Domaine de Murtoli

Magnificent 4,900-acre beach-fringed private estate on the southern tip of Corsica. Fourteen restored stone cottages sleep from two to 12. All feature timbered ceilings, woodburning fireplaces, an imaginative mix of antiques and traditional furniture, fully equipped kitchens, wine cellars with selected Corsican wines, private swimming pools and hypnotically beautiful views. Two dining options: La Grotte, carved from the inside of a huge boulder, and La Plage, a seaside restaurant-bar; breakfast is delivered in wicker baskets. Activities include hiking, fishing by skippered boat; also seaside spa. Cottages rent by the week in July and August and are available by the night in spring and fall.