"Hiking in Corsica is something else. "Made for mountain goats" was my impression when I first landed here in 2021, ready to tackle the hard-hitter, the 112-mile GR20, legendary for being Europe's 'toughest' hike. I thought myself fit, but the first four-hour uphill slog quickly humbled me. I'd imagined that mountains on a Mediterranean island would be softer than the Alps, but it's quite the reverse."
"Along the coast, you're still hard pushed to find anything flat, but the undulating seaside paths reward you with frequent dips into isolated coves. Often, your fellow hikers will be cows that wander freely on the cliff paths. Not all of the hikes are long, or particularly technical, but most of them will put a burn in your thighs. Ditch the flip-flops or plastic jelly shoes, these trails are worth lacing up your hiking boots for."
Corsica's terrain is intensely rugged, with steep, shale-filled mountains and dramatic drops that demand serious fitness and careful footing. The 112-mile GR20 exemplifies the island's difficulty, humbling even experienced hikers with long uphill slogging. Coastal routes are undulating rather than flat, offering dips into isolated coves and encounters with free-roaming cows on cliff paths. Many trails are not technically extreme but still tax the legs and thighs. Proper footwear is essential because flip-flops or jelly shoes are inadequate and hiking boots are recommended. Corsican geography and history contribute to a fierce local identity and uncompromised landscapes.
Read at The Good Life France
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