Marina d'Erba Rossa

Corsica may be surrounded on all sides by sea, but the scale of the place means you'd be forgiven for forgetting it's an island. If a bird's-eye view is in order for sussing out local geography, head for skydiving at Corse Parachutisme Tandem (15 minutes' drive). Want a bit of high-altitude adrenaline but don't fancy taking the plunge? A Sarradà guided walks (10 minutes) can sort spectacular mountain treks to some of the remotest (and prettiest) spots around. A little further up the coast is Aléria (25 minutes) with its Roman remains, while to the south there's Monastère Notre-Dame de l’Assunta Gloriosa (45 minutes), a hilltop monastery. Polischellu waterfall (an hour) is also well worth a visit while you're around these parts – there are several interconnected pools here where you can take a dip, or alternatively whizz between them down gently sloping natural waterslides. Got time on your hands for far-ranging jaunts? Porto Vecchio (just over an hour away) is possibly the prettiest spot in the island's far south – the views from the citadel and Santa Giulia beach in particular are not to be missed.