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Outbound

I flew from Manchester and booked the car into a long stay park, I usually use Drop&Go as this has always been convenient and hassle free.

My flight was via Rome and there was a 3 hour transfer time, this seemed enough but I was worried about reported queues at the new Shengen terminals. As it was the machines were bi-passed at Rome in favour of the traditional booth and customs official. Just as well as my flight reached Rome late and I don’t think I would have made my connecting flight had there been any sort of further delay.

Getting the early flight (7:15am) meant an early start but this meant I could get to Bastia around 2pm in time to get a train service to Vizzavona at about 4.20pm, arriving around 6.30pm. This necessitated getting a taxi from the airport to the train station at Cazzamoza, the cost of taxi’s in Corsica is shocking, a ten minute taxi ride cost me 25Euros and these should be avoided at all costs.

I had booked the Hotel Restaurant U Castellu in Vizzavona for my first evening as this ensured I’d get a good start the following morning. The hotel is a short walk from the station.

Inbound 

Considering that Conca is at the end of a highly popular GR20 trail the transport options from there are unexpectedly poor. Basically you have to get to a main route, for me this meant I had to get to Sainte Lucie de Porto Vacchio, in order to catch a bus that runs twice a day between Porto Vecchia and Bastia.

For other parts of the island getting to Porto Vecchia itself is probably a good option. A couple I met were spending a few days in an AirBnB in Porto Vecchia and that struck me as a great idea, its on the coast with plenty to recommend it.

Back to my problem, there was a taxi firm advertised in the hotel which I rang, they said it wasn’t possible to take me the following morning when I needed them to – dead end. Googling other taxi firms was unfruitful as it was difficult to figure out if they were local or not. Also I was low on currency and couldn’t accept an expensive ride if it was cash only.

I discussed my problem with the hotel manager, she turned out to be great, she arranged a lift, which I don’t think was a taxi, more a friend, she charged me 20Euros and I paid her with my card through the hotel. Perfect solution. Her hotel also got a rave review of course, well deserved because it’s a great place but also because of her help.

Final word on this, I could have walked the 7km to the bus stop but this would have meant an early start, a 2hour trek in the heat and missing breakfast – an option, but not a good one.

The bus was on time and I paid the driver, online it said cash only but he accepted card payment in reality. Also the online timetable said it dropped off at Poretta, 6km form the airport. As I was very early I thought I’d look around then walk to the airport from there. To my surprise the bus dropped off actually at the airport, I tried walking out to spend some time but turned back as I was just walking through and industrial area.

I ended up spending a lot of hours in the airport.

The flight left at 6.30pm and my return was via Nice. Nice to Manchester was delayed by about an hour but I finally arrived about 1am.

Introduction

Trip Report

Costs

Mark Richardson
Mark was the founder of Ultralight Outdoor Gear back in 2006 and has completed long distance backpacking routes in some of the remotest parts of the world. His favourite hikes have been Torres del Paine (full circuit), the John Muir trail and the Markha Valley trail (Ladakh, India). Although semi-retired Mark has not lost any enthusiasm for minimalist backpacking and is tackling Scotland’s Munros choosing multi-day backpacking routes over the more usual guide book excursions. Read more from Mark Richardson