The Sculpted North-West: Cape Drastis, Loggas Sunset Cliff and Canal d'Amour

At the far north-western corner of Corfu around Sidari and Peroulades (36 to 40 kilometres north of Corfu Town, 50 minutes by car or direct Green Bus A2 to Sidari), the island's geology changes dramatically: instead of hard grey limestone, the coastline is made of soft, layered white-and-ochre Miocene sandstone and clay that wind and winter waves have sculpted into narrow swimming fjords, sea arches and sheer vertical cliffs.

1. The Canal d'Amour ('Channel of Love', At Sidari)

Just west of Sidari's main beach, striated ledges of cream-and-yellow sandstone project into the sea like giant layered cakes, enclosing a narrow, 30-metre-long turquoise rock canal called the Canal d'Amour. According to local Corfiot legend, any couple who swims together through the narrow sandstone channel and through the natural rock arch at its mouth will marry within the year. Because the flat sandstone ledges get crowded with sunbathers during core daytime hours, visit early in the morning to swim through the rock arch and explore the neighbouring coves of Apotripiti in peace.

2. Cape Drastis (Akra Drastis, 3 km west of Sidari via Peroulades)

Drive ten minutes west of Sidari through the traditional village of Peroulades and park at the top of the dirt road leading toward Cape Drastis (walk the final 10 minutes down the scenic gravel track): from the upper viewpoint, you look down on a surreal northern seascape of stratified white clay cliffs crowned with green olive trees jutting like white icebergs out of luminous aquamarine water, where small wooden boat-taxis take swimmers out to the sea caves in summer.

3. Sunset at Loggas Beach ('7th Heaven' Cliff, Peroulades)

Five minutes south of Cape Drastis on the western edge of Peroulades village, the earth suddenly drops away in a sheer, 50-metre-high vertical wall of stratified grey-and-gold clay straight down to the narrow sea strip of Loggas Beach. Perched right on the upper cliff edge (with a glass-bottomed viewing platform projecting out over the drop) is the famous 7th Heaven sunset terrace, watching the red sun sink straight into the open Ionian Sea beside the Diapontia Islands of Othonoi, Ereikoussa and Mathraki is memorable.