Walks in Corsica

Another short circular walk visiting the abandonned village of OCCI !

From the village of LUMIO, this walk climbs steeply to the abandonned village of OCCI, before climbing again to the Capu d’Occi above along a lesser trodden path.

« A short and favourite sporty walk above LUMIO and return through pastoral Balagne.»

The abandoned village of OCCI is located above LUMIO, nestled on a plateau 377 meters above sea level offering a breathtaking panoramic view. The village was abandoned when the need for road access began in the late 20^th Century. The buildings are being slowly restored to bring this atmospheric hamlet back to life. This is a variant that climbs to the summit above OCCI, you will pass a stone threshing circle and have some fabulous views over the village before returning to the more well trodden path.

6km / 3h00 / +352m / -352m, RED /YELLOW / Provisions in CALVI

1. Lumio (to Occi) 0h30 / 1.5km

Park at the car parking area, near the A CASA DI MA hotel. Follow the signs for OCCI and on foot take the lane that passes the rear of the hotel. The path soon starts climbing on a relatively well waymarked YELLOW cobbled path between stone walls, zig zagging through a landscape of boulders with the coast to your left. The climb takes around 25 minutes and the views over the seaside resort of SANT AMBROGGIO and the PUNTA DI SPANU are amazing. You arrive at the village of OCCI. Explore the village without climbing on the ruins. For a birds eye view, cross the village going behind the church, with your back to the church and the sea, head left between the hill and a house, follow the path and as it climbs, over rocks towards a crop threshing circle. You have a great “birdseye” view of the village.

• Occi (to Capu d’Occi) 0h45 / 1km

For a sporty loop walk, keep heading away from village climbing on an untidy path with old RED waymarks. Passing the stone crop threshing circle, after 20 minutes the path zig zagging reaches a flatter balcony section, between two large rock formations, continue a gentle climb with a stone wall on your right being very attentive to the waymarks, below the Capu d’Occi. The final climb is quite steep in a gully to the left of Capu d’Occi (but without danger). When the path levels again at a saddle, it is a gentle cairned climb to the right to reach the summit of Capu d’Occi.

• Capu d’Occi to Notre Dame de la Stella (0h45 / 1.5km)

After visiting the summit, retrace your steps back to the saddle and continue along the saddle before dropping down to the right inland into a valley with views towards LAVATOGGIO, CATERI and SANT ANTONINO. Follow attentively the waymarks on a gentle falling path that zig zags in the maquis until it rejoin a cleared track. At the junction, turn left, then soon right and you rejoin the YELLOW waymarked trail. Turn left again and follow the path down towards the track that crosses this plateau from LUMIO to LAVATOGGIO and the NOTRE DAME DE LA STELLA chapel (over to your left).

• Notre Dame de la Stella (to Lumio) 1h00 / 2.5km

From the chapel, head back towards the junction with the track for OCCI (signposted), head straight on at the track which continues zig zagging down to LUMIO. Half way down you can take another short variant (20 mins return) to the cross above LUMIO, for some great views. You arrive in the top of the village, drop down to the pink church and take the higher road back to A CASA DI MA.