Corniche Jijelienne

The corniche runs west from Jijel along a coast where the Babor mountains come down to the Mediterranean, and the road is cut into cliffs above a shoreline of small coves, rock arches, caves and headlands with cork oak and pine growing almost to the waterline. It is generally reckoned among the most scenic stretches of road in the country. Beaches appear where streams reach the sea, some sandy and easy to reach, others requiring a scramble down. The Grotte Merveilleuse lies at the eastern end near Jijel, and the Taza national park runs along the same coast. Driving it takes a couple of hours without stops, which nobody manages.

What you actually see

• Cliffs and coves in sequence - the road cut above the shoreline.
• Rock arches and sea caves - formations along the base of the cliffs.
• Forest down to the water - cork oak and pine on the slopes.
• Small beaches at stream mouths - the swimming stops along the way.

When to go

May to September for swimming and clear weather. A day with stops. The road is winding and slow; allow far longer than the distance suggests. Summer weekends are busy.

Honest expectations

The road is narrow, winding and has poor barriers in places, with local driving that can be fast. Rockfalls close sections after rain. Beaches vary from clean to badly littered. Facilities are patchy and cash only.

Nearby

Jijel is east; Taza national park lies along the same coast.