The Cinque Terre Path From Corniglia to Monterosso

Despite the heat, we were determined to walk the only two paths that are still open between the Cinque Terre villages, and so made an early start yesterday.

The settlement of Corniglia was our starting point, but choosing not to climb the 377 steps up from the train station, we instead took the little bus (included in our one-day Cinque Terre trekking card). A quick cup of coffee, and we were on the trail by 9.

The trail was well-maintained and the huge steps, commonplace on the higher paths, were absent. The views were superb.

After a sandwich and cold drink, we decided to continue along the path to Monterosso. We had thought we might leave it to a second day, but as the trail to Vernazza has been in such good condition, and not too strenuous, we thought we’d continue (no need to buy a Cinque Terre trekking card another day either).

Although the trail was supposed to be longer (taking two hours instead of the 1 and a half hours we’d just done) we’d been led to believe the path was more on the flat and, therefore, easier. Oh dear, don’t believe everything you read. There seemed considerably more up and down, and the path wasn’t in such great condition. Maybe it was just that it was hotter, and I wasn’t as fresh.

We’re following our exertions yesterday with a rest day, and earlier took a picnic to Campiglia, a small village near here. We first went to Campiglia after a night of heavy rain three weeks ago and had no view due to the low cloud.