Hiking Haute-Corse

Starting out from the charming village of Asco, renowned as the capital of Corsican honey and surrounded by vast forests of black pine, a wild trail steeped in authenticity and imbued with the scents of Corsica marks the beginning of a picturesque hike. As you revel in the rural charm of the area, low walls, a stream, a calvary and imposing boulders elegantly guide you to the Asco gorges. Overlooking the river, a vast Genoese bridge signals the way to natural pools that are irresistible to all.

From Calasima, Corsica's highest village, to the foot of Paglia Orba, the Vallone valley offers superb hiking in a wild setting. Lozzi is the starting point for the ascent of Monte Cinto. You'll pass Lac du Cinto and have the chance to sleep at the Ercu refuge. Beware: the paths are narrow and the gradients considerable, so this hike should be undertaken with caution and only if you're in good physical condition.

At Ghisoni, head south on the D69, then take the junction with the D169 towards the Capannelle sheepfolds (at an altitude of 1,640 m) and continue to the end of the road. From here, follow the Pietra Niella ski run to the summit, then take the path marked with cairns. After about 1 hour's ascent to the south-west, you'll reach Lake Bastani. To bypass it to the west, follow the path past Punta Bacinello.

This hike takes you to Corsica's second-highest massif, Monte Rotondo, at an altitude of 2622 meters, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the whole of Corsica, its imposing peaks, majestic lakes, Cap Corse and the Mediterranean. The route starts from the D623 and passes through the Restonica Forest. After the Bergeries de Timozzu, the landscape turns mineral as you head towards Lac de l'Oriente. Between steep peaks and rocky ridges, the surroundings are breathtakingly beautiful, but be prepared for a steep climb for much of the way.

At the end of the carriage road that leads to the coastal residences of Formali and Fonaverte, follow the customs path to the Mortella point. Built in the 16th century by the Genoese, the tower was bombarded in 1794 by Admiral Nelson's English fleet. Consolidated in its current state by the Conservatoire du Littoral, it offers visitors a superb cross-sectional plan which allows them to appreciate the thickness of its walls. In spring, you will be conquered by the maquis.

From Meria, a walk takes you to the beautiful ghost village of Caracu. Between land and sky, this aerial route offers superb views of the eastern tip of Cape Corsica and the Tuscan archipelago. The trail is mostly flat and rocky. At the start, you'll discover monumental tombs, each more impressive than the last. Once you've reached the abandoned village, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere that surrounds the ruins.

Following the stone-paved lanes of the hamlet of Ortale, ancient mule tracks run through the memory of the Cape Corsican cradle. Following the wanderings of the Funtanaccia, an ancient water mill stands like a rock wall, shrouded in the golden ether of the undergrowth. You'll then cast your gaze over the remains of a Genoese bridge, before crossing the stones of the Savina mill, whose activity continues unabated despite the patina of the ages, conferring immemorial bliss on this journey from beyond time!

On this hike, you'll discover the Santa Maria tower and enjoy a superb view of the Finocchiarola islands, classified as a nature reserve. From the port of Macinaggio, follow the signs for the U Stazzu campsite, then reach the Tamarone beach. Cross the beach and continue along the path, either along the coast to the right, or inland to the left. Choose one of these paths on the way out and the other on the way back, to enjoy different views.

This beautiful granite arch is also known as the Scandulaghju arch or the Padule arch. It starts near the parking lot at the foot of the citadel, a little higher up than the path leading up the Tavignano to the refuge de la Sega (a sign points the way to the arch). Although the arch is not very far from Corte, the climb is very tough (1,000 m ascent on rocky ground) and the first part of the route is totally exposed to the sun, with no possibility of shelter. Bring plenty of water and set off early in the morning.

Join an old hydraulic mill and refresh yourself in the waterholes along the way! Leave at the last houses of the village of Albertacce on the D84. Take the dirt track on your right with the sign for the gîte d'étape and follow the orange markings to reach a crossroads at the Saint-Antoine oratory. Then turn left (signposted Bocca di Vergio) to reach the bridge and the Muricciolu mill. On the way back, you can also take the path left behind at the oratory, which leads back up to Albertacce.

From the hamlet of Canaglia, you will take a track marked with orange markers, which will guide you along a bucolic walk before becoming a path. When the path splits into two opposite ways, you will take the one on the right towards Tolla, which will take you in a few minutes to the beautiful Manganello, a tributary of the Vecchio. Along the stream, the entire route follows the course of its clear water. In spite of their freshness, the less reckless swimmers will not resist for long to the attraction of its sumptuous basins!

It is one of the highest peaks in Corsica, offering a breathtaking view. A nice excursion to make from the Vizzavona pass. At the pass, follow the wooden sign indicating the direction of the Bergeries de Pozzi, located about halfway up this route. From the sheepfolds, head towards Punta Grado by taking the Madonuccia Rock to the east. Then follow the ridge line to the foot of the summit. Be careful, the last few metres, in a crumbly rock, are very difficult to cover.

The starting point for this hike is the Genoese bridge on the outskirts of the village of Asco. The trail passes through a small chestnut grove dotted with the remains of low walls and sheepfolds, then becomes progressively steeper and rockier. A series of ascents and descents await you along the way. At the finish, you'll be lucky enough to discover a small waterfall about 3 metres high. The return journey takes the same route.

This trail runs through the lands of the commune of Olcani, located on Cap Corse. In less than 4 kilometers and around 90 minutes of walking, it offers interesting discoveries, such as the San Quilicu chapel, as well as charming viewpoints. After passing the ruined sheepfold, you have two options: you can either branch off towards A bocca di Violu, or go directly to A bocca di A Sellula before turning around for the return journey.

The Sentier du littoral or Sentier des Douaniers covers the 35 kilometres of coastline between Saint-Florent and Ostriconi beach. To do it in its entirety, it takes two days of walking, but you can segment it in stages of 1h to 6h30 depending on your starting point. The shortest stage connects the two white sandy beaches of Loto and Saleccia, which will give you a foretaste of paradise. Another shorter trail connects the two beaches inland.

Departing from the village of Rapale, this lovely family hike introduces you to the religious heritage of the Nebbiu micro-region. The trail starts at the Santa Maria Asunta church, before winding its way to the San Quilicu de Pieve church and the Santa Margarita chapel. Nature is omnipresent here, and the panorama from the San'Antone oratory is superb. The rest of the loop takes you back to the village to explore other sites of interest.

The start of this 45-minute walk is in the village of Furiani, south of Bastia. Go up the main road and turn right towards the cemetery. The start of the walk is signposted "Capella Santa Maria". Tradition has it that the ruins near the chapel were once a hermitage. Dating from the ^9th century, the chapel is a listed historic monument. To enter the building, ask for the key at Furiani village hall.

Departure from the hamlet of Campodonico above Piedicroce, another possible departure from the Prato pass. Altitude: 1,767 m. Difference in height: 900 m from Campodonico, 800 m from the Prato Pass. Duration: 6 hours return. Itinerary: signposted path to the "Caselle de Favalta" hut (1,404 m), on the plateau turn right immediately, go past a spring (be careful, no indication, no visibility on the San-Pedrone), you pass ruins where you find a path that leads to a clearing. At this point, a sign indicates that there is 1 hour left until San-Pedrone.

This leisure centre offers a wide range of outdoor activities on the spots of the region: canyoning and aqua trekking, rafting, via ferrata and giant zip lines, walks and e-bike rental, paintball, expeditions in 4 x 4, hiking ... Depending on the season you enjoy the nautical base in Lozari, (sea kayaking and stand-up paddle) or a ski school (ski and snowboard lessons, snowshoeing tours, biathlon) at the foot of Asco Stagnu, at least when the snow is there! Professional supervision. On reservation.