2 Bedroom Holiday House Rental in Speloncato, Corsica, France Reviews

Breathtaking views and a beautiful house. Well equipped spacious and clean. Stunning views from the balcony and garden. We liked the peace and quiet and village atmosphere. Small cafe/bar which did pannini's and ice creams. There was only one restaurant but the meals were lovely. A small shop had only basics but a supermarket at Ille Rousse was about 40 minutes away and had everything.
Ideal place to relax and chill. Only one small downside - there was no light on the approach to the front door, so take a torch for the short walk back to the house after a drink or two in the village square!!

We stayed at this property in August 2009 and recommend it highly to anybody who enjoys peace, tranquility and wants an authentic Corsican experience. The location provides stunning panoramic views from the balcony - amazing sunsets and great bird (and goat) watching in the valley below. It's convenient for the coast/beaches, but far enough away from the tourist crowds in high season. However, scenery, scenery and more scenery is what should attract you to this location. The many picturesque hill top villages and spectacular, rugged mountain scenery is what makes this place special. If you enjoy sightseeing, walking/cycling or leisurely driving on spectacular mountain roads then this is the place for you. The long, lazy lunches on local restaurant terraces with amazing views isn't bad either!

We stayed 2 weeks with our two kids (16 and 18) in this house in July and we had a wonderful time. The house is convenient, complete and spacy enough for a family of four. Really magnificent is the scenery (i.e. the village) and the views from the balcony and terrace: hard to beat anywhere! For nature lovers this place is superb with lots of wildlife around the house (red kites, scops owls, nightjars, lizards and gecko's). The way to a good beach (losari) is considerable but we found it always pleasant to get back to our quiet, cool place in the hills and enjoy the evenings there. The village is beautiful and characteristic with good opportunities to have dinner. From Speloncato we made various day trips to the high mountains and coastal areas in the west. All in all we can say that we very impressed by the beauty of the island and we consider ourselves very fortunate with our stay in this beautiful house.

We really enjoyed our time here. We spent almost all our evenings on the balcony watching sunsets, stars etc and listening to the Scops owls. The village shop has most things you need and the owner is lovely. Corsica is fabulous. It was our first time but we will definitely return. It was great to be slightly cooler at night than at the coast and to have access to the valley over the ridge behind Speloncato. If there is a downside it is the winding roads which mean every outing takes a while but it also means most places are quiet and unspoilt. The house had everything you need including beach towels, beach parasol etc and bedding and towels were good quality. I think some loungers would be a good addition so you can make full use of the garden. WiFi would also be a bonus for planning trips etc.

alley catLeeds

The accommodation is excellent for those seeking a quiet retreat in a hill side village. The view from the balcony stretches to the sea and is an excellent position for observing the numerous birds of prey. It is a perfect place for those who enjoy a rural setting and wish to go walking. Bringing binoculars is recommended. Likewise it is not too far from the local beaches and resorts and offers a quiet haven after a day at the coast.

The accommodation is simply furnished but has all the attributes expected for modern living and represents excellent value particularly if fully occupied.

There is ample parking nearby but access is by foot along a short cobbled path with steps which would not suit those with restricted mobility.

We had a great time using the house as a base for exploring Corsica locally and further afield and will never forget the evenings sat on the balcony watching the sun setting whilst red kites floated on the breeze.

Jonathan W.

We had a beautiful week here in October. The house is very comfortable and well equipped with amazing views of the mountains right down to the sea. We felt privileged to be perched up here in Speloncato on top of the world! Quickly got used to the winding roads which actually are very well engineered. Most memorable were the peacefulness and quietness, the clear bright light and waking to that view. Highly recommended!

Jude O.

A lovely house with fantastic views of the mountains and the sea. It is close to great beaches for swimming and snorkelling. There are lovely walks from Speloncato to neighbouring villages passing through oak and olive groves. There are plenty of trails in the hills around the village which are well marked. Speloncato has a well stocked Epicerie. Best of all we enjoyed just sitting on the balcony taking in the beautiful view and watching the sun set each evening. The owners were very helpful. We would definitely recommend Maison Les Calanches if you want to get away from the stresses of modern day life.

John M.

We loved our stay in Pip and Bob's house - everything we needed and the most extraordinary views from every window.

Andrea I.

Maison les Calanches is a delightful base from which to explore la Balange area of Northern Corsica.

What a view from the balcony as you open the shutters on your arrival. Though you've had a pretty good hunch it's going to be great as you drive up from the coast road seeing ever more amazing vistas.

Soak up the sun, not to mention a Pietra bier on that balcony. Watching the sunset is magical, at any time you can sit for hours and still see something new.

The bird life is great. When we visited late August; eagles, kites and ravens whirred above us. Whilst swallows and swifts put on an aerobatic display regularly. Chats and warblers busied themselves in the olive and myrtle trees below.

Tiled floors throughout the house keep you cool though, but remember to shut the shutters when you go out in the morning, so it's nice and cool for your siesta.

Speloncato is a very friendly town, the cafe has a lovely relaxed buzz. But the town remains un-spoilt, despite all its beauty.

Had great beach mornings at Lozari and then Bodri. The latter had a great Italian flavour; all there appeared very stylishly and tanned, compared to this very pale Englishman. Very welcoming vibe though and not over crowded.

We drove up above the town of Speloncato over the pass to Foret de Tartagine. As you pass over the Col at Bocca di a Battaglia you're driving at a height a few metres above that of the summit of Snowdon! What a drive, challenging but beautiful.

The Auberge at the Foret de Tartagine is great for a coffee before exploring the valley, we went downstream and found a lovely spot amongst the rocks to bathe in the river. In mid August only saw 2 or 3 other people all morning.

All in all Maison les Clanaches was a great holiday home to start our Corsican odyssey. From there we moved onto the south for our second week in Sartene. Lovely there too, I see why Corsica is known as the Island of Beauty.

Peter D.

Well, we had a great time! Our first time in Corsica and would definitely return. The house/village is 2,000 ft up in the mountains which is helpful in the hot weather as it is about 10 degrees cooler than on the coast, not least because it benefits from any breeze on the go. The views in general are truly stunning, and the balcony is the icing on the cake. The kitchen is well-equipped and the traditional thick stone walls help to keep the house cool in Summer. A small tip: when coming into the car-park near the house, take the lower road. Much interesting wildlife, particularly the buzzards that continually circle over the beautiful valley and lake below and the mountains above the village. Glorious weather - 30-40C - nearly every day; even had a mini-storm thrown in one night for good measure! Corsica is an incredible place - Mediterranean and beaches on one side, fabulous mountain ranges on the other. A car/motor-bike is pretty much essential if you want to explore the island; and apart from the few national routes, you either need aspirations to be the next Colin McCrae, or allow plenty of time to make your journeys. In other words, the island is sizeble and very mountainous, so that most of the roads are extremely twisty - as is understandable, but not necessarily expected! Although there are any number of beaches on the West coast, our favourite was Loto beach, a 20-minute ferry-ride out of St Florent, West of Bastia (about an hour and a half's drive from the house over the mountains past Ostricani); shallow waters for even the weakest of swimmers, and soft white sand.

Richard W.