Northumberland to Rome, Sardinia, Corsica and home!

[Honestviking1]

Between 26/5/24 and 26/6/24 we are heading off in Vin Rouge via the Channel Tunnel on our biggest adventure since purchase November '23.

We plan to take 3 days to get to Rome and stay at the Happy Village site just north of Rome before getting the ferry Civitavechia/Cagliari, Sardinia. From Santo Teresa di Gallura/Bonifacio, Corsica then Bastia/Toulon, France and home.

A total of 32 day round route which at first appears rushed, however we hope to enjoy leisurely stays throughout the adventure. In Corsica we will be hosted by friends near Porto Vecchio for several days.
We are provisionally mapping out our 'stop offs' and penceling in the 3 ferry crossings with the Tunnel already booked.

Any advice, no matter how small, would be gratefully appreciated, especially Sardinia, and our plans can easily be tweaked/flexible! We'll post photos during our adventure.

 

[colintfcolintf]

please keep us posted on you adventure. Corsica is on our "must do" list

3 days to Rome is no mean feat!

 

[Honestviking1]

please keep us posted on you adventure. Corsica is on our "must do" list

3 days to Rome is no mean feat!

C, of course we will keep you posted. On 26/5, staying with French friends near Calais then south 27/5 to Sennecey-les-Dijon, 6 hour drive.
On 28/5 thru Switzerland to stay somewhere north of Milan that night, another 6 hour drive then onto Rome on 29/5.
No date as yet for ferry to Sardinia.

 

[colintfcolintf]

4 days from home, that’s more achievable I think. I first thought you were doing home to Rome in 3. Fuel generally cheaper in Luxembourg if you are passing close by there.

 

[Corradobrit]

Sardinia and Corsica are beautiful. My wife is Sardinian from Iglesias so I'm partial. Don't forget to try the tomatoes and worm riddled cheese. The southwest of Corsica was my fav on the island, around Ajaccio.

 

[Beeechke1]

We completed a similar trip last year, but in reverse to your plans, Toulon-Bastia, Bonifacio-Santa Teresa Gallura, Cagliari-Naples. Our dates were arrive Corsica 4th May left Sardinia 12th June.

Some general thoughts and learnings for us:
Overnight boat from Toulon with Corsica ferries, worth the extra for a cabin with window, wished we had packed a picnic to enjoy on deck by the bar. Restaurant looked good but pricey.
We stuck mostly to the west coast of both Corsica and Sardinia, this was very much a toss of dice decision especially for Sardinia, during may and early June we did experience some rain but the coast often bathed in sun while the interior of the island often built up rain/thunder storms especially afternoons.
Not all campsites were open in May and some were not opening until mid June. That said we never failed to find a site and only usually rang ahead to check on the day, except a few town sites that can get full up. Some sights were cash only so worth checking if your planning to stay a few nights.

Here are a couple of places we stayed in Sardinia we thought stood out for scenery, peace and quiet:

Capo Ferrato, 09043, Muravera. On the Costa Rei an hour east of Cagliari, Excellent facilities, stunning beach, but by far our most expensive site at 60 euros p/n (there was a cheaper one a few miles down the road but it was full)

Camping Tonnata, Cala Sapore, Santa Antioco, terraced site with sea views 35 euro inc. EHU

Is Aruttas Camping, Cabras, the main attraction here is the "rice sand beach" about 10 minutes walk from the campsite but has large car park so could drive. Site on first appearance felt scruffy but plenty of space and very quiet when we were there, beach got busy at weekends. 24 euro inc. EHU

Villaggio Camping Torre del Porticciolo, Alghero. private access to small beach great walking stunning rock formations and scenery, Slightly put off by requirement to wear wrist bands and the sites cashless system, but great site and even better location. 33 euros without EHU (our choice).

This last site is only 30 minutes drive from the port of Bastia, Corsica may be useful for your return ferry:
Camping A Casaiola 20233, Marine de Sisco, Cap Corsa. Pitches under cork oaks and olive trees, Owner speaks very good English our ferry was delayed so we didn't arrive until 10pm in the dark but owner opened up for us and showed us to our pitch in the dark. 25 euro inc EHU (cash only)

Hope this is of some help in your planning

Kelvin

 

[Honestviking1]

We completed a similar trip last year, but in reverse to your plans, Toulon-Bastia, Bonifacio-Santa Teresa Gallura, Cagliari-Naples. Our dates were arrive Corsica 4th May left Sardinia 12th June.

Some general thoughts and learnings for us:
Overnight boat from Toulon with Corsica ferries, worth the extra for a cabin with window, wished we had packed a picnic to enjoy on deck by the bar. Restaurant looked good but pricey.
We stuck mostly to the west coast of both Corsica and Sardinia, this was very much a toss of dice decision especially for Sardinia, during may and early June we did experience some rain but the coast often bathed in sun while the interior of the island often built up rain/thunder storms especially afternoons.
Not all campsites were open in May and some were not opening until mid June. That said we never failed to find a site and only usually rang ahead to check on the day, except a few town sites that can get full up. Some sights were cash only so worth checking if your planning to stay a few nights.

Here are a couple of places we stayed in Sardinia we thought stood out for scenery, peace and quiet:

Capo Ferrato, 09043, Muravera. On the Costa Rei an hour east of Cagliari, Excellent facilities, stunning beach, but by far our most expensive site at 60 euros p/n (there was a cheaper one a few miles down the road but it was full)

Camping Tonnata, Cala Sapore, Santa Antioco, terraced site with sea views 35 euro inc. EHU

Is Aruttas Camping, Cabras, the main attraction here is the "rice sand beach" about 10 minutes walk from the campsite but has large car park so could drive. Site on first appearance felt scruffy but plenty of space and very quiet when we were there, beach got busy at weekends. 24 euro inc. EHU

Villaggio Camping Torre del Porticciolo, Alghero. private access to small beach great walking stunning rock formations and scenery, Slightly put off by requirement to wear wrist bands and the sites cashless system, but great site and even better location. 33 euros without EHU (our choice).

This last site is only 30 minutes drive from the port of Bastia, Corsica may be useful for your return ferry:
Camping A Casaiola 20233, Marine de Sisco, Cap Corsa. Pitches under cork oaks and olive trees, Owner speaks very good English our ferry was delayed so we didn't arrive until 10pm in the dark but owner opened up for us and showed us to our pitch in the dark. 25 euro inc EHU (cash only)

Hope this is of some help in your planning

Kelvin

Beeechke1, thanks for all this advice/information, much appreciated. The Bastia site may well come in useful if we travel from the Porto Vecchio area the day before sailing.

 

[The Tall Luthier]

C, of course we will keep you posted. On 26/5, staying with French friends near Calais then south 27/5 to Sennecey-les-Dijon, 6 hour drive.
On 28/5 thru Switzerland to stay somewhere north of Milan that night, another 6 hour drive then onto Rome on 29/5.
No date as yet for ferry to Sardinia.

Unless Milan is in your list of cities to visit, or I’d be wary of veering to the North of it. The traffic when we passed by it to get to the Dolomites was incredibly dense and slow by 3pm.

If you are going via Tunnel Mont Blanc I’d also suggest the leisurely drive through to Aosta and beyond in preference to the toll road. One is a beautiful mountain road where you get to count the castles on the hillsides, the other is a series of fast bridges and tunnels.

Have a great journey.

 

[CalNicRen]

Don’t go all that way and not see Elba. Camped many times at marina Di Campo, awesome.

 

[Honestviking1]

Our Vin Rouge adventure itinerary is starting to take shape.
The decision made, for convenience, to overnight stop in Dijon then south of Milan in B & B's before the drive through to Happy Village Camping site north of Rome taking up 3 days driving from Calais.

From Rome south to Sperlonga for several days in Camping Village Nord Sud.

Some advice regarding ferries please. We plan to sail Civitavechia/Olbia, Sardinia then Santa Teresa di Gallura/Bonifacio, Corsica and finally Bastia/Toulon, France.
I've checked out Direct Ferries, any other recommended one stop ferry companies where we can block book the 3 crossings, thanks.

 

[Honestviking1]

From Dijon past Lake Lausanne and thru St Bernard Pass, fantastic ride then to south of Milan, 26 deg. Onwards to Rome 2day

 

[Beeechke1]

Our Vin Rouge adventure itinerary is starting to take shape.
The decision made, for convenience, to overnight stop in Dijon then south of Milan in B & B's before the drive through to Happy Village Camping site north of Rome taking up 3 days driving from Calais.

From Rome south to Sperlonga for several days in Camping Village Nord Sud.

Some advice regarding ferries please. We plan to sail Civitavechia/Olbia, Sardinia then Santa Teresa di Gallura/Bonifacio, Corsica and finally Bastia/Toulon, France.
I've checked out Direct Ferries, any other recommended one stop ferry companies where we can block book the 3 crossings, thanks.

Have looked at https://www.corsica-ferries.co.uk/ we booked all our crossings on their web site

 

[Honestviking1]

Just north of Rome at Happy Village where they provide ‘free’ shuttle service to nearest train ride into city.
First use of a £39 Tamar 2 tent which has proved ideal for offloading/storage.
And our neighbours in an Ocean brought a new slant to the Cali flexibility. I could’nt do Rome on 4 wheels, let alone 2!!
Onwards south 2moro to Pope’s summer residence Castel Condolfo then Sperlonga for the beach life.

 

[Honestviking1]

Back home in Northumberland after this last adventure....some observations.

The Pope's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo just south of Rome was one of the highlight days of our adventure, well worth a visit.

We booked all three ferries through Ferry Savers, no problems with the bookings. On the overnight ferry Civitavechia/Olbia, Sardinia we reserved lounge seats at 10e a seat, a waste of money. Everybody without reservations simply took over the non reserved seats. Others bedded down in the room on inflatable beds! Talking with seasoned travellers after the event, they said the first mistake was booking an overnighter!!

In Sardinia we stayed on the north west coastline at Camping Liccia near Santa Teresa di Gallura.
A fantastic site but don't be tempted with going to the nearby beach, a dodgy walk down and back. The site pool excellent and better beaches a short journey away.

On Corsica, stayed with French friends near Porto Vecchio. The day we left to travel to Bastia for the Toulon ferry they recommended travelling the east coastline to Aleria, inland to Corte then north to travel west to east in the Desert des Agriates via Saint Florent....spectacular, could'nt recommend the route more highly.

And the only mishap..one of the hinges on the upper bed breaking causing difficulties in lifting/lowering the bed. A check on this forum provided invaluable info/peace of mind for it's replacement on our return.

 

[Sames]

Between 26/5/24 and 26/6/24 we are heading off in Vin Rouge via the Channel Tunnel on our biggest adventure since purchase November '23.

We plan to take 3 days to get to Rome and stay at the Happy Village site just north of Rome before getting the ferry Civitavechia/Cagliari, Sardinia. From Santo Teresa di Gallura/Bonifacio, Corsica then Bastia/Toulon, France and home.

A total of 32 day round route which at first appears rushed, however we hope to enjoy leisurely stays throughout the adventure. In Corsica we will be hosted by friends near Porto Vecchio for several days.
We are provisionally mapping out our 'stop offs' and penceling in the 3 ferry crossings with the Tunnel already booked.

Any advice, no matter how small, would be gratefully appreciated, especially Sardinia, and our plans can easily be tweaked/flexible! We'll post photos during our adventure.

Had 3 weeks in Corsica last summer and it was fantastic. Advice - 1. Don't buy the French version of Corsica Lonely Planet in error. We did and only realised when on the ferry. 2. Some of the roads are very narrow with severe drops to the sea. With the steering wheel on the wrong side I would go clockwise to keep heart levels in check. Hope useful and enjoy your trip.