outdoor living » hiking & camping » gr20

A while ago I embarked on a doomed attempt to walk the GR20, in Corsica, one of Europe's most challenging hikes (diary link, photo link). For ages now I have meant to put together a web page about the route and the information sources I gathered, just in case this is of use to anyone else out there. One of the difficulties I encountered when preparing for the trip was a lack of information in English, so I've put special emphasis on English language resources here. If you can read French, you should have no problem finding lots of good information.

.tourist information

Tourist Office of Ajaccio
3 bd du Roi Jérôme Bp 21 Ajaccio
Tel: 04 95 51 53 03
Fax: 04 95 51 53 01

Tourist Office of de Porto-Vecchio
Place de l'Hôtel de Ville BP 92 20137 Porto-Vecchio
Tel: 04 95 70 09 58
Fax: 04 95 70 03 72

I attempted to purchase the maps I required (maps 73 and 74 from the IGN 'Top 100' map series) from the tourist office in Ajaccio, but they did not stock them. They also had little other information about the GR20 on offer. They were, however, able to direct me to the PNRC office nearby. This office was not much use either, but they were able to direct me to a nearby map shop (corner of Rue Cardinal Fesch and Place Foch) that did have the goods. A more detailed map set (1:25,000, as opposed to 1:100,000) comes from the IGN 'Top 25' map series (maps 4149OT, 4250OT, 4251OT, 4252OT, 4253OT and 4253ET), but I forewent these (GPS + Guidebook + 'Top 100' maps were good enough for me).

.links

• "Corsican High Level Route: GR20" by Paddy Dillon - an excellent, detailed and authoritative guide book
• Lonely Planet: Corsica
• Corsica Isula - good, general information
• Corsica Isula: GR20
• Corseweb
• Corseweb: Train info
• Parc Naturel Régional de Corse - in French
• IGN - Institut Géographique National - makers of the 'Top 100' and 'Top 25' map series
• GR20 on Corsica - a personal account of the GR20

.paddy dillon's 'advice in a nutshell' and 'points to bear in mind'

(reproduced from "Corsican High Level Route: GR20")

Advice in a nutshell

• Don't walk too early or too late in the year
• Make sure you are fit and well prepared
• Keep your pack weight as low as possible
• Be sure to carry enough food and water
• Walk slowly and steadily with care
• Be aware of your options each day
• Obtain a weather forecast each day
• Consider using two walking poles
• Use a high-factor sunscreen and a hat
• Learn at least a few words of French

Points to bear in mind

• It's a tough walk but not a rock climb
• The mountain refuges are always open
• The refuges have well-equipped kitchens
• The refuges can quickly fill to capacity
• Facilities outside the peak season are scarce
• Snow can lie well into June and even July
• Mobile phones don't usually work
• Waymarking is usually very good
• Most walkers are going your way
• English is not widely spoken in Corsica