A lovely coastal walk through lush maquis to the tower at ROCCAPINA and the beach at ERBAJU, home to one of the most exclusive hotels on the island, 2km of wild sandy beauty. I walked this with my walking buddy Steph, after a month of confinement and it is a relatively easy stroll in places, but poorly waymarked. To access the walk you need to drive to the AUBERGE CORALIE, on the main SARTENE to BONIFACIO road, just to the North of the point de l’Extreme Sud.

Great out of season walk when there are few tourists around and the temperature isn’t too high. In season the beach can be busy, and there is a lot of to-ing and fro -ing from traffic along the rough track. We love it for the wild beach at Erbaju and the views from the base of the tower.

9.5km, 3h20, +/- 250m, a few faded red waymarks some cairns but not well marked.

• Col de Corralie (to Plage de Roccapina) 2.5km / 0h40

The walk starts from PLAGE DE ROCCAPINA, accessed by a sometimes steep and relatively narrow dirt track from the COL DE CORALIE, just to the north of the ROCCAPINA museum and LION DE ROCCAPINA view point. The track to ROCCAPINA Beach is practicable, if you don’t mind taking your time and haven’t got a car you particularly cherish, and is best undertaken in a 4×4 and just don’t bother trying in wet conditions. For the more feint hearted or to get in something of a warm up park on the layby just on the right after the AUBERGE DE CORALIE (if coming from AJACCIO or SARTENE) and walk the 2.5km down to the beach.

• Plage de Roccapina (to Tour de Roccapina) 0.5km / 0h30

On your approach to the beach you begin to be closer to the rock Lion. The LION DE ROCCAPINA is actually a formation with an older tower crowning the crest, the famous LION DE ROCCAPINA. The dirt track widens behind the beach and when the track splits, take the right hand higher track which after a few minutes becomes a larger parking area. Cross this area approaching the beach, and just before reaching a stone and wood barrier, the path climbs off to the right through the hedge, then left towards the tower. There is also a steeper route that can be accessed from just behind the wooden hut on your right as you reach the beach. The first 20m are steep and scrambly, before you arrive by a tree on a more distinctive path where you head left and see the occasional red waymarks. The path climbs steadily with ever improving views of the beach at ROCCAPINA, at times the path has a couple of options but they tend to meet up a couple of metres later. The access to the tower starts as the path opens out at a fork, a right hand fork climbs into the rocks and trees and soon you see a walled circle backed with a lone tree, turn left here before the circle (behind the circle the path runs out at a vertiginous first view to ERBAJU beach). Scramble up the rock to see the tower, the area around the tower offers panoramic views from BAVELLA, to BONIFACIO (FENU & L’HERMITAGE) & SARDINIA, and across the beach to MURTOLI.

• Tour de Roccapina (to Erbaju Beach) 1km / 0h30

From the tower retrace your steps to the fork in the path. The path to ERBAJU beach leads through the trees beneath the tower cliff, and you soon catch glimpses of the tower high above you. The path is easy and relatively gentle, dropping down to the sea at the southern end of ERBAJU beach, home to the exclusive DOMAINE MURTOLI, an exclusive resort favoured by ex French presidents and Hollywood stars. The beach is backed with dunes and occasional windswept trees. Out of season if you are not phased by the tresspassing aspect and it isn’t a hunting day, you can continue on crossing the beach and wading across the ORTOLU river to PUNTA DI MURTOLI and on to the PLAGE D’ARGENT and the PLAGE DE TRALICETU even venturing as far as TIZZANO. Long one way walk.

• Plage de Erbaju (to Plage de Roccapina) 3km / 1h00

To return to the beach at ROCCAPINA, you can either retrace your steps – this would be the safest bet if you have heard any hunters – or in quieter months head north along the beach for around 5 minutes, keeping discreet. You are looking to take a track into the maquis opposite the head of the LION DE ROCCAPINA, there is a sandy track that backs the beach between the trees. The path initially heads off left, in an area of lower maquis vegetation that feels relatively open, then distinctly right over two fallen barbed wire fences (fallen down a while ago). Your climb initially starts facing the lion, and is relatively gently, ducking between bushes in little more than a hunters trail, climbing to a point with wooden hunting look out posts. The path is cairned in places, and crosses this hunting post area before going around the back of the lion in high maquis, after the higher maquis opens out you soon are on a saddle with views North to ERBAJU and South to ROCCAPINA. You soon are looping back towards two meerkat rock formations and as you drop down you again loop back (there are a number of “short cuts” to cut out the loops) finally dropping down to a track and then the path through the hedge near the barrier where you started your walk earlier.

If you have parked at CORALIE, spend a few minutes at the PLAGE DE ROCCAPINA before heading uphill to the car.