Originally Posted by
travelinmanS
If you just want to walk the trail and the Manarolo-Corniglia trial is indeed open again, then I'd recommend getting off the train at Corniglia and walking the trail to Manarolo. This means you wouldn't actually get into the town of Corniglia but you'd avoid walking up the stairs as well because the train station in Corniglia is at the base of the stairs.
Honestly, with such a short time and the choice of trails so limited by the closures I'd get off the train in Monterroso, walk to the boat dock and take the ferry between the towns. You'll see much more than you can see from the train and you can get off and on the ferry as you see fit to visit each town (except for Corniglia).
Thank you very much for your advice travelinmanS. I telephoned the info. office at Corniglia station the other day. I was told that the Corniglia - Manarola trail failed an inspection the other day, and the next estimate for its reopening is 'sometime in September'. I'll 'phone again the day before I visit there just to check (and in the unlikely event of it having reopened I'll follow your advice and do Corniglia to Manarola (avoiding the steps). Failing that I'll certainly take the train to one of them and take the boat to another. (I've already checked with the ferry operator – and they allow dogs on board.)
Thanks you again,
Up In The Air