Lodu and Saleccia beaches, who needs the Seychelles !
The Desert des Agriates stretches from Saint Florent in the North, to Ostriconi. The area is arid, with low maquis, that meets the coast at some of the most paradisiac beaches on the island. You can catch a boat (MAY TO SEPT) to the beach at LODU, making it just a one way walk.
« A mini add on coastal walk, take care in hot weather as there is little shade. Saleccia beach is perhaps the best on the island, arrive on the first boat and you should have the beach more of less to yourself»
Food supplies: SAINT FORENT, beach restaurant near jetty at LODU, beach restaurant behind SALECCIA.
Please Note: Take plenty of water with you in hot weather and DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GO OFF TRAIL.
7km / 2h00 / +185m / -185m / Some signs and occasional way-marks
This walk is either an extension to the SAINT FLORENT – LODU walk or stands on its own with some time on the beach. From SAINT FLORENT, before the car park entrance, follow the signs for POPEYE boat to LODU. You can purchase a return ticket on the quayside, the journey takes 20 minutes. It is advisable to leave early, maybe even the first boat of the day. Two reasons for this, a more pleasant walk whilst the sun is not too hot there, and secondly, a deserted SALECCIA, which can become busy later in the day, losing some of its charm.
- Lodu (to Saleccia) 1h15 / 3.75km
After a 20 minute crossing, on arrival at LODU, head up from the pontoon, before turning to your right around the coast towards the Cabane de Lodu restaurant. The path is easy to find indicated Chemin du Littoral and hugs the coast all the way to Saleccia, taking around 1h15. The pathway is easy to follow, watch out for errant cows that can be quite feisty. In high season there is a bar at LODU – CABANE DE LODU just along the path, and a bar in the pines at SALECCIA – A PINICCIA DI SALECCIA.
- Saleccia (to Costa Pana) 0h20 / 1.25km
On the return you can either retrace your steps back around the coast, or you need to walk along the beach for about a quarter of the way to cut inland. You will see a path with steps rising into the pinede with a large bent pine tree at the top. It will take a good 45 minutes back to LODU with little shade and no water.
The path leads, initially back through the pines before crossing a track where you will see a Conservatoire du Littoral sign for Saleccia. Cross the track then through more open ground. You arrive at a ruined building, here you bear to the left (there are signs to the beach at Lodu under the tree) before rejoining a track again which you again take to the left at a gate. Following this dirt track towards the hamlet of COSTA PANA (25 minutes), you will take a small path under the trees that heads straight on as the track turns to the left. Again there are markers on the ground but you need to keep your eye out.
- Costa Pana (to Lodu) 0h25 /2km
At the ruins, you cross the dirt track again and take a rising path between stone walls, straight ahead. You will soon be on a ridge, with views over the DESERT DES AGRIATES, before the path drops towards the marsh and beach at Lodu. At the end of the track, the pontoon is over to your left. You need to catch the boat back to ST FLORENT.
Walks in Corsica 