Valle Dell'Asco, a corner of Corsica to be done all on foot

That Corsica is a destination for experienced hikers is attested to by one of the most challenging and well-known trails, the GR20 (Grande Randonnée): a long-distance trail that crosses the French island diagonally from north to south, leading one to walk two hundred kilometres over mountains that exceed two thousand metres in height. But one does not need to be an experienced hiker to appreciate the Corsican hinterland with its high mountain peaks: one only has to leave behind the white beaches with their crystal-clear sea to discover, just a few kilometres away, the full potential of the inland areas with cooler temperatures. And its itineraries are practicable in many months of the year, not only in summer.

Particularly in the north-west of Corsica, where the two thousand seven hundred metre high Monte Cinto towers, the mountainous Asco Valley invites you to discover, through different types of hikes, canyons, steep walls and forests in an area that is part of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica.The winding D147 road that you take to reach this inland area draws, from the first curves, the mountainous landscape that defines this territory: rugged mountains carved by the power of the Asco river that has created suggestive gorges in the rock.

To admire this type of scenery, just before reaching the village of Asco, you can make a stop at the Genoese Bridge: a simple fifteen-minute walk leads to this historic monument dating from the 15th century, which welcomes you with a natural pool where the transparent water invites you to cool down. Take the D147 road again to reach the Haut Asco ski resort, located at an altitude of 1,400 metres, which is the starting point for a walk towards the northern slope of Monte Cinto. For this excursion, which follows the route of a stage of the GR20, one needs to be well trained because to climb to the top of Corsica's highest peak, although the reward is very high with panoramic views as far as the sea, requires experience and good preparation. On the other hand, an easy path suitable for everyone is the one that leads to the Cascade de l'Ondella, again starting from Haut- Asco: a pleasant ring-route of about two hours that crosses a pine forest and leads to the waterfall, a place where you can find refreshment during the hottest days.

The small village of Asco also reflects the agri-mountainous vocation of the area in its cuisine with cheese and meat dishes. The richness of the flora, in particular, is celebrated with honey, a typical product of the Asco Valley. The wild blossoms of chestnut, bramble, rosemary, lavender, heather and other plants of the Mediterranean maquis allow the beekeeping tradition of the area to continue and produce different types of honey, from the sweetest to the most aromatic. A great variety that can be purchased in the historic Guidoni shop in Asco, to bring home the scents and flavours of the Corsican hinterland.