Get To The Of Corsica

Behind the teeming beaches of the Île de Beauté lies a rugged land of mountains and quiet villages, as Rachel Johnston discovers

- Rachel Johnston

Lying just over 160 kilometres from the south-east coast of the mainland, Corsica is easily overlooked when people think of France. The justifiably named Île de Beauté dazzles with a diverse landscape of mountain peaks, fragrant scrubland, ancient hilltop villages and chic resorts. The colour palette is so vivid that you almost need dark glasses – and not just to shield you from the average 2,800 hours of sunshine in which the island basks every year.

Smaller, wilder and more mountainous than its Italian neighbour Sardinia, Corsica is a paradise for outdoor types – whether that means lacing up a pair of sturdy walking boots and tackling the long-distance GR20, exploring roads and trails on an electric bike or on horseback, or simply lounging on one of the 200 beaches with the dramatic landscape as a backdrop.

The photogenic coastline is the principal draw for most summer visitors, who flock to the southern resorts of Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio to populate gleaming yachts and chic waterside cafés and bars. Those in search of a jet-set crowd and a Côte d’Azur buzz will find plenty of attractions here.