Not so much an island as a range of mountains in the Mediterranean - a spectacular jumble of alpine peaks and rugged rock which topples down through forests of pine, oak and sweet chestnut to an amiable coastline of glorious gulfs, fishing harbours and sickle beaches of soft sand.

There are pristine beaches, a rich underwater world, lovely wild tracts to walk as you inhale the intoxicating mix of sea air laced with the scent of herbs from the maquis, the undergrowth that fleeces the island's flanks.

Simpson Travel present the very best...

A Stellina is a new villa with fine attention to detail and attractive features offering a unique private location in Bonifacio, a 10 minute drive from the often quiet, blue seas of Rondinara Bay.

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Best Beaches in Bonifacio with Simpson Travel

Palombaggia Beach
A long stretch of fine sandy beach shaded by pine trees and with the occasional rock pool. Reputed to be the best beach in the area, it's not a surprise that it gets very busy in July and August. You will however be able to find a quieter spot if you walk towards the middle of the beach. Several restaurants are dotted along this long sandy beach, most have sun chairs and parasols for rent. Parking is free.



The charming cottage of Les Aulnes in Palavesa, is located a short drive away from Palombaggia Beach. Les Aulnes comprises of a cluster of 5 cottages set in beautiful gardens, all exclusive to Simpson Travel guests. The property owners of Les Aulnes have built us another larger and independent cottage located in Palavesa, called Chez Christophe.

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Santa Giulia Bay
This is a beautiful bay with fine, white sand and shallow turquoise water. Most water sports are available and there is a good selection of restaurants for a long and lingering lunch. The restaurant in the middle of the beach (Bar de la Plage) rents out sun chairs and parasols. This beach is suitable for young children as the water is very shallow. No wonder this beach gets quite busy in July and August. Car parking is payable in high season.



Within equal proximity to both Palombaggia Beach and Santa Giulia is the aforementioned Les Aulnes. Similarly a short drive away from Santa Giulia Beach is Villa Ferruccio. Traditionally built by the owners of Le Balcon de Porra, Villa Ferruccio is an impressive 3 bedroom air-conditioned property featuring private swimming pool.

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Best Beaches in Porto Vecchio with Simpson Travel

Plage du Lido & Plage du Corsaire
These are large sandy bays located by the end of Avenue Napoleon, west of the lighthouse. The beaches are lovely but can shelve quite steeply. Probably the most visited beaches area in Propriano. No facilities but there are a few restaurants nearby. This beach also has a life guard in high season.

Plage de Campo Moro
A crescent of gently shelving white sand, which is heaven for children. There's a scuba-diving school and several simple restaurants are scattered around the beach.



Fiore e Macchgia is a traditional 2 bedroom villa with private pool. You can reach Campo Moro's restaurants and shallow, shelving beach in 10 minutes, Propriano's excitements in twenty and the secretive mountain villages of Alta Rocca when you chose to go exploring.

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Plage de Mancino
Small sandy beach at the entrance of Propriano at the end of Rue du 9 Septembre. This beach has a sailing and windsurfing school as well as a restaurant. No other facilities available.

Plage de Portigliolo
This is a big sandy beach on the D 121 towards Campo Moro. As it is a little remote, it usually remains relatively uncrowded. The beach may however shelve steeply and might therefore be less suitable for children. At the far end of the beach are several snack bars, but no other facilities. Car parking along the road.

Plage d'Abbartello
All along the D157 near Abbartello you will find lovely beaches; some are big stretches of sand whilst others are little bays hidden amongst rocky outlets. The beach to the left of the Hotel Abbartello is one of the smaller bays and you could use the hotel bar if you fancied some refreshments. Most of these beaches do not have any facilities but there are some restaurants are nearby.

Porto Pollo
The village of Porto Pollo has a gorgeous, sheltered sandy beach with water sports facilities, such as sailing, windsurfing, scuba-diving and pedalos for hire. There are several restaurants on the beach and the Spar supermarket is also located near the beach.

Plage de Cupabia
A gorgeous beach after Porto Pollo, Cupabia is a big sandy bay with rocky outlets on both sides. It is generally fairly quiet. Car parking is free. There is one little snack bar on the beach but no other facilities.

Best Beaches in The Valinco with Simpson Travel

The beaches in Corsica's West Coast are amongst the finest on the island; the choice is endless with arcs of soft white sand, pebble beaches and shingle coves to choose from. Some beaches have restaurants or bar facilities. Toilets however are rarely provided and you will be obliged to use the toilets of the restaurants or bars, provided you make use of their restaurant or bar.

Please note that many of the beaches on Corsica's West Coast shelve steeply and can be quite dangerous when the sea is rough. Please take care.

Plage d'Arone
This must be one of the most beautiful beaches of the region - just the drive there alone, must not be missed! An arc of soft sand, mountains and the maquis, two good restaurants and spearmint green water...pure bliss. The restaurant on the right has excellent seafood dishes, especially huge, wood-fire grilled brochettes of huge prawns and fish. They also have sunbeds for rental.



Fiore e Macchgia is a traditional 2 bedroom villa with private pool. You can reach Campo Moro's restaurants and shallow, shelving beach in 10 minutes, Propriano's excitements in twenty and the secretive mountain villages of Alta Rocca when you chose to go exploring.

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Anse de Ficajola
Gorgeous, little cove below Piana, accessed via a steep winding road full of hairpin beds. This drive is definitely not for the faint hearted. This little cove used to be used as shelter by lobster-fishing boats. There is snack bar in high summer.

Plage de Peru
This is Cargèse's main beach and is a lovely sandy beach with turquoise water. There are 2 beach bars right in the middle of the beach as well as a restaurant serving seafood, the Ta Kladia, at the far northern end.

Plage de Menasina
Some people say that this sandy beach has the most beautiful water in the area - it certainly is spearmint green and the rocky outlets make it good for snorkelling. The area behind it now houses a private holiday complex, which owns the only road down to the beach, however there is still a public walking path. (People with walking difficulties can ask the Cargèse tourist office to call the complex and ask for permission to use the road).

Plage de Stagnoli
South of Menasina beach is Stagnoli beach a sandy beach with rocky outlets in a wonderfully natural setting. The UCPA, a French watersports club, is based there.

Plage de Sagone
Sagone itself doesn't have very much charm, but it is blessed with a huge stretch of sandy beach on either side of it. The long stretch to the south of the town is particularly beautiful, and if you're early, you may manage to get a little sandy patch amongst the rocky outlets all to yourselves! This beach tends to get busy on the weekend, but its size means it never seems to be overcrowded. There are plenty of facilities in Sagone and its outskirts.

Plage du Liamone
A very long stretch of sand in a completely natural setting, slightly hidden by small dunes and vegetation. The Liamone River flows into the sea in the middle of the beach and, in the summer, the small part of the river by the bridge, is used for windsurfing lessons by the nearby centre. The beach is 2km south of Sagone.

Best Beaches in Corsica's West Coast with Simpson Travel

The beaches in the area of Calvi and Balagne are very diverse. You will find beautiful sandy beaches mostly to the north of Calvi, while to the west of Calvi; beaches tend to be rockier. Most beaches in Calvi have restaurants or bar facilities. Toilets however are rarely provided and you will be obliged to use the toilets of the restaurants or bars. Sun chairs and parasols are mostly rented out by the restaurants or bars on a day or half-day rate and they will usually expect you to make use of their restaurant or bar.

Plage de Calvi
This is a big, sandy, pine-backed bay stretching out over 6km to the east from Calvi town. The sea is shallow for a long way out and sandy along the whole of the bay. There are many restaurants along the beach where you can eat and then benefit from the free sun lounges, which are offered to the patrons of the restaurant, alternatively you can hire sun lounges from any of the bars. For those wanting to lie on their own towels there is plenty of room the further away you are from Calvi centre. Calvi beach also offers numerous water sports activities - from windsurfing and sailing to banana boating and jet-skis for the more adventurous. These activities are on offer at various points along the beach. You can walk to the beach, catch the train from Calvi centre and hop off at one of the many stops or park behind the beach in the pinedes behind one of the many restaurants.



The ultra modern waterfront property Hôtel Balanéa is walking distance to both town and beach. With all the attractions of Calvi on the doorstep, this pretty harbour-front hotel looks out towards misty mountains across the bay.

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Plage de Marina de St. Ambroggio
A lovely, white, sandy bay to the right of the Marina (when facing the sea). This sandy bay with its' turquoise water is often sheltered from the wind for which the Balagne is famous. There are no facilities on the beach, but there is a restaurant in the Marina, as well as a small grocery shop and boulangerie. Just behind the marina there is also a communal outdoor pool that is open for everyone to use.

Plage d'Île Rousse
This long stretch of sand runs along of the charming town of Ile Rousse, making it a great spot to spend the day. Several restaurants some of which also rent sun lounges and umbrellas back the main beach. If you follow the beach heading away from Ile Rousse you will find two smaller coves away from the restaurants. As the coastal train runs between Calvi and Ile Rousse, you don't even need to take the car!



With the lively town centre and the sandy beaches of Ile Rousse on your doorstep, the stylish Le Maria Venezia apartment is ideal for those who prefer not to hire a car and relish having everything to hand. The apartment is in an excellent location, within walking distance (5 minutes) to the beach and the nearby restaurants.

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Lozari
Lozari Beach is a wild stretch of white sand to the North of Ile Rousse, which is hard not to notice from the road above. There is a small holiday village there and it can get rough in bad weather. Take the road down to the beach, marked 'Lozari' about 8km North of Ile Rousse.

Best Beaches in Calvi with Simpson Travel

Plage de la Roya
This conveniently located beach offers most water sports and there is a selection of small restaurants and snack bars for lunch. No wonder this beach gets quite busy in July and August.
If you are prepared to walk along the rocky headland from the very end of the beach, you will find rocky coves to swim in. This walking path, called the Sentier du Littoral (the coastal path) starts at La Roya beach and goes all the way to Ostriconi via Saleccia beach. Beware - Saint Florent to Saleccia beach is a 5 and a half hour walk - one way!



Le Sirocco is tucked away in a residential part of the lively port of St Florent, just a short walk from the harbour, making it an excellent base for exploring the area. The traditional 4 bedroom apartment with private pool is set in a peaceful location 8 minutes drive from the best local beaches.

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Saleccia Beach
The best way to reach the beach is to take the boat out of St Florent. This takes 30 minutes. There is then an hours' walk to reach what is often called the best beach in Corsica.



Unwinding by the shared pool in the lovely setting of L'Aghja Cottages is heaven, for there are bound to be days when you'll want to come to a halt rather than seek a beach, case the harbour shops in St Florent or even go for wine-tasting forays among the vineyards.

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Plage de l'Ostriconi
The Plage de l'Ostriconi is also part of the Désert des Agriates. This stunning beach is said to have the finest sand in all of Europe and is in the protected nature reserve, the Site de l'Ostriconi, with its meandering river and protected vegetation. It's wild and spectacular, but unfortunately can be dangerous in bad weather. There is a campsite about 15mins walk away,with a restaurant.

Plage de Tamarone
This is undoubtedly one of Cap Corse's most beautiful beaches. Tamarone is a stunning, unspoilt, sandy beach just North of Macinaggio village, in the very northern part of the Cap. From Macinaggio, head for the campsite (U Stazzu) and then walk the last kilometre of the track as the track is in a poor state of repair. In the summer there is usually a beach bar, but not much else.

Barcaggio Beach
Barcaggio is a tiny village at the extreme northern tip of the Cap. From Ersa on the D80, you'll need to take the D253. Park your car in the village car park and take the track which starts there. The unspoilt beach is of white sand dunes and crystal clear water. There is e restaurant nearer the village. This beach is also accessible on foot via the Chemin des Douaniers, walking path.

Best Beaches in St Florent & The Cap Corse with Simpson Travel

Simpson Travel is run by a select team of travel professionals with extensive experience of running successful specialist travel companies, including Graham Simpson who was the founder of 'Simply Travel'.

We share a passion for the holiday destinations we offer and the service we want our customers to enjoy. In essence, we are dedicated to offering our clients the type of holiday we ourselves would wish to take.

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Our reservations team in the UK have personally visited all the villas and hotels in our holiday destinations and are well placed to advise and guide you to making your booking. They can tailor-make holidays of any duration using charter and scheduled flights, with additional services to suit you. We can arrange short break and special interest holidays, as well as 'accommodation-only' for those who prefer to make their own travel arrangements, subject to availability.

Your choice may be to stay put in one place or 'mix and match' a few nights in a romantic retreat followed by a stay in a small, charming hotel. Or you may wish to combine an idyllic villa with a visit to one of the many vibrant cities on offer.

Our personal service is as professional, unobtrusive and friendly overseas as it is knowledgeable, detailed and dedicated in the UK.

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