fango canyon; walk the famous Spilunca gorge with its paved mule tracks and Genoese bridges; drink in the history of the island’s historic capital Corte; stay in cosy village accommodation and walkers’ hostels where you’ll enjoy feasts of fresh fish, cheese and local chestnuts accompanied by artisanal beer and wines

Specifications

• Weight: 424g
• Edition: First
• Number of pages: 192
• Size: 17.2 x 11.6 x 1.2cm
• Published: 23 March 2021
• Author: Gillian Price

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