A wild and wondrous landscape

Corsica, despite its 1,000km of beautiful coastline, feels like an undiscovered gem, says JIM GALLAGHER after a recent visit...

- By JIM GALLAGHER

Driving along the stunning west coast of Corsica it's easy to see why this French island has become known as "a mountain in the sea".

You feel on top of the world with all the hairpin bends and the amazing views of the wild and wondrous landscape.

Corsica, sitting above Sardinia and closer to Italy than France, is the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean.

Its highest summit, the snow-capped Monte Cinto, is a whopping 2,706 m (8,878 ft), two and a half times our own Carrauntoohil. And it has another 120 named peaks above 2,000m (6,600ft).

That explains why the island has become a paradise for hikers, bikers and adventure seekers.

The mountains are in one single chain and comprise two-thirds of the island which is nearly 200km long and 100km wide.

Although they are the most obvious feature of this unspoilt land, Corsica has 1,000km of beautiful coastline and many of its 200 beaches are spectacular.

It's exhilarating to spot golden sands far below and then drive down a cliff-edge road to discover an almost deserted strand.

Some of the smaller roads are not for the faint-hearted but we were blessed with an excellent driver.

Although Corsica is a French holiday destination there is nothing like the traffic clogging the roads in other parts of France. Nor the crowds.

The island feels like an undiscovered gem. I was bowled over by the beauty but also by the slow, leisurely pace of life. Corsica is an advert for slow travel because you can't get anywhere fast.

Look at a map and a village that seems close may still be two hours away because of the mountainous roads. And once there you won't want to leave.

We began our Corsican adventure flying into the capital, Ajaccio, a busy port on the rugged west coast and the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose image is everywhere. Even the airport is named after him.