I am maybe planning a short visit to the Cinque Terre. Not worried about the steps, etc., but I am afraid of heights. Do the trails mostly have guardrails, fences, barriers? I'm OK with something between me & a drop-off. Not so much with just bare air.
Handrails coming down steep steps would be useful, too! (Going up is OK.)
Thanks!
We were there and did the hike from Monterosso to Vernazza in October. I had read a lot about there being many steps, but what I somehow missed is that there are sections of the trail that had no handrails (and sometimes the ones there seemed more decorative), and they could be very narrow and rocky. I am also afraid of heights, so I am more proud of myself for doing the hike for that reason than the physical aspect. Still very glad I did it.
Traveller,
With the popular Sentiero Azzurro trails, there are guardrails etc. in a few spots but they are by no means "universal". On the trail from Monterosso to Vernazza, there are some narrow parts which don't have handrails, so you'd need to be cautious. If you decided to hike that trail, I'd recommend starting from the Monterosso end. Be sure to take lots of water. There's a steep climb at the beginning with some fairly high steps (again not many handrails) and I find that it's easier to manage the uphill portion first, rather than dealing with the downhill portion when I'm tired (that's also harder on the knees).
The trail segment from Vernazza to Corniglia is a bit easier, but again there are parts with no handrails. One thing to keep in mind is that thousands of people use those trails every year, with few problems. There's an extensive network of trails in that area, some of which go higher up in the hills, so they're a more robust climb. There's also a trail from Monterosso to Levanto, but I've never hiked that one.
As you may be aware, the Sentiero trail segments from Corniglia to Manarola and Manarola to Riomaggiore are currently closed, and will likely remain so for at least this year.
There were a few scary spots like this one when I hiked in 2007 - no idea if they have added more safety devices since then (between Corniglia and Vernazza):
https://www.portlandbridges.com/00,5D0IMG28574,252,1,1,0-italy-cinque-terre.html
But that hike was super easy compared to the scary hike I did last May between Camogli and San Fruttuoso - where there was literally no footing on some sections of the "trail" and I had to scale across holding on for dear life to chains in the rock - yikes!!!!
Ken, we hiked Monterosso to Vernazza last Friday. I started to question my decision to hike that trail when I got to the section in the picture you posted!
mnannie,
I didn't have any reservations about going across the narrow section, although I was very careful. There are bushes on the downhill side, so I knew I wouldn't be going far if I fell (although falling might be a slightly painful experience). I would have no hesitation in making that hike again.
I hiked the trails in 2011. It's one of those travel stories that ... well let's just say that I have a interpretation of rules that varies from my husband who sees them as guidelines. It was early March and I am not sure we were suppose to be on them but we did have the pass. That being said I am extremely afraid of heights (and I live in Mt Rainier and mountain pass country). I was fearful on every trail - Montorossa-Vernanzza-Corgnelia) the whole time but it really was ok. At that time there were not drop offs. As a previous poster said there was brush to break your fall -- which to me is a big thing. My advice -- enjoy. If I can do it anyone can. I freaked out in the Dumo in Florence, can't stand the Space Needle, avoid gondolas... I even had to have two drinks to go to the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower.
We are going back next April and this time I plan to enjoy the trails rather than fretting the whole time about what might be around the next corner.
