Capu Rossu

This magnificent promontory is the Corsican mainland’s westernmost point and is topped out by a Genoese lookout tower at 331m. The walk out to the tower and back is quite demanding, with around 530m of ascent and descent. Given its exposed position, it is best not to walk here in storms or high winds.

The first half of the outward leg descend steadily to an old shepherd’s hut, with fine views along the rocky high ridge of the headland to the ever-present tower, and south down the bays and headlands of the west coast towards Cargese. The maquis is at all time beautiful, varied, vivid and sparkling with flowers when Walkopedia was there.

Then it is a tough climb, much on bare red granite, some up a cleft in the cliffs into which a beautifully restored switchback path has been crammed, to the high end of the promontory and the Turghiu tower – and to gasp-inducing views, not least when you lie at the northern edge to gaze 1,000 sheer feet down into the sea. Back inland, the broken cliffs run into the Porto bay, with high ridges behind topped out by the shapely cone of Monte Cinto, Corsica’s highest peak. The views north and south up and down the coast are as beautiful as you could hope.

The tower is fascinating, one big chamber with a flat roof above, all beautifully restored.

The return journey is also to be savoured: while you have seen it all before, the pleasures are often new.

See William Mackesy’s account [link to account in Corsica page] of him walking this route as part of a ‘perfect walking week’.

Note: beware of notorious summer thunderstorms, get away from risk areas if one approaches.

Key book: Cicerone’s Walking in Corsica. Find these and other books on Amazon.

SEE OUR CORSICA PAGE FOR DETAILED GENERAL AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION.