Villa Roches Rouges

About this property

Gaze out to the red rocks of L'Île-Rousse and its lighthouse, perhaps with a glass of chilled Corsican wine in hand, as you relax on the poolside terrace. Just a short stroll from the heart of this charming town, Villa Roches Rouges is a beautifully styled home from which to experience the wonders of the Balagne region in the north of this incredible island.

With air-conditioning throughout and modern features such as a contemporary kitchen-diner and a smart living area, Villa Roches Rouges offers style as well as comfort. The four bedrooms are beautifully decorated with pretty fabrics and high-end furnishings alongside impressive en suite bathrooms. The master double is especially wonderful with a balcony looking out towards the Mediterranean; step out and listen to the waves lap against the rocks below. Outside, a decked terrace with a swimming pool and sun-loungers offers further magnificent views of the sea.

By the quality of this villa, it’s no surprise to find out that the family owners also have a 4* hotel a few metres away. Guests have the option to enjoy the award-winning buffet breakfast at the hotel, perhaps on the summer terrace by the hotel's beach. Meals can also be delivered to the villa from the hotel chef and other hotel services include transfers, car hire and baby-sitting on request.

Within a couple of minutes there’s a beach with a great range of watersports or continue further to the heart of L'Île-Rousse with its charming lanes, delightful covered market, pretty shops and characterful restaurants. Enjoy a coffee on the main square under the plane trees, watching old men play boules, followed by a lunch in one of the beachside restaurants. Food lovers will appreciate all sorts of local specialities from freshly caught fish to goats cheese, chestnuts and wild boar. 

The Balagne is a spectacular region of mountainous scenery, perched villages and idyllic sandy beaches with turquoise sea. Hire a car to visit historic villages such as Pigna, Sant'Antonino and Monticello or follow walking trails through landscapes of woodland and hills. Discover little beach restaurants, coastal trails and rocks leading to sandy shores backed by pine trees. You can also take the little train, U Trinichellu, as far as Calvi for a lovely day out, passing beautiful beaches and small seaside towns such as Algajola on your way.

Whether travelling by car, U Trinichellu or foot, there’s no doubt that this part of northern Corsica offers awe-inspiring beauty, authenticity and charm. Villa Roches Rouges is a wonderful place from which to enjoy all that the Balagne has to offer.

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.

Accommodation

Villa Interiors
- Living room with sliding doors leading to pool terrace
- Open-plan kitchen-diner, well-equipped
- Double bedroom with satellite TV, sea-view balcony and en-suite bathroom
- Double bedroom with satellite TV and en-suite bathroom
- Two twin/double bedrooms with satellite TV and en suite bathrooms

All bedrooms and bathrooms are on the ground floor except for one double and its bathroom which are on the lower ground floor.

Outside Grounds
- Heated swimming pool (9mx3m, depth: 1m-3m). Open and heated approximately May to mid-October. Access via living room sliding doors which can be locked as the pool safety feature
- Sun loungers on sea-facing terrace
- Barbecue

Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Air-conditioning
- Heating
- Satellite TV