Corsica

Corsica sits 170 kilometres off the French mainland and operates by its own rules. The island has 21 peaks above 2,000 metres, a coastline of extraordinary beauty and a culture that blends French, Italian and distinctly Corsican influences into something found nowhere else in the Mediterranean.

For walkers, the jewel is the GR20, a 180-kilometre trail that runs along the rugged granite spine of the island from Calenzana in the north to Conca in the south. Widely regarded as one of the most demanding long-distance routes in Europe, it crosses high mountain passes, skirts glacial lakes and delivers panoramic views of the sea from altitudes above 2,600 metres. Sections of the route can be walked independently, making it accessible to those who want the experience without committing to the full challenge.

Away from the high mountains, Corsica rewards walkers with perched hilltop villages, fragrant maquis scrubland, crystal-clear rivers and a food culture built on local charcuterie, fresh cheeses and the wild herbs that give the island its famous scent.