Starting from Acharavi, as central point on the north coast, going east, first is St Spiridon bay, a lovely sandy beach with safe swimming.  Sadly it is now dominated by a large hotel, but nice for a change of scenery and can be walked from Acharavi in about 1½ hours.

Next is Kassiopi once a busy fishing village now a busy resort that is still full of charm with its harbour front bars and restaurants and colourful caiques and yachts.  Kassiopi is a lively place for a night out and has a good selection of shops.  There is a good bus service 4 times a day, the last bus back is about 5 p.m., but a taxi will only be about 15 €.

Aghios Stephanos needs a car to visit, it is 2 km road off the main road and remains a remarkably well kept secret.  It comprises a tiny natural harbour, which usually has more than its fair share of expensive yachts!  It has only a small man made beach, but there are many tavernas where you can practically paddle as you eat.

Driving on through the village you will come to an even better kept secret; the pebbly beach of Kerassia. The white pebbles lend a brilliant blue colour to the sea. Though hectic on Sundays, when people in the know descend on it, in the week it is only visited by caiques that briefly fill the only taverna, and is peppered with the residents of the luxury villas and up market villa companies that use the area.  Be careful not to drive off the cliff as you approach the stunning views across to Albania as you carry on along the coast road south!

You will also be able to look down over the postcard view of Kouloura there is little down there except a harbour and a little taverna but is a great photo stop. On the other side of the same headland is Kalami made famous by it's one time resident; the author Lawrence Durrell. His old house is now a taverna right on the waters edge; its terrace is an idyllic setting.   There has been quite a lot of development here of late but its slight inaccessibility has ensured a quiet, appreciative kind of tourism.

Continuing south is the little beach of Agni made famous by Toya Wilcox who tried her hand at waitressing here! The standard of taverna here is outstanding and should be visited by all “foodies”! Though be warned prices are mostly higher than average. The scenery is dramatic too. Swimming is pebbly as is all the east coast where all these little coves are lapped by the gentle waters of the clear blue Corfu Channel.

Kaminaki, Nissaki and Barbati are other tiny coves and beaches where there are the necessary lunchtime tavernas, warm sea and more of that beautiful scenery. Personally unless looking for noisy night life I keep driving without stopping in Ipsos, often flooded with naval ratings when they are in port, Dassia is home to big hotels, Gouvia has a man made beach and marina, then it's just busy road all the way into town.

After Barbati should you turn right, and test your passengers nerves up through the hairpin bends, to Spartillas and Episkepsi you will be treated to some spectacular mountain views.

In fact if you are feeling adventurous why not go right again and visit the island's highest peak Pantokrator (2792 feet).

You are able to go right to the top where there is a monastery, (there is the ugliest transmitter ariel in the middle of it!) and a coffee bar with stunning views into Albania. The road loops down through Lafki and back into Acharavi. You could of course turn right just before Ipsos and go through the very pretty village of Korakiana This route will put you on the main road to Paleokastritsa.  

Often known as “Paleo”, like many beauty spots the world over, Paleokastritsa has become somewhat commercial and expensive, but nothing can detract from the magnificent scenery here.  There is a byzantine monastery daringly perched on a cliff overlooking the village. It is all that Greece means to the imagination; dazzling white buildings set against sparkling blue sea. There are 6 bays; one is a harbour, from the busy main beach one can take a small boat out to see the grottos. This is a good way to see the drama of the scenery.

The other way is on leaving the village to go by route of Bella Vista and Lakones, the road is narrow and steep and has some good hair pin bends but it also looks down over all 6 bays, the view is breathtaking. It is now possible to drive to the ruins of AngeloKastro, after climbing the steps into the ruins sit and soak up the scenery in one of the tavernas!

North of Paleo on the west coast are some lovely beaches; Aghios Georgios and Aghios Stefanos are reminiscent of Cornwall with a wide expanse of sand and little white houses on the hill overlooking the wide bay.