The pensioners return to the beautiful island.

[gaffr]

It seemed to be quiet on the 'outside Scotland' front at the moment. The folks down-south who were giving me an education on the vast amount of good walking in both England and Wales appear to have gone into hibernation? So, perhaps, as a wee break from the very fine accounts of life in the freezer in the Scottish Highlands I send some images of warmer times, spent in 2008, on the mediterranean island. There being no direct flight to Bastia with BA now so we ended up getting a ferry from Nice to Calvi which allowed us to hatch a plan from the west side of the island. During the GR20 journey we didn't manage to fit Monte Cintu into the timetable. Plan was...to re-do the first three stages of the GR then ascend Cintu.....hitch down to the East coast to follow the Mare- Mare Nord and reach the West coast.

A rough map showing the several long distance routes on the island.

Calinzana is the starting village for two of the long routes.

A damp cool night at this camp

These English made tents seem to do the business anyway the gentleman at Saunders was very friendly.

A fine journey to the highpoint prior to dropping down to Haut Ascu

Haut Ascu seems to have had its day as a skiing venue but is a fine place from which to reach Monte Cintu.

The view was not clear in the morning going up...Marife, being French, doesn't see much point going into the mountains unless the sun is shining! ..so she explored Haut Ascu instead.

Not any view at all...all a bit grey!

Usually things come good in the end.

Different walking..into the real Corsica?

This was the 'norm' in most of the villages...maybe folks work in mainland France and return for holidays and in retirement?

Tractor and implements upstairs with a useful conversion underneath for travelling folks.

This time we have to cross the mountain chain at Col di Vieghio.

Corte is the ancient capital of Corsica....our lawyer/writer James Boswell met up with the reformer Pascal Paoli in this town in 1766.

Figs in the Corte Campsite area.

Definite land slip here......glad that I wasn't anywhere near at the time!

Definite land slip here......glad that I wasn't anywhere near at the time!

One of the most delightful days anywhere, traversing this gorge from Corte, to the Higher ground in the hills.

From Sega paths go in many directions into main chain of mountains

From here the Southern slopes of Cintu can be gazed upon.

From here we travel mainly downhill to the West coast.

Refuge E Case where we camped and had breakfast....a group of eight stayed in the refuge.

Unfortuneately the camping is some five kls. North of the town1

After a white knuckle ride on the bus through amazing rock scenery...we had a camp in Porto...this little beauty Capu d'Orto was seen from the camp! This area would need several days to full

[GarryH]

Super report and super photo`s. You`re right it has been quiet on the WROS. Must admit I`ve not been out much of late,only locally,so does not really warrant a report.But I am missing susanmyatt and the gangs walk reports.
Where are you sue and the gang?

[mountain coward]

What stupendous scenery - Corsica does look a cracking island...

I've been wondering where Sue M is too... We want Sue... We want Sue!

[John Burgess]

I'm envious. I once took the family cycling around the island but have never had the chance to do any walking there.
Lovely report, thanks!

All the best,

John

[FMCKIE]

Love the place and would love to go back. I have always fancied the GR20 but the time thing is hard these days. I have enjoyed two trips out walking the mountains and some climbing in Bavella and the north. A traverse across the edge of Capu Tafunato ( mountain with the hole through it) was one of the most dangerous episodes of my climbing days and one I dont want to repeat

BTW : Loved the pictures and the reminder of the roads are like you say a bit of a white knuckle ride.

[gaffr]

Hello,
glad to hear that you enjoyed Corsica...the hole in the wall mountain is the one beside Paglia Orba? We could see a huge hole up near the top. We had some soup at the refuge at Mori before continueing down to Col di Verghio. I would like to go back to do the Paglia Orba it looks like a bit of a rocky scramble up from the col beween the two mountains. We also came across another top with a similar name at Paliri refuge, with a hole 'drilled' through it, although smaller than the one at Tafanatu. I can remember seeing a signpost at Bavella directing folks towards the Trou de la Bombe which is another top with a big hole through it...it's almost as if the artilliary had been firing explosive shots at them. As they say around every corner in Corse there is something that catches the eye!