Blog – Page 12 – Paths of Greece

Sign-posting in Mt Paggaio

A few days ago, we sign-posted the byzantine path leading to the Monastery of Ikosifoinissa in Mt. Paggaio. The path has been cleared, steps and bridges have been installed and now one can walk safely a 5,7 km long path, from Kormista village to the Monastery. For the sign-posting, we used red paint, small aluminium arrows and wooden directional signs. There are still three “informational” signs that will be installed, boasting information about the path as well as an accurate map of the area.

Agistri: the green champion of the Saronic gulf

We visited the beautiful Agistri island, just an hour’s boat trip from Athens, following the invitation of local businessmen in tourism. Our aim, exploring the possibilities of creating a paths network, in order to enrich the touristic product of the island. Agistri is the greenest Greek island, the forest covering over 86% of its surface. Walking through the dense pine forest, we have discovered many old paths, today in disuse, due to the rich roads network. In every step, one could hear the birds song, the deep sound of the sea that surrounds Agistri, as well as the forest’s voice, everytime a little gust blows through the trees.

Kefalonia: On the paths of Fiskardo

Begining of January 2013, we visited a beautiful place in Kefalonia, called Fiskardo. The trip followed an invitation from ASTERIS, an cultural and environmental local organisation. Our aim, discovering and developing a paths network. The paths that we have walked are infinite, the beauty of the place as well. By summer 2013, the visitors of Kefalonia will have the opportunity to walk the paths, visiting on foot sites like Throni, Bataria, Foki, the two lighthouses, the Byzantine basilica, agelong olivetrees, the picturesque Tselentata village and other…

Monemvasia: Looking for the noblemen’s path

Looking for the “lost” path that once linked the Lazaretto to the noblemen’s gate. This gate is located on the western wall, at higher altitude than the main entrance to the old city of Monemvasia. The path will be cleared and sign-posted, thus allowing visitors to avoid walking on the road, especially on days of high traffic.

Why should it be done professionally?

In Greece, most of the times, the paths are cleared and sign-posted by local mountaineering and hiking associations. The input of these associations is very important, and if Greece has several paths open at the moment, it is in large part thanks to these people. Wherever mountaineering clubs do not exist though, or where their activity is limited, the conservation of paths is lacking the required attention. And conservation is the main issue of a hiking trail. In addition, we witnessed several large scale projects about the creation of hiking trail networks, funded with large euros, that after a few years were completely abandoned, since nobody took care of the paths…

A path is not a luxurious amenity. It is most of all an investment in quality tourism, able to bring revenues, that are multiple times larger than the costs of implementation and conservation.

Step 1:

The answer to the above is to see the implementation of a hiking trails network as an investment. The very first thing to do is to see to what extend the paths that we are called to create will attract “customers’ (walkers). This depends on the beauty of the paths, the monuments the pass by, and how accessible they are. In addition, the paths should be rather ease to walk, of short distance (max. 10km), so that the potential “customers” number would be larger.

Step 2:

If the paths pass the “test” of step one, we carefully design the total network, and decide on the paths that will be sign-posted first. (mainly the best hikes). The signs are carefully designed, and the sign-posting is done with the most extreme precision. Sign-posting is not as easy as it seems, if the rules of a) safety, b) aesthetics and c) right kind of materials, are used. In parallel, it is very important to communicate with the local population, and especially with businessmen in hosting and restoration. These last ones have a lot to gain from the existence of a trails network, and would surely assist the works of conservation for the years to come.

Step 3:

After the implementation of the signs, starts the very important step of promotion. This is mainly done through a website dedicated to the paths network and through a leaflet that would be freely distributed to businesses of the area and to tourists (either they came for walking or not). Of high importance is also the communication with mountaineering and hiking clubs around Greece, who should be invited to come and visit the place.

Step 4:

After 1 or 2 years, in relation with the dynamics of the hiking network, calculated fron the amount of tourists that visit it and the increase rate of this amount, several other trails could be added to the network, giving a larger selection of walks.

To follow these steps and achieve the desired results, a correct planning from the beginning is required. We should always keep in mind the economic viability of the project. And of course, volunteering actions can only add more to the project. In the design and the implementation of the first steps, the “Paths of Greece” are here for you, strong of experience. The next steps should be yours!

Innovation: Use of QR-codes in path signs

Because a) we dont like to see many and big signs when we are walking in nature, b) we want people to know what the are looking at when they walk (caves, churches etc.) and c) we are more than cerain that in a few years almost everybody will be using smart phones, we though of using QR-codes.

Instead of having to install large signs boasting information about each attraction, we thought of using technology, and especially QR-codes (Quick Response codes). Qr-codes are square shaped bar codes of new generation. Smartphones, using their smartness, can “read” these codes and translate them into text. A single QR-code can contain text of about 450 words! These little square codes we print them on stickers, and stick them on small metallic signs, next to the attractions they refer to.

We are the first to use these signs in sign-posting paths in Greece (we haven’t seen it abroad either, but of course there is so much out there…). QR-codes are already installed on the Kythera Hiking network, and soon to be used in Patmos as well. What do you think of the idea?

6 trails sign-posted in Kythera

In July 2012, we have completed the sign posting of the first 6 trails in Kythera island. Two years earlier he have undertook the management of the whole Kythera Hiking project, under the auspices of the Kytherian Foundation for Culture and Development (KIPA). The project includes, out of the sign-postings, several educational programmes, in close co-operation with the Hellenic Society for the Protection of the Environment (EEPF). We invite you to visit the paths of the island, combining walking and tourism in one of the most pristine islands of Greece.