Serifos: Route #10 is ready!

Of all of Serifos’ walking trails, this path surpasses most in natural landscape, geology and history. The trail starts near the picturesque village of Kallitsos and leads up towards the settlement of Ksero Chorio which was destroyed by pirate raids. On the first part of your journey you will pass by a tavlomylo – a 15th century windmill which used solid planks instead of sails, moving along a vertical axis. Approaching Ksero Chorio, you will pass through a small cluster of oak trees, one of the most characteristic trees of the Western Cyclades. A little further along, after sighting the traditional pigeon house, start your descent onto the clay dirt road towards the church of Profitis Ilias with its truly panoramic view. The steeply descending stone steps, probably dating back to ancient times, lead you to Triantafyllos, an area filled with lovingly kept vegetable gardens. The area has been inhabited for many centuries, with the gentle slopes of Serifos showing many traces of ancient agricultural activity. Along a beautiful walking path leading back to the trail’s starting point, you will pass by a freshwater spring, an area with white marble stones, an old limekiln and wine press as well as other ruins of agricultural buildings. A few hundred meters before the trail’s end, you will pass by another small forest of oak trees, where you will have the chance to visit the impressive church of Panagia Skopiani.

Kefalonia: Footpaths in Fiskardo!

Working together with the Cultural and Environmental club of Erissos “Asteris”, we have completed, a few weeks ago, the sign-posting of a network of hiking trails in Fiskardo (or Fiscardo), in Kefalonia island. In total, we have sign-posted three trails of 850, 4,7 and 10km. While walking these paths, one can enjoy all the landscapes of the peninsula, as well as to discover the cultural secrets, that no car can access! These paths have the advantage that they can easily be accessed even in summer, since they are largely covered by dense shade, thanks to the forests of cypresses, of pine and of strawberry trees.

Research in Syros island

Towards the middle of May, we visited Syros island, following an invitation of the Tourism Counsil. The purpose of our visit was to investigate the current state of the paths in Syros, and to produce some advice regarding the enhancement of the hiking network, in order to develop hiking tourism on the island. Our visit lasted about four days. We walked many paths, mainly being guided by the excellent hiking team of Syros. Syros can definitely develop hiking tourism, more as a complementary activity than as a main one. Our advices focused mainly on the enhancement of the current signs, as well as on the development of marketing tools.

Spring in Kythera

During Easter 2014, and a few days later, we were on Kythera. At first, we were accompanying about 110 people from two greek hiking clubs. Together, we walked a few paths, we learned the story of the island as well as its myths, ancient and new ones. When the hiking clubs left the island, we concentrated on the clearing of the famous Mylopotamos watermills trail, trying to uncover beautiful details of the trails that have been covered with vegetation for a long time. We have also created solid passages over the creek, as well as a small cobblestone pathway, where the path was being muddy. By soon, Kythera will have another two trails sign-posted! Until then you can find all available information for this amazing hiking network, on the www.kytherahiking.com webpage!

At the Pic-nic of “Merimna”

Yesterday, April 6th, we have participated as Paths of Greece, to the great Pic Nic organised by the Friends of Merimna Association. In our activity, we worked together with the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature.

“Wet quarries” under the Falakro Mountain

A few decades ago, one day, as the workers at the quarries were braking the marbles of the surface, instead of hitting a marble vein, they hit an underwater creek! Soon after, the water filled the quarry, and a new natural lake was born! In proximity to the Taxiarches village, at the foots of the Falakro Mt., we have sign-posted two hiking trails that invite you to walk on the footsteps of the marble quarries workers. Both trails start in front of the beautiful Jennifer Home Hotel. You will see the hilly and colorful landscapes of Drama, you will walk under gigantic plane trees and by small creeks, you will enjoy unlimited views over the peaks of Falakro Mt. and the vast plane until the Paggaio Mt.

Winter Tour in Peloponnisos

Once more, we were convinced that Peloponnisos is a top destination, all year round, and for every kind of activity! Within 5 days, with good friends, we enjoyed Olympia, Ancient Messini, Ancient Thouria (the ancient city of Kalamata), Mani, Gytheion, Mt. Parnon, Nafplion, and Mycenae. Paths, visit of archaeological sites, dirt roads that lead to forgotten castles, and views of the sea and forest every day… we had difficulties to absorb all of these images… The diversity of monuments and nature in Peloponissos is something unique. History? You start in Olympia, you continue in Mani, and you end in Nafplion, the first capital of the modern Greek State… Nature? Voidokilia beach near Pylos, Polylimnio waterfalls, to the snow covered peaks of Taygetos, and from there to the beautiful forests of Mt. Parnon and to the fields of Argolida full of orange trees, smells and colours… And all this in February, being on T-shirts all day!

“Le Vie di Evia”

A few days ago, along with our partner Stefanos Kounis, we have visited Evia island. More specificaly, the region between Dirfy and Xirovouni Mts. We walked on hiking and bicycle trails, and we also created some new ones. Our visit took place after the initiative of the local businesses to implement a hiking and bicycle trails network in the region. Our work has already started, Stefanos is working with passion on it, and soon, the first trails will be promoted, so that everybody could enjoy these amazing landscapes hidden a few kilometers away from Athens. Other regions of Evia have already expressed their interest about developping a similar trails network, and we would be very happy to help them! Below, you will find three trails that we propose (check the difficulty level).

Dirfy Mt. : Vlachon path

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(Evia island)

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Agali Gorge

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A video about our work!

We have just finalised our first video about our work. You will see pictures and scenes from the research, the mapping, the sign-posting, the guided tours and the educational programmes that we have organised.

World Trails Conference in South Korea

In January 2014, we have participated in the 4th World Trails Conference, held in Jeju island in South Korea. The Conference was organised from the World Trail Association, under the auspices of Jeju Olle foundation. Paths of Greece has been invited by the American Trails Association. In the Conference, more than 50 trail organisations from 18 countries exchanged knowledge, experiences, contacts, got connected to the academic world, organised in a universal level and decided to continue working together. We have participated in some very interesting presentations about a variety of subjects such as health and walking, trans-border co-operation, marketing of trails, organisation of local communities, quality labels etc. We have briefly presented Paths of Greece, and the projects that we are working on in Greece. As a case study, we presented Kythera Hiking, the paths of Kythera island project. At the conclusions of the Conference, the World Trails Assoociation Commitee got enlarged, and Paths of Greece is now a board member. Below you will find the map of a freezing walk that we had in the volcanic mount Halla.

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