Camping L'Agrottu

Corte (20 minutes' drive) is well worth visiting for its historic heritage alone – the town was once the capital of Pascal Paoli's short-lived Corsican republic and home to a certain Maria Letizia Buonaparte, mother of the future French emperor. Interesting enough, you might think, but doubly so given the splendid views on offer from the town's belvedere viewpoint. Corsica has its fair share of brill beaches, and Santa-Lucia-di-Mercurio is about 50 kilometres from the closest bit of coast. Jaunts to the sea are well worth the drive, whether you opt to just lounge and chill on Plage de l'Ostriconi beach (an hour) or get active at Losari watersports centre (an hour). There's much to be said for the island's inland waters as well – the hike up to see the crystal-clear Lac de Capitellu and Lac de Melo (50 minutes) isn't the easiest of strolls, but these peaceful natural surrounds make a promising spot for a much-deserved picnic. After working out your legs, put your upper body to use and scale the rocks at Via Ferrata Corse (40 minutes), a climbing trail in the Asco valley.