The Tour de Turghiu, it is built on a tremendous promontory of rose pink granite that soars out of the clear blue Mediterranean waters. The walk is unusual and quite unique in its genre, lots of down hill at the start and uphill at the end. But it is certainly a wow factor and has to be up there as one of the best walks in Corsica. Sea and mountains, what more can you ask for…?

For this walk you will need to park at the start of the walk on the RTE D’ARONE.

8.5km, 4h00, +/ -500m, YELLOW cairns towards the top.

FOOD – PIANA, snack hut at parking area. WATER – NONE

PLEASE NOTE:   The terrain is rough under foot, and it is not an easy stroll in the heat especially the last 40 minutes scramble to the tower. There are no springs and little shade en route so take plenty of water. Not for those with vertigo!

1. Parking spot (to the house) 1h10 / 3km

Take the path that sets out from near parking area. You will head due west, downhill between old dry stone walls. You can see the tower ahead and are aiming for the small house in the distance.  There are a couple of gates (please close) and a number of crop threshing circles and cabins. Shortly before the house you find kissing gates, a water trough and a terraced area with olive trees.

• House (to Tour de Turghiu) 0h50 / 1km

At the house, make a right angle turn, past another stone crop threshing circle to start the second part of the walk which is a lot more demanding and will take a good 45 minutes of climbing.  You follow the path uphill making your way to a donkey tethering area under trees and a rocky spur.  Shortly after this a steep zig zagging stone path rises in a rocky corridor taking you up to an open expanse of granite. Small cairns indicate the way but are hard to see so care should be taken. This section is very exposed, as you reach the cliff top – you’ll see a very low wall and sea ahead – only at the last minute and on climbing to your right, you finally see the tower, right in front of you. At the tower there are open stone steps up to a high doorway and you can enter inside. A small opening in the wall gives way to a staircase, steep and uneven steps lead to the tower roof (CARE UNGUARDED DROPS). Constructed in 1608, this Genoese tower sits on one of the most westerly points of Corsica, at around 330m it is quite a view from the tower roof, a real 360° panorama of Cargese, Golfe of Sagone, Golfe of Porto with the Scandola reserve to the North.

• Tour de Turghiu (to House) 0h30 / 1km

Here you can retrace your steps back the way you came to the house.  Enjoy this last downhill stretch! Just before the house you have two choices either following signs PIANA 1h15 or walk around the coast with fabulous views. – PIANA PAR SENTIER LITTORAL 1h30

• House (to Parking Spot via coast)  1h30 /3.5km

Before arriving at the house, you have a choice, either retrace your steps or take the right hand path that heads towards the coast (signposted PIANA PAR SENTIER LITTORAL 1h30 and waymarked YELLOW). This path heads to the coast, on approaching the sea, you are soon heading left, following the coastline for around 40 minutes before heading up and arriving at a stone hut that you saw earlier. Heading straight ahead, retrace your steps from this morning past the crop threshing circles and through a couple of gates to the parking area.