Golo Valley

The magnificent Golo valley runs northward from the head of the wide Niellu valley, in the centre of Corsica’s mountainous north, into the heart of Corsica’s highest group of mountains. You are quickly above the treeline as you climb into a world of crazily eroded granite cliffs and spires and gurgling streams.

Through this pristine scenery runs the famously infamous GR20 trail, which you can follow the whole way to the simple Refuge Ciuttulu di Mori (1,991m) at the head of the valley, below the great peaks of Capu Tafunatu (2,335m) and Paglia Orba. And do make a loop of it, taking in the Bocca di Foggiale to the east, as recommended by the Cicerone guide.

Why not stay a night at the refuge and use it as a base for exploring even further north up the GR20, into the heart of some of Corsica’s wildest and remotest landscape?

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Head north from just above the Castellu de Vergio hotel and turn right onto the GR20 trail (or on a joining trail from the col itself). And just follow it up the whole way up the valley!

You cross one stream which can be a tad trick in spate, and get to the Radule shepherd’s huts in an hour+ from the hotel. Above the guts, you need to cross the Golo river, which is again a bit tricky (wet boots likely) when it is in spate – the bridge was gone in 2018.

A steady climb to above the tree line in this now crag-hemmed trail (one more river crossing), and you get into the rugged but gently sloping upper valley. You turn left uphill to gain a stunning-viewed ridge, and traverse on to the refuge (which you reach in about 3 hrs).

Do make a loop of it, continuing on the GR20 to take in the Bocca di Foggiale to the east, as recommended by the Cicerone guidebook, then return to the valley floor to descend to rejoin the GR20 for the walk home.

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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.