Roads in western Corsica are really dramatic! On the road (D81) from Calvi to Porto. I mean, what roads! We thought we were driving on dramatic roads around Verdon Gorge, but this one in Corsica broke records. The cliffs aren't as steep, but the roads are narrower and worse and cooler! Join us on the roads of western Corsica.
Roads in Western Corsica
The roads that run along the coast of western Corsica are quite worn. The asphalt is often broken at the edges and you don't want to get too far out when you're in the outside lane with a 3.5 tonne vehicle. Peter thought we should loosen our seatbelts so we could jump out quickly if the car started to slide downhill...
Meeting on the road
Driving is fine as long as you are alone on the road, but encounters ... huh! On one occasion we met a van and in order to get past it we had to fold in our mirrors and crawl forward, with a 400 metre deep cliff next to us.
Another time the road was so narrow that we could not meet a small FIAT, but had to back up... It doesn't matter because this was magical and must be experienced. Driving along the Les Calanches on roads in western Corsica I will never forget, and Calanche owns.
Can you drive large motorhomes in Corsica?
We have been asked if you can drive with larger motorhomes than ours (which is 7.3 metres long) here in Corsica. Today it felt like every car was on the verge of being too big... We met mostly motorbikes, small cars and off-road vehicles. BUT we also saw another motorhome in our size, a tourist bus (much bigger than our car) and a car with a caravan. It is probably possible to drive with larger motorhomes, but it can be nice to do it during the low season when you don't get too many meetings.
If you dare to drive on these roads, it is absolutely worth it! The view is breathtakingly beautiful and you're constantly gaping, fascinated by the roads, the greenery, the rocks, the sea, the beaches, the birds of prey... Despite driving hour after hour, we hardly saw a house. And you have to have a full tank of diesel - the petrol stations are few and far between!
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Ditte says:
Really delicious pictures! Oh to drive here with a motorhome is well done. Ohc to manage all the meetings so nice that it teaches low season.
I have only travelled as a passenger, and I had to become a co-driver when I got carsick, which happened from time to time.
Winding roads and motion sickness are not a good combo, even with this wonderful view. But I could enjoy it more while driving (a Golf...).
06 June 2015 - 18:15
BP says:
Wow, such beautiful views. But I understand that it must have felt somewhat unsafe to drive around with your large motorhome with the cliffs close to the "house corner". In addition, it is probably important not to be afraid of heights, otherwise it is probably done.
However, the views are certainly worth the "agony". This is said by someone who enjoys the computer;-)
06 June 2015 - 18:57
Steve says:
Holy Moses!
Wonderful pictures. I am constantly impressed by what you do.
I remember a similar experience from my youth. I was driving the Trollstigen in Norway with a caravan.
06 June 2015 - 19:39
admin says:
Ditte, there aren't too many meetings and that's good, some meetings are really tricky!!! Motion sickness is of course not good. I did not feel that well, but a little creepy sometimes 😉
BP, the views are fantastic! And it actually works relatively well to drive here, even though I have some fear of heights 😉 Peter drives slowly and carefully and knows the motorhome well! 🙂
Steve, Trollstigen with a caravan sounds like a fascinating experience! Norway is beautiful and I would love to see more of that country! (Although weather and prices are a bit of a deterrent ;))
06 June 2015 - 21:03
Matts Torebring says:
Thank you for warning us. The pictures alone make me dizzy. Although I was joking with Birgitta earlier today, maybe we should have a WW California as a private car & camper van to do the trips you are doing now. Please do not fall down but we will read more ...
06 June 2015 - 22:50
admin says:
Matts, we really don't want to discourage anyone, this is one of the most beautiful and fascinating places we've visited with our motorhome. But yes, the roads ARE challenging! You can probably get around on slightly larger roads further inland, but then you miss the coast...?
07 June 2015 - 7:26
Marina says:
I say as Björn Skifs once said: "Wonderfully wonderful but dangerously dangerous..."
07 June 2015 - 9:50
Ama de casa says:
Oooo... I get a little anxious just reading about the roads... I have travelled on them myself, but with a small rental Fiat and a tent (the luggage rules were not as hard in the past 😉 ).
Great picture, but hey... Drive carefully!
Then I think that little Fiat could have backed up instead of you 🙂 .
07 June 2015 - 10:14
JoY says:
I'm not a fan of the "what's around the bend" when it comes to the roads you describe.
We try to stand still and then let the other cars crawl past. Can think that it is the small cars that many times have difficulty knowing where they have the car and prefer to lie in the middle of the road with a convulsive grip on the steering wheel.
Keep driving at a leisurely pace and keep enjoying yourself.
Hugs
07 June 2015 - 10:46
admin says:
Ama de casa, glad you've driven here too! Small cars fit better, of course, but it works with our car too. Peter drives carefully and has very good control of where he has the car, he knows it well!
JoY, you may be right about the small cars, at least sometimes. Peter knows where his motorhome is, he knows it very well!
07 June 2015 - 13:20
Monica says:
You realise that these are dramatic landscapes. I assume you heard about the landslide accident yesterday with three dead, three injured and several missing. Heavy thunderstorms, hail and fog, hope you have continued good weather down the coast!
11 June 2015 - 7:07
Annette says:
I with my fear of heights wonder if Corsica would work... It looks so enormously beautiful, and from what I have read both before and here, it is very tempting to travel there. But as I said, some roads in Italy and in Norway, and even those mountainous roads in the French mountains... 😮.
We will see where it goes. Planning in progress 🙂
24 August 2016 - 13:02
admin says:
Monica, terrible!
Annette, you can avoid the most mountainous roads if you want (and go further inland) even if you miss the most beautiful views 😉 Good luck with the planning! 🙂
01 September 2016 - 19:58