Latest news with #Corsica
Geek Girl Authority
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out on May 27
There are a lot of new books coming out every week. With New Release Radar, I'll help you narrow down the week's new book releases into the titles you should get excited about. This week I have 10 great new books to share with you, including plenty of romances to kick off your summer. Read on! Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan At thirty, Max is tired: of dysphoria, of bad exes, of the nagging sense that life should feel better by now. After a dramatic fall at a New Year's Eve party, she resolves to try something new: heteronormative romance. Enter Vincent. His affection offers Max a glimpse of the stability she's always thought out of reach. But Vincent has unresolved history of his own, and as old wounds resurface, Max is forced to confront what forgiveness truly requires. Can she make peace with her past, and with his? Disappoint Me is a funny, sharp and emotionally resonant novel that explores love, loss, identity and the tangled webs of millennial life. Through dual perspectives, Nicola Dinan delves into the complexities of race, gender and family, examining what it means to confront the painful mistakes of those closest to us. RELATED: New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out On May 20 The Bombshell by Darrow Farr A politician's daughter, 17-year-old Severine Guimard is bold, beautiful and craving stardom. Her moment in the spotlight comes when she's kidnapped by a group of bumbling militants fighting for Corsican independence. As ransom negotiations stall, Severine begins charming her captors, immersing herself in their radical politics and transforming from hostage to figurehead of a revolution. Youthful passion, political awakening and first love abound in Darrow Farr's debut novel. Taking place over the course of one Mediterranean summer, The Bombshell is a glamorous literary achievement. Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood 23-year-old Maya Killgore can't stop thinking about Conor Harkness, her older brother's best friend and a man 15 years her senior. Things come to a head when they're thrown together for a weeklong wedding in Taormina. Tension simmers between ancient ruins, breathtaking coastlines and chaotic family drama. Despite every reason not to pursue him, Maya senses Conor might be hiding something. A summer fling, however complicated, might be worth the risk. It wouldn't be summer without a new Ali Hazelwood. Problematic Summer Romance features enemies-to-lovers, an age gap, forced proximity and plenty of other tropes that fans will love. RELATED: Book Review: Behooved When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur When Dawson Sumter disappears in Carrion, Georgia, all that's left behind is blood in the motel Neera Singh's parents own. Disappearances like this are common, especially every 13 years when the cicadas return. Neera, determined to find Dawson, teams up with three other teens to investigate. As they uncover secrets, they discover the town's wealth may be tied to an ancient legend of three devils. Together, they must uncover the truth and escape the town's dark grip. When Devils Sing is an atmospheric horror novel set in a haunting, rural Georgia landscape. Fans of She Is a Haunting, Mexican Gothic and Midsommar will love Xan Kaur's debut. Love in Focus by Lyla Lee When her seven-year relationship ends, jaded advice columnist Gemma Cho is ready to give up on love. She dives into her work, where she's assigned a high-profile piece on modern romance with world-renowned photographer Celeste Min. The catch? Celeste is Gemma's college ex, the one who broke her heart and vanished overseas. As the two navigate old wounds, undeniable chemistry and a story that could revive Gemma's career, they must decide if love deserves a second shot, or if some heartbreaks are better left in the past. Lyla Lee's new book release is also her adult fiction debut! Love in Focus is a charming second chance romance perfect for fans of The Bold Type and Delilah Green Doesn't Care . RELATED: 10 Books With Queer Protagonists to Read All Year Round Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim Every generation, the Major Gods host a Celestial Banquet, where chefs compete for the Peaches of Immortality. Hot-headed noodle chef Cai enters the competition with dreams of opening a restaurant and supporting her struggling town. With the help of a drunken Minor God, her childhood friend Bo and noble Seon, Cai faces impossible culinary challenges, from hunting sea serpents to cooking with mystical ingredients. As Cai navigates fierce competition and complicated feelings, she is determined to create a feast worthy of the gods. Even if it means risking her life. The publisher describes Celestial Banquet as ' Iron Chef meets The Hunger Games ' and I absolutely love it. Roselle Lim's new book release combines cooking competitions with literal gods in what promises to be a super fun way. Amplitudes edited by Lee Mandelo Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity is a bold and imaginative sci-fi anthology exploring what queer life could look like, whether centuries ahead or just around the corner. From dystopian knights and Appalachian romance to skyscraper domesticity and galactic dance floors, these inventive tales blend raw emotion, protest, and play. Featuring never-before-published stories from acclaimed and emerging LGBTQIA+ voices, this collection is a celebration of queer resilience, creativity and possibility. RELATED: 6 More Trans and Nonbinary Writers to Check Out Harmattan Season by Tochi Onyebuchi A veteran and weary private eye, Bouba wants nothing more than to keep his head down in a city veiled in dust and tension. But when a bleeding woman appears on his doorstep and vanishes just as quickly, he falls into a dangerous mystery suspended between two cultures. As unrest simmers between the French occupiers and the long-oppressed dugulen, Bouba must confront buried truths, ancestral powers, and a city teetering on the edge of chaos. Navigating hidden factions, colonial violence, and ghosts of his own past, he's forced to decide where he stands, and how much of himself he's willing to give up for justice. Harmattan Season is a gritty, genre-bending mystery of identity, legacy and power in a world where nothing stays buried for long. Drawing from the tradition of Raymond Chandler and Agatha Christie, Tochi Onyebuchi's standalone novel is a gripping fantasy noir. And They Were Roommates by Page Powars Starting fresh at an elite all-boys school, Charlie's goal is simple: keep his head down, guard his secret, and make it through the year as the academy's only trans student. His plan falls apart, however, when his assigned roommate is Jasper Grimes, the boy who unknowingly broke his heart pre-transition. Jasper doesn't recognize him, and Charlie agrees to ghostwrite love letters to earn a private room. But as late-night talks turn into something deeper, Charlie must decide if he should protect his secret, or risk his heart for a second chance at love. Utterly unrealistic and yet still incredibly charming, And They Were Roommates is a fun, silly YA romance. Page Powars' new book release will delight fans of Casey McQuiston and Lex Croucher. RELATED: Book Review: Gwen and Art Are Not In Love The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith Rossell Maggie Fishbone doesn't expect much when she's sent to the Midwatch Institute for Orphans, Runaways, and Wayward Girls, a last resort after causing too much trouble at her last orphanage. But the Institute isn't dreadful at all. Instead, it's full of curious girls training to solve mysteries and fight bad guys. Between fencing lessons and exploring, Maggie makes friends and finally feels at home. When a woman goes missing, Maggie embarks on her first assignment, uncovering the city's hidden secrets. Fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Mysterious Benedict Society will love The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls . Featuring beautiful black-and-white illustrations and 'Useful Things Every Girl Should Know' this is a whimsical, adventure-packed mystery from bestselling author-illustrator Judith Rossell. You can check out these new book releases at or your local bookstore. What May 27 new release are you most excited to read? Let us know below, and tune in next week to grow your TBR. 12 Debut Books Releasing In 2025 You Have to Check Out
New York Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Kidnapped by Corsican Rebels, a Rich Girl Joins the Revolution
If a book could possess 'French-Girl Style' — that aspirational Parisian chic the internet tries to trick me into believing can be achieved with bangs or Repetto ballet flats — 'The Bombshell' would have it. Darrow Farr's debut novel is effortlessly cool: a smart, sophisticated tale of sexual and political awakening over the course of a fateful summer that reads like falling into an Éric Rohmer film. In June 1993, Séverine Guimard is a reluctant transplant from Paris to Ajaccio, the Corsican capital, where her French politician father has been appointed prefect. Like many 17-year-old girls, she is a complex creature: pampered but eager to escape her rich parents, prickly but charming, beautiful but deeply insecure. She dreams of moving to Los Angeles to become an actress, believing herself destined for stardom and a 'big, dazzling, important life.' When we first meet Séverine, she is seducing a classmate. Seen as a snob by the girls at school, Séverine is friendless in Ajaccio, and her extracurricular hobby is claiming the virginities of quiet boys and basking in their devotion. 'She liked the idea of being never-forgotten, a landmark,' Farr writes. 'She liked the feverish tremors they emitted when she ignored them in the hallway afterward.' Already versed in the ways that sex is weaponized against women — the boy she lost her virginity to slut-shames her in school; her father's boss, the minister of the interior, propositions her at a party — she has also learned to wield it as her own tool of manipulation. And the threat of sexual violence looms over what follows: While riding her bike that same evening, Séverine is seized by three masked men, stuffed into the trunk of a car, taken to a cottage deep in the island's wilderness, and held for ransom. It soon becomes clear, however, that her abductors, Tittu, Petru and Bruno, are not seasoned guerrillas but new revolutionaries — virgin militants, you might say — and are unable or unwilling to harm her. Kidnapping Séverine is their first major act as the Corsican independence group Soffiu di Libertà, and it promptly goes awry. The French government refuses their terms for release, and as Séverine's captivity stretches on into the summer, she surprises herself by growing genuinely attached to the men. When Bruno, their de facto leader, introduces Séverine to texts by Fanon, Guevara, Marx and Lenin, she confronts for the first time the cost of her immense privilege. 'She'd always known abstractly that people starved, that girls were mutilated, that people were being slaughtered,' Farr writes, 'but it never occurred to her that that world overlapped in any way with hers. She'd never realized that she lived amid injustice, that she might even be contributing to it.' In a Patty-Hearst-ian twist, Séverine announces to her captors that she wants to join their cause. However, Séverine's motives remain murky. Is she really a believer, or just attracted to Bruno? Is she exploiting them to find the fame she craves? All of the above? Farr expertly dances around revealing the entire truth, which takes a back seat to the action when Soffiu di Libertà starts carrying out a series of bombings with Séverine as their public face. Things become morally grayer at every step, and while Séverine claims she is inspiring a Corsican revolution, the attacks also happen to settle personal vendettas from her old life among the French elite. As both the violence and Séverine's romantic entanglement intensify, she knows the group is 'hurtling toward a cliff's edge on a train whose brakes she herself had dismantled.' The reader spends much of the novel's gripping, propulsive second half bracing for the moment when it all blows up. There is a sense of relief when the book's final section jumps 20 years into the future, and we discover the fates of Soffiu di Libertà's comrades from a slight remove. The narrative structure mirrors Séverine's own transition from girlhood to womanhood: heady and reckless and dangerously fun in its early days, maturing into something a little wiser, sadder and softer by the end.
Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Corsica Technologies and Cleo Join Forces to Bring Ecosystem Integration to Supply Chain-Driven Organizations in Logistics, Manufacturing, and Other Sectors
CHICAGO & FORT WAYNE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cleo, the pioneer and global leader of the Ecosystem Integration software category and provider of the Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) platform for supply chain orchestration, along with Corsica Technologies, a leading managed services provider (MSP) specializing in cybersecurity, IT services, and data integration, today announced a strategic partnership to help joint customers in logistics, manufacturing, and other supply chain-dependent industries modernize their technology infrastructure and streamline B2B integration across far-flung business ecosystems. By way of the partnership, Corsica Technologies will offer Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC), Cleo's cloud-based B2B integration platform, as its preferred solution for customers needing secure, scalable, and API-enabled workflows that exchange data between mission-critical systems. In turn, Cleo will recognize Corsica as a preferred provider of managed IT and cybersecurity services for its customer base. 'The Cleo platform helps us fulfill what our clients and the market is asking for – to simplify, optimize and integrate their Information Technology under a single managed service,' said Peter Rodenhauser, Chief Operating Officer at Corsica Technologies. 'Our customers typically operate in complex, regulated environments, and they're often held back by legacy systems and siloed workflows. Such circumstances call for bespoke IT and cybersecurity solutions. By combining our managed services offerings with Cleo's proven, cloud-based ecosystem integration platform, Cleo Integration Cloud, we deliver technology outcomes that solve real business challenges and drive digital transformation.' The partnership reflects a growing demand for integrated B2B solutions that simplify technology management while supporting supply chain resiliency, visibility, and adaptability. From EDI to MFT, ERP, cloud, and API-based integrations, the Corsica-Cleo collaboration enables customers to modernize operations without disrupting core systems. Robyn Hyra, Director, Industry Solutions – Logistics, for Cleo, said, 'Corsica's deep expertise in IT and cybersecurity makes them a natural fit with our partner portfolio. Together, we're giving supply chain organizations the tools and support they need to modernize operations, reduce risk, and unlock new growth opportunities through ecosystem integration.' About Corsica Technologies Corsica Technologies is an MSP specializing in cybersecurity solutions, managed IT services, digital transformation, and data integration. Corsica provides solutions for midmarket businesses including network monitoring, data protection, incident response, and IT support. Corsica offers unmetered technology services for fully managed or co-managed teams to address all technology needs under a one-flat monthly fee. To learn more visit or call 855-411-3387. About Cleo Integration Cloud Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) is a cloud-based integration platform, purpose-built to design, build, operate, and optimize critical ecosystem integration processes. The CIC platform brings end-to-end integration visibility across API, MFT, EDI, and non-EDI integrations, giving technical and business users the confidence to rapidly onboard trading partners, enable integration between applications, and accelerate revenue-generating business processes. On the platform, businesses have the choice of self-service, managed services, or a blended approach – ensuring complete flexibility and control over their B2B integration strategy. About Cleo Cleo is an ecosystem integration software company focused on business outcomes, ensuring each customer's potential is realized by delivering solutions that make it easy to discover and create value through the movement and integration of B2B enterprise data. Cleo gives customers strategic, 'outside-in' visibility into the critical end-to-end business flows happening across their ecosystems of partners and customers, marketplaces, and internal cloud and on-premise applications. Our solutions empower teams to drive business agility, accelerate onboarding, facilitate the modernization of key business processes, and capture new revenue streams by reimagining and remastering their digital ecosystem through robust application, B2B, and data integration technologies. For more information, visit or call +1.815.282.7695.
Times
19-05-2025
- Times
Why Corsica could be your surprising summer escape
With its fusion of Mediterranean cuisines, perfect beaches and historic towns – including Napoleon's birthplace – the French island is ripe for discovery Clear waters and shady pines make Palombaggia one of Corsica's must-see beaches Pearl-white sands lapped by turquoise seas, dramatic mountain and coastal scenery, and a host of historic sites dating back 8,000 years, all garnished with fine food and super hotels and holiday villas: it's no surprise the French call Corsica L 'Î le de Beauté (the Isle of Beauty). Although it is somewhat of an undiscovered gem for many British tourists, Corsica offers sun, culture and adventure without the crowds, and its 200 beaches are some of the Mediterranean's best. Whether it's Ostriconi's exquisite sunsets, Calvi's fashionable urban vibe in the north, or Rondinara's perfect scallop of grains and Palombaggia's pink-grey rocks and tall pines in the south, divine sandy shores and crystal-clear waters are a given. Prefer a cooling dip inland? The island is blessed with stunning natural pools. They might lie within Les Piscines Naturelle de Cava's sculptural volcanic stone, Fango Valley's waterfalls and colourful rocks, and on the Solenzara River beneath photogenic peaks. All promise a rejuvenating diversion from the summer heat. The shallow waters at Santa Giulia beach make it a perfect spot for snorkelling Corsica is also laced with wonderful hiking trails linking mountains and the Mediterranean – most famously the 180km GR20, but there are also shorter, equally spectacular routes. Walk to stunning Lake Nino, ascend 2,706m Monte Cinto – the island's highest point – or cross the Col de Bavella above red granite pinnacles. You could also explore Scandola Nature Reserve's mesmerising rocks and jagged peaks with sweeping bay views, visit epic glacier-moulded Restonica and Tavignano gorges or the Lavezzi Archipelago's secluded beaches and coves. Corsica's natural wonders are just the start. Its prolific historical sights include the capital Ajaccio, Napoleon's birthplace, with pastel-hued streets and gracious squares; medieval Bonifacio, rising seamlessly from vertiginous limestone cliffs; and Calvi's magnificent citadel. Genoese towers and forts abound, alongside prehistoric ruins that include Filitosa's tombs and standing stones. However, these are not the only man-made wonders. Corsica's food is a thing of beauty. Not just fish fresh off the boat but also local dishes featuring wild boar, slow-cooked lamb and chestnut-flour cheesecake. There are superb cafés and restaurants, with 43 Michelin Guide entrants, including two-star Casadelmar's Corsican-Italian menu. Corsican cuisine is an undoubted highlight of any trip to the island To fully appreciate this glorious island, book with the best. Corsican Places has years of experience, experts with first-hand knowledge of the destination for tailored advice and an English-speaking team on the ground. They're all essential ingredients in Corsican Places' ATOL–protected packages that include flights, car hire and transfers. Its extensive range of accommodation runs from adult-only apartments to hotels and family villas. In the northwest, Algajola's ancient fishing village is home to the intimate family-run Hôtel Santa Vittoria, with 15 rooms and a beautiful dining terrace with views across the sea and beach. Further south, the exclusive five-star Grand Hôtel Cala Rossa ups the ante in a private park overlooking the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio. Perfect for couples and honeymooners, its serene spa's therapies use wild botanicals and homegrown produce, and its celebrated restaurant serves seasonally inspired dishes. Poolside at La Citaj, a beautifully refurbished period villa near St-Florent that sleeps eight Corsican Places also offers superb family villas, pool towels and welcome pack that provides everything from wine and beer to snacks. Contemporary four-person Villa Kallisté has crisp modern interiors and French windows opening onto a large south-facing terrace and a pool overlooking the rugged southeast coastline. Beaches are just a short drive away, along with Propriano's bustling quayside. Alternatively, enjoy the tranquil eight-person Villa Rasello, which is superbly elevated in the southern hills, with an open-plan living area and kitchen ideal for families, and looking over a large private pool to the mountains. Its terrace is perfect for alfresco dining, while a few miles' drive takes you to Monacia d'Aullene with its traditional Corsican restaurant. Book your summer villa holiday before the end of May for Corsican Places' special offer where kids and school-age teenagers fly free from London Stansted to Calvi between May 18 and October 5, and from London Gatwick to Figari between June 29 and August 24. Accommodation includes stunning family villas such as the eight-person La Citaj near St-Florent, where seven nights, including flights and car hire costs from £699pp. A superbly refurbished period home, La Citaj features exposed stonework, fireplaces and a large pool offering views towards the magnificent Cathédrale du Nebbio. Alternatively, the four-person Casa di L'Olivu is a rustic stone property in southern Corsica costing from £699pp for seven nights, including car hire and flights. Set between olive trees and vineyards, its open-plan living/dining area and two bedrooms are decorated in tasteful neutral tones. Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio are within a short drive. Corsican Places also offers great deals on adult-only accommodation. A Merula near Calvi is bookable from £799pp for seven nights, including flights and transfers. Set in immaculate grounds, the 25 two-person residences with kitchenettes are individually styled and overlook the gardens and shared pool from their balconies or terraces. Multiple bars and restaurants are close by. Nearby, Le Home's two-person apartments offer another adult-only break within tranquil grounds, from £699pp including flights. The view across the Gulf of St Florent from Corsican Places villa L'Ancre Bleue
Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Telegraph
France's 20 greatest beaches
France has upwards of 3,400 miles of coastline. That's more than the distance between London and Dubai, packed with variety. With so many beaches, it makes you wonder how some of them get so busy, with millions of visitors annually. If you're wrestling for a lounger, you're probably going to the wrong places. Many of France's best beaches are only reachable via goat track-like trails, or even by water. Don't dismiss rocky beaches either, these calanques have some of the most spectacularly clear water in the country, and you won't have to shake sand out of your shoes afterwards. Lagoons laid out in squares like patchwork, peppered with flamingos, round-the-clock music and the scent of tanning oil, endless waves for sunset surfing and waterside seafood shacks; there's a beach for every kind of traveller. Here's our pick of the 20 greatest in France. Explore by region: Corsica Côte d'Azur South Southwest Brittany Normandy Northeast Corsica Lotu, Saint-Floren t Best for soft sand Even getting to Lotu, Saint-Florent is an adventure – by sea, 4x4 or a long walk. Boat is the most popular and local companies have capitalised on its beauty, but fortunately, the limited number of boat seats stops it from becoming too crowded. Insider tip: Feet-in-the-sand dining La Cabane du Lotu is the only place to eat nearby; book in advance. How to get there: The two-beach package with Taxi Plages from Saint-Florent costs £30pp. Where to stay nearby: Hôtel la Roya (0033 49537 0040) has doubles from £100, room only. Tamaricciu, Porto-Vecchio Best for tropical vibes Neighbouring beauty queen Palombaggia gets all the press, which means Tamaricciu Beach, just around the corner, stays quiet. Powder-like sand, clear waters and semi-submerged boulders, it could be the Seychelles, except it's framed by umbrella pines rather than palms. Insider tip: Rise with the lark in summer, the car park at Palombaggia fills up fast. How to get there: Drive from Porto-Vecchio to Palombaggia, then walk 10 minutes. Where to stay nearby: Corsican Places (01489 866992) has a seven-night package at San Giovanni Hotel, including flights, breakfast and car hire, from £998pp. Côte d'Azur Notre Dame, Porquerolles Best for deserted bliss It's the tangled foliage rather than the island location that makes it feel like you've been marooned on Plage Notre Dame. In a little bay facing the mainland, it's sheltered from the elements. The different depths of water and submerged rocks give the sea a marbled effect. Insider tip: Porquerolles à Vélo at the arrival port hires bikes for the day to get you there quicker. How to get there: Catch the boat from Toulon to Porquerolles, and walk 50 minutes east along the coast. Where to stay nearby: L'Oustaou de Porquerolles (0033 49458 3013) has doubles from £174, including breakfast. Calanque de Port-Pin, between Marseille and Cassis Best for happy hikers 28 rocky, limestone inlets line the coast between Marseille and Cassis. Port-Pin is so long that the horizon isn't visible from the beach, just turquoise waters and flat rocks for sunbathing. Insider tip: Pack plenty of water. Restaurants are few and far between, and water costs more than wine. How to get there: Either walk from Cassis (45 minutes) or hire a kayak to access Port-Pin from the sea. Larger boats aren't allowed inside the calanques. Where to stay nearby: The Best Western in Cassis (0805 0808 58) has doubles from £123, including breakfast. Sablettes, Menton Best for bars Just across the main street from Menton's old town, with numerous beach bars and restaurants, and a watersports club renting kayaks and paddleboards, Sablettes enjoys one of the best climates in the country, and locals and tourists alike make the most of the beach year-round. Insider tip: Take a day trip (pack your passport) to visit the spectacular clifftop botanical Giardini di Hanbury, across the border in Italy. How to get there: It's 40 minutes by rail or road from Nice. Where to stay nearby: Hôtel Lemon (0033 49328 6363) has doubles from £118, including breakfast. Le Layet, Le Lavandou Best for getting your kit off Of hundreds of nudist beaches in France, this is the most idyllic. Accessed via a footpath lined with pines, eucalyptus and mimosas, the little strip of sand is ringed with tall trees to keep bathers from prying eyes. There's an on-site restaurant and loungers for hire. Insider tip: Swimwear is accepted, just don't expect your beachmates to do likewise. How to get there: Drive 10 minutes east from Le Lavandou; there's a car park a quarter of a mile from the beach. Where to stay nearby: Hotel Baptistin (0033 49800 4451) has doubles from £127, including breakfast. Grand Jardin, Borme-les-Mimosas Best for escaping the crowds Only reachable by sea or the coast path, this beach may be slap-bang in the middle of the French Riviera, but it's rarely crowded. The waters are so clear that many locals fondly refer to it as Tahiti. Insider tip: Hire a boat (no permit needed) from the port of Borme-les-Mimosas to arrive by sea. How to get there: Drive from Hyères and park at Plage de l'Estagnol (€12/day). Walk 15 minutes across the headland from here. Where to stay nearby: La Villa Mauresque (0033 49483 0242) has doubles from £273, including breakfast. South Robinson, Marseillan Plage Best all rounder The sand is soft, it's easy to access on foot or by road, it's patrolled by lifeguards, and it's neither empty nor crowded. Robinson is also a kilometre long and separated from plenty of great seafood restaurants by just a row of sand dunes. Insider tip: Nearby Étang de Thau is the best place to eat fresh oysters. How to get there: Drive 30 minutes east from Béziers. Where to stay nearby: A week at The Drawing House (sleeps six) with Vintage Travel (01954 261431; starts from £2,000, self-catered. Sainte-Marie, Sainte-Marie-la-Mer Best for avoiding fellow Brits The Pyrénées-Orientales are immensely popular with holidaying French families, but less so with British tourists. The sand here is the colour and consistency of shortcrust pastry, the beach long and safe for swimming, framed with dunes. Insider tip: Check the summer concert schedule at Argelès-sur-Mer (30 minutess south). How to get there: Drive 20 mins from Perpignan. Where to stay nearby: Camping de la Plage (0033 46880 6859) has pitches from £125 per week. Gruissan Plage, Narbonne Best for la vie en rose The route is even more spectacular than the beach itself, especially by bike. Cycle past a collage of lagoons populated by flamingos and bright shuttered cottages of Gruissan town to arrive at a long beach the colour of weak tea, framed by a row of chalets on stilts. Insider tip: Algae often turns the lagoons at Gruissan a pinkish colour, at its brightest in early summer. How to get there: Drive 20 minutes southeast from Narbonne. Southwest Dune du Pilat, Arcachon Best for sunsets Plummeting down to meet the sea, Europe's largest sand dune looks like a mountain. It's worth the climb up the sliding sand wall, the Atlantic views from the top are superb, particularly at sunset, as Dune du Pilat faces due west. Insider tip: Avoid the restaurants closest to Dune du Pilat to avoid paying £7 for an Americano (a sad but true story). The neighbouring town of Arcachon is much more affordable. How to get there: It's an hour's drive from Bordeaux. Where to stay nearby: Victoria Boutique Hotel (0033 503309 2840) has doubles from £165, including breakfast. Le Porge-Océan, Arcachon Best for surfers A stone's throw north from Pilat as the crow flies, or an hour by road, is one of the finest surfing beaches in France. Sure, it doesn't have the glitz of Biarritz, but what it does have is eight miles of sand the colour of demerara sugar, and reliable rolling waves. Insider tip: Don't judge a book by its cover (or name), So Nice Surf School is the best. How to get there: It's an hour's drive from Bordeaux. Where to stay nearby: Hotel du Porge (0033 55770 9292) has doubles from £80, including breakfast. Trousse-Chemise, Île-de-Ré Best for charm Île-de-Ré is packed with great beaches, but at low tide at Trousse-Chemise you can walk all the way out to picnic on a sand dune – just keep an eye on the tide or you'll be wading back. There are no facilities, just scrubby vegetation, sand and water. Insider tip: Ditch the car for a bike when you arrive; driving is hellish in summer. How to get there: Drive to Île-de-Ré from La Rochelle (tolls £14 in high season, charged on arrival only). Where to stay nearby: Camping Huttopia Ars-en-Ré (0033 54629 4642) has pitches from £20 per night. Brittany Île du Loc'h, Glénans Best for sailors The only thing that stops the Glénan archipelago from becoming a Maldivian honeymoon spot is the Breton weather. Loc'h is private except the beach, going by kayak (rent from St Nicolas) as close as most of us get to a private island experience. Insider tip: Pack plenty of water, it's more expensive than alcohol on the Glénans. How to get there: Boats to the Glénans run from Bénodet, Concarneau and a couple of other towns from April to October. Aber, Crozon Best for nature Brittany's Crozon peninsula looks as though it should be an island, with teetering, crumbling cliffs, wild foliage and tiny stone cottages from centuries gone by. There aren't any facilities, and the beach is a little stonier than nearby Morgat, but there are uninterrupted views of the sea and a little gorse-covered island with a fort. Insider tip: At low tide you can walk out to Aber Fort on the island. How to get there: Drive 50 minutes from Brest or Quimper. Where to stay nearby: Hôtel de la Baie (0033 29827 0751) has doubles from £58, room only. Grand Plage du Sillon, Saint-Malo Best for foodies Saint-Malo may just be the coolest seaside town in France. It doesn't have the flashiness of St Tropez, nor the high-rise of Nice, just pure charm, Medieval architecture (the old town is completely fortified), and darn good food. How often do you get to sit in the sand in the shadow of a 17th-century Vauban fort? Insider tip: The best galettes are at Crêperie le Tourneso. How to get there: By direct ferry Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries. Where to stay nearby: Hôtel les Charmettes (0033 29956 0731) has doubles from £80, room only. Normandy Bec d'Andaine, Avranches Best for uninterrupted views There's no powder sand here: when the tide goes out you're left with muddy slush, some of which is quicksand. What you do get, however, is a spectacular view of Mont St Michel, silhouetted on the horizon. Insider tip: Like the pilgrims of old, trek from Bec d'Andaine to Mont St Michel at low tide (with a guide so that you don't fall foul of the quicksand). How to get there: Drive 20 minutes from Avranches. Where to stay nearby: Manoir de la Roche Torin (0033 23370 9655) has doubles from £139, including breakfast. Deauville Best for celebrity spotting Arguably the least under-the-radar beach in northern France, it's still worth going to Deauville for the poster paint parasols and old-worldly charm. France's version of the Los Angeles boardwalk, the Promenade des Planches, is next door in Trouville-sur-Mer, decorated with the names of many famous actors and directors who have visited the town. Insider tip: Time your visit to coincide with a polo match. How to get there: It's an hour's drive from Le Havre. Where to stay nearby: Hotel Barrière le Normandy (0033 23198 6622) has doubles from £386, including breakfast. Antifer, Étretat Best for avoiding day trippers Monet catapulted Étretat to fame in the 19th century, but its fate was well and truly sealed by Netflix's Lupin. Now, day trippers arrive in droves from as far away as Paris. Nearby Plage d'Antifer is much quieter, a stone beach in the shadow of enormous cliffs, pockmarked by little caves. Insider tip: Take two towels, the shingle is far from comfy. How to get there: Drive 15 minutes west from Étretat, then walk for a mile. Where to stay nearby: Hotel les Pins de César (0033 23273 6910) has doubles from £314, including breakfast. Northeast Quend, Fort Mahon Best for beach sports Tidal, grey and often windswept, this is one of the best places for char-a-voile, land sailing in a three-wheeled buggy. You can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, sending up flurries of muddy sand as you go: exhilarating. Insider tip: Spot harbour seals in the Bay of Somme, just 20 minutes' drive from Plage de Quend. How to get there: Drive an hour from either Calais or Dieppe. Where to stay nearby: Le Piloti (0033 6 95 93 05 29) has doubles from £246, including breakfast for two nights (minimum stay).
