Villa Roches Rouges is located in the lovely seaside town of L'Île-Rousse, in the Balagne region of northern Corsica, close to the port with ferry arrivals from mainland France and Italy.
Guests can wander a couple of minutes down the road to the owner’s hotel where you can enjoy the hotel's award-winning buffet breakfast if you wish; in the summer they have tables set outside on the terrace looking out towards the sea. The hotel also has a little beach or across the road there is another beach with a great range of summer watersports including yachting, stand-up paddle boards, jet-ski and pedalos. From here it’s also a lovely walk up to the lighthouse where you can enjoy yet more incredible views.
It’s about a 5 to 10-minute walk to the centre of L'Île-Rousse where you will find pretty shops, charming restaurants down narrow lanes, a beautiful town square with cafes and plane trees as well as a delightful covered market selling local specialities such as charcuterie, cheese and honey. There’s also a town beach with a handful of beachside restaurants, a great spot for some of the freshest sea-food straight from the Mediterranean.
You’re also only a couple of minutes from the train station where you can pick up Corsica’s little train, U Trinichellu, which runs a few times a day between L'Île-Rousse and Calvi (with the odd train continuing on to Bastia or Ajaccio via Corte). You can stop off near some lovely beaches such as Plage de Bodri with its white sand and turquoise waters or the larger stretches of coastline near Algajola and Sant Ambroggio, both places where you can find a number of leisure activities including watersports. Bear in mind the train can get very busy in the summer but it’s a great experience, especially for little ones.
The Balagne coastline offers many wonderful beaches accessible by car and then foot. Look out for beachside cafes in the summer serving amazing fresh fish or pretty coves backed by pine trees and maquis, the fragrant wild herbs of Corsica. Heading east, the amazing yet remote Plage de l'Ostriconi is also worth a visit at the start of the mesmerising Desert des Agriates.
Take some time to visit the magical perched villages of the Balagne countryside from Feliceto and Speloncato with their rugged mountainous landscapes to Pigna’s artisan shops and Sant'Antonino’s restaurants with spectacular views. This is also a walker’s paradise with many trails for various abilities covering woodland, villages, coast and mountains.
Calvi (25km) is another picturesque town to visit with its long beach, upmarket marina and historic centre. Have lunch on one of the terraces by Église Sainte-Marie followed by a wander through the citadel with its breathtaking views. You can also take a boat trip out to tour the Scandola Nature Reserve on the west coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to spectacular scenery and wildlife.
The Region
Northern Corsica offers diverse landscapes, idyllic beaches and picture-perfect villages where you can truly appreciate the Corsican way of life. From delightful seaside towns to rugged cliffs and mountains, Haute-Corse is an ideal holiday destination for keen hikers, nature enthusiasts and gastronomes as well as couples, friends and families seeking beautiful beaches for swimming, snorkelling and watersports.
Backed by mountain peaks, Calvi is so loved for its Genoese citadel, charming old town and long sandy beach. Enjoy lunch on a restaurant terrace overlooking the rose façade of Église Sainte Marie Majeure or by the vibrant marina with its seafood restaurants and bars. Boat trips depart to the Scandola Nature Reserve where you can admire some of the most incredible coastal scenery on island.
The beaches between Calvi and L'Île-Rousse are fantastic – favourites include Plage de Sant'Ambroggio, an idyllic spot for snorkelling in the crystal-clear sea, and Plage de Bodri with soft white sand backed by wild maquis. The Balagne is also renowned for its characterful hilltop villages and the countryside is criss-crossed with walking paths where donkeys once roamed. Amongst others, visit ancient Pigna for its pottery and Corsican music, Monticello for its olive groves and perched Sant’Antonino for its rich history and panoramic views.
Soak up authentic island life in L'Île-Rousse as you watch locals play boules on the main square near the beach accompanied by an apéritif of local beer flavoured with maquis herbs or a glass of Cap Corse. The town hosts a lovely covered market every morning selling delicious Corsican delights and there are many restaurants along the narrow lanes – specialities include wild boar and chestnuts, Corsican lamb with rosemary and Cannelloni au brocciu. As the sun sets, follow the coastal promenade towards Île de la Pietra for romantic red-hued vistas.
Meanwhile, the little train, U Trinichellu, chugs along the coastline between Calvi and L'Île-Rousse with wonderful views - hop on early as it can get very busy, especially when coming home from the beach.
That said, a car is essential when exploring northern Corsica. When leaving L'Île-Rousse towards the north-east of the island, detour to Plage de l’Ostriconi, a wild beach on the edge of the remote Désert des Agriates. Follow the winding road to the attractive seaside town of Saint-Florent backed by the impressive mountains of the Cap Corse. Visit the vineyards of Patrimonio before venturing to little fishing villages and more outstanding landscapes of the Cap Corse.
Whether travelling with friends, loved ones, young kids or teens, a wealth of outdoor activities await across northern Corsica from watersports in Calvi, Algajola, L'Île-Rousse and Saint-Florent to quad-biking, horse-riding and even donkey rides in hilltop Balagne villages. Golf-lovers can play at the 18-hole Golf Reginu whilst there are so many hiking opportunities across the Balagne countryside, Désert des Agriates and Cap Corse landscapes.
Our carefully curated selection of villas in northern Corsica allows you to experience the many pristine beaches, characterful towns and stunning scenery in this mesmerising part of Corsica, the fourth largest Mediterranean island so lovingly referred to as l'Île de Beauté.
