Trip To Corsica

[Kev_Mk3]

So my initial trip to Corsica was due to be 2020 but the world went mad so nothing happened, life, child, ill health etc got in the way so I now need to revisit this as time is getting on.

The reason for this is my mums final request was to have their ashes scattered where we used to go for holidays for many years. It's a certain spot and I've checked all laws etc I am good to go.

Now logistics wise its a PITA but as always nothing with me goes to plan


So August 2025/26 I plan to drive down from the North West of the UK to somewhere in France and stop the night. Next day get up and head to Toulon via the Millau Bridge as I have always wanted to see it, Ferry over night to Bastia in Corsica and head to where we will stop for a few days, a place called Moriani . ( I will take all the luggage etc with me )


The wife and child will fly from London as not a chance she will sit in the car that long & meet my brother in Paris as he will be coming over from Australia. Once they land I'll collect them and have a few days at where we stayed as kids. Now from looking its had no renovations etc since we where kids so only staying for a few days before moving on and down to the South of the Island, Bonifacio. Here again few days then head back up north. In total about 5/6 days in Corsica before Wife and Child fly home.


From here I plan to get the boat to probably Livorno, Italy and drive up to Annecy as it looks stunning peoples trips etc and head up through France home over 3/4 days. Sadly I would love more time to explore on the way home but due to child care commitments and lack of wife's holiday I can't have this time - need to get home for Daddy day care. ( I could alternatively head lake Como way and head up via the passes as long as its within the same time scales - open to suggestions )

Flying would have been easier but not sure they can see through the urn so wouldn't be allowed on the flight, plus I've always wanted to drive it so why not!


Any tips of places to go on the way back or advise for Corsica places to go / stop (I'd say on the East side as that's where we will be located) with a 4 / 5 year old would be brilliant as I've only ever really stayed in the North East of the island.

Many Thanks

Edited by Kev_Mk3 on Thursday 11th July 10:06

[omniflow]

Good luck with sorting this out. I suspect it's too late now, but when my Dad passed the Funeral Directors had a few options for the ashes. My Mum elected for 2 * smaller cardboard tubes, so she could spread 1/2 the ashes on the golf course in the UK and 1/2 of them in the garden of their house in France. I would imagine a cardboard tube could go as checked luggage on a flight.

Maybe not addressing any of your questions, but maybe you can pick some bones out of this:

We drove to Corsica last year, but we did it the other way around - Italy -> Corsica -> Mainland France.

From the UK we did Harwich -> Hook of Holland, Nuremberg (quite nice), Salzburg (very dull), Grossglockner (had to replan as this was closed), Venice (amazing), Lake Garda (great), Radda in Chianti (fabulous). We stayed in Radda for a week, then drove to Savona via Forte Dei Marmi (absolutely hideous, avoid at all costs)

Outbound we took the overnight ferry from Savona -> Bastia with Corsica Ferries. I wasn't impressed with this ferry. The food was pretty poor and the cabin was very noisy - despite it being the luxury option with a double bed and being on one of the upper decks. Getting a cup of coffee in the morning was a nightmare.

When there, we stayed in a Villa close to Propiano. Very nice Villa with pool, situated up on the hill overlooking Propiano. Simpson Travel have a few villas in Corsica (as I'm sure do other travel companies). Propiano is a nice place, lots of bars / restaurants. There was a cruise ship docked for about 12 hours during the week we were there. There were also a couple of cruise ships docked in Ajaccio on the day we were leaving.

Coming home we took the overnight ferry from Ajaccio -> Marseille with Corsica Linea. This was MUCH better than the Corsica Ferries boat.

From Marseille we then did Barcelona, Logrono, San Sebastian, Fuente De, and then got the ferry from Santander -> Plymouth - but this probably wouldn't work for you.

[gregch]

If you're on the East coast (Moriani) you could head south along the coast to Solenzara, from where there's a fantastic road up into the mountains (for example you could go up to Zonza where there's some decent places to eat). The roads are beautiful and the scenery is breathtaking, and you'll go past clear shallow rock pools etc that are safe and fun. Plus roadside shack for Nutella crepes. Highly recommend.

If it's not too much of a stretch (and I'm aware you'll be covering a fair few miles on the trip as it is!) it's well worth heading further south; the beaches around Porto Vecchio are amazing - special mention to Pinarellu (north of PV) and especially Palombaggia, Tamaricciu et al (south of PV).

Porto Vecchio itself is pleasant but these days it gets incredibly busy. I'm so old that I can remember being able to just drive into the centre and pick a plum parking spot under a shady tree at will (and still have change from half a crown, etc). Now, not so much.

Bonifacio is OK but very much on the stock tour bus itinerary, and looks better from the sea IMHO.