Cyprus walking and touring (driving)

Sunflower Books: Landscapes of CYPRUS: WALKS AND CAR TOURS

Cyprus, 4th Edition (2004), updated 20/11/2008

(To visit the web page for this book on our main site, click here )

Updates for walks and car tours (drives) on Cyprus given below supplement those provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book and want to "upgrade" to the latest edition at half price, click here.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably in hard copy, by post, to Sunflower Books, PO Box 115, Exeter EX2 6YU (or if you prefer, by e-mail, to mail@sunflowerbooks.co.uk).

NB: THIS BOOK COVERS SOUTHERN CYPRUS ONLY

GPS TRACKS: Free tracks for 6 of the walks are now available as a download. See the main page for the book by clicking above (third line).

Preface: In the preface to the book you point out that "it is not possible to travel freely between the two sectors (ie Turkish and Greek) the except for a 24 hour period". Indeed this was the case but, since May 2004, when the Republic of Cyprus became a full EU member, free access is now possible for all EU nationals, via 4 official checkpoints, two in Nicosia, and 2 at the Eastern end of the island. All EU citizens may now travel freely between the 2 sides in both directions, and there are no restrictions on the length of stay on either side. (Non-EU nationals are permitted free access from South to North, but are not allowed to enter the South from the North). (Correspondent from Cyprus, 10/04)

General: We are just back from Western Cyprus and made good use of your guide in the Troodos and Akamas area. You NEED a 5th edition as so much has changed in 4 years. You rightly warn about new roads and now unused paths, but the CTO have changed a lot of their signs and they often do not tally with the book now. Having said all that, the book was a great help and in particular the maps in combination with the CTO ones for Troodos and Paphos area. You and other readers may find these observations helpful: 1) The CTO have a glossy free guide "European Long Distance Path E4 and Cyprus Nature Trails" which contains 7 map pages of the E4 with descriptions of what to see (but not walking instructions, although the bits that we followed are clearly waymarked). It runs from Agia Napa to Paphos/Akamas. Most of the sections are very long. 2) There are also 8 sheets of Nature Trails including Akamas, Cedar Valley, Troodos and Agros in the West. 3) The large scale free CTO sheet maps of Troodos and Paphos (Akamas) are very helpful. (User, 11/08 - editor's note: see also walk comments dated 11/08, from the same user)

Buses: One very useful bus service we used is to Aphrodite's baths from Polis, which is as above, but only monday to friday but it runs in winter. There were no signs of taxis at the baths. (User, 3/06)

Picnic spot: I don't think it is mentioned in your book, although it is marked on the map, but there is an adequate picnic spot and a beach about 1km before reaching the airport terminal buildings at Paphos. This is an excellent place to stop and contemplate your holiday before flying home if you have a spare hour or so. (e-mail, 11/05)

Car tour 4: Various stretches of this road are being rebuilt, and some 10mi of road to the south of Ayios Nikolaos were simply awful. (User, 04/05) [Editor's note: presumably the roadworks will soon be completed.]

WALKS
Note on maps: we found the Freytag map not too good, lots of roads shown (not always in the correct place...), but the best map(s) were found at the Cyprus Tourism Org offices in Pafos - when we put our walks gps data onto one it came up pretty good. And these maps are FREE. (User, 10/05) + There is a long distance path, the E4, running through most of the Paphos region. It is signed with small yellow arrows which are a help on several of the walks. (User, 12/06) + We have found your books very helpful and having used your Madeira and Crete ones extensively we equipped ourselves with your book on Cyprus for a holiday in the Troodos area (Platres). It helped us make the best use of our time in the 6 days we had. We tried all or parts of walks 1-7 and 10. With the odd exception all our timings were within 5 minutes of those listed. Note that on the map inside the back cover contour colouring for highest altitudes are wrong. Dark brown is shown as starting at 2000m. Should this be 1500m, since an area around Troodos is shown in dark brown, yet the highest point is Mount Olympus at 1951m. (User, 5/08)

Walk 1: As described. (User, 11/05) + The start point is not as easy to find as it might be, as the area around the main street in Troodos is currently being extensively redeveloped. Even in mid-November there was a little snow and some icy patches to contend with. Even on a calm day with coastal temperatures of over 20C the temperatures here can be distinctly cool. The rocky track referred to at the top of p51 is fairly clear, but there are some minor tracks before this which could confuse. Note that all of the trail mark numbers referred to in the text no longer exist on the track. There are still some markers, but these have no numbers on and do not always coincide with the references in the text. A visit to the local tourist office about 1/2 mile S of Troodos 'resort' on the Platres road (and its attendant Dolphin cafe) is well worth it. (e-mail, 11/05) + Parking in Troodos Square is still a problem due to roadworks. An alternative is to park in the large Tourist Office / Dolphin cafe car park and to start the walk from there.
Those walkers preferring the shorter walk, Troodos to Chromion 9km (Atalante Trail) can complete the circuit back to Troodos by using an easy 3km route from Chromion making the total walk 12km. This route is not published and we were only informed about it, and given a drawing of it, at the Tourist Office. The Tourist Office is well worth a visit where a CTO trail leaflet can be obtained detailing the 57 trail points. (User, 6/06) + Troodos square is now complete and there is ample parking. The start is now easy to find, once you locate the Post Office. There is also a sign to the Atalante trail from the south side of the square. Trail guides for the Atalante and Artemis trail are very informative and can be picked up at the well signed Troodos Visitor Centre (called the Tourist Office in your existing update). At the viewpoint (no.31) there is no bench, but there is one about 5 minutes before and another about 5 minutes later, both with good views. Although the numbers are not on the trail markers, they are shown in the trail guides. (Unfortunately we didn't read the update before going and went off before the rocky trail at 430m by a cairn. The track petered out and we scrambled through woods to meet a river bed that joined the walk a bit later!) The distance for the 2nd part (after the end of the Atalante trail) is only 4km, so the total walk is 13km, not 16km as indicated. (User, 5/08) + Previous comments echoed forget the Post Office start. There is a sign indicating the WAY to the start now on the new piazza behind the phone boxes (which have probably been moved since 2004) but the CTO Start Board is at the north end of the new piazza opposite the lone pine tree in the centre of the road which makes a roundabout. There is a large car park by this tree/roundabout nicely away from the tacky souvenir shops. We found the Tourist Office here closed on 28 Oct Bank Holiday. We found the way back after reaching the road a bit of an uphill slog and guess it is about 4k as previously commented. This would be helpful info for the 5th edition. (User, 11/08)

Walk 2: At the 29min-point, turn left on a track 30m past (not before) a 2km sign...Just before reaching the crossroads at the 35min-point, we reach another crossroads with a blue 'S' on a stone: keep straight ahead here. (User, 7/04) + The Troodos Hotel is closed (although there is still a board visible at ground level with the name). The Civic Restaurant has closed. The police station is the most useful point of reference. (User, 4/07)

Walk 3: It is worth pointing out that the main road to Platres is in fact the new, broader and straighter B8 (as shown on the map), whereas the road required is just downhill from Troodos turning left off this road and signposted "Platres old road". (User, 6/08)

Walk 4: It is not that easy to recognise the path to Mesapotamos. As shown on the map, one must first ignore a track joining from the left. The path you want turns sharp left shortly after this and is not signed or waymarked. (User, 7/04) + We left the vehicle at Psilion Dhendron Car Park and the matriarch of the New Helvetia Hotel called us a taxi to get up to Troodos. The CTO has a start Board for the Mesapotamos Walk which we ignored and followed your advice to start 50m further on at the CTO Board for the Persephone trail. All was well until we came to look for the "descending path to the left" after we lost sight of the asbestos mine. The Forest trail that we were on has been seriously improved and was busy with mushroom hunters in vehicles. The ONLY track to the left that we found, in about the right place, had been used for a short distance by shooters but it completely petered out after about 250m of steep descent. I think that your path has been obliterated. So we decided to just follow the Forest track, ignored the first right turn back to Psilion Dhendron and joined up with your Walk 4 at the T junction (Platres 3k) we decided not to make the 4k each way detour to the monastery. Maybe the monks don't want visitors. When we got to the end, we noticed that part of the CTO board with the name "Mesapotamos" had been torn off. (User, 11/08)

Walk 5: There is no longer an iron mast on the Pouziaris summit, just the concrete base. (User, 7/04) + We disturb ed a snake (poisonous blunt-nosed viper, confirmed in reptile house at Paphos Bird Park) in March, in the undergrowth just to the side of the main path down from Pouziaris. (User, 04/05) + The Pouziaris Nature trail board is just down the main road (30m) and across the bridge from the parking area at the entrance to the trout farm and Kaledonian Falls trail. The 1km sign at 16 minutes is missing. When you first get to what you think is the summit there is a bench but then there is one a bit further on the concrete base - as noted there is now no pylon or signal station. The sign at 1hr 06 m (bottom of p58) says 'Psilon Dhendron 5km' (not 6km). At the same point is a sign pointing along the track of the walk that says 'Psilon Dhendron 4km'. The overall walk length is 8.5km, not 9.5km. (User, 5/08) + We wanted to follow Walk 5 but started in the wrong place. There are 2 separate car parks at Psilion Dhendron. One is at the Trout farm for the Caledonian Falls and the other is about 30 metres SE of it. Both have CTO Start Boards. The Cal Falls walk now starts with a flight of new stone steps to the right of the CTO board and you are at the falls in no time. We then followed your excellent map and followed the superb path up the stream to the Presidential Cottage and the old road, turning sharp right there on the forest track and then taking the right turn towards Pouziaris although the sign did not mention this name and had also been vandalized. If you include a walk this way round, put in a time marker here as it could be missed. We then followed Walk 5 in the opposite direction back to the start luckily only those 30m from our vehicle! Your caution about the [loose shale and] sharp drop is well made. (User, 11/08)

Walk 6: I think some map changes are needed in this area. I started at Platres, used the road towards Trooditissa, but joined the track towards Phini. After reaching the stream I changed to the path that leads to Walk 6. All this is shown on the map. But this path turned out to be a gravel road. Immediately after crossing the stream there is also another gravel road which forks left (maybe leading to the road to Phini shown on the map?). The second 'path' from the west of Phini leading to the walk does not join it as shown, but at the 50min-point - the junction where the other track leads to Ayios Yeoryios. It is also a gravel road. The 1h40min-point is on a right-hand turn in the main road, as written in the text, and not in the left turn immediately before that (as shown on the map). (User, 7/04) + The walk starts about 100m on the new road above and behind the Monastery. A concrete slip road leads off to the left. After about 8 mins a gravel path joins from the left (this is the original path). It soon turns round to the southwest ... At 1hr 30mins the Kambi tou Kaloyerou picnic site is now on both sides of the road and quite large . Turn RIGHT here towards Trooditissa ( not left as in book). After about 1hr 40 mins turn right (the book is correct) ... (User, 3/06, but see comments below from User, 7.08) + In paragraph 4, the "pair of concrete water tanks" appear to have gone; the signpost is still there. (User, 4/07) + It was not clear where to start since what is meant by "50m beyond the monastery entrance". There is a slip road to the monastery where we parked; then a gatehouse which we walked through. A bit further on is an entrance on the left, then finally some gates and then a track joining (which starts at a board some 100 metres up the main road from the monastery slip road and is probably the intended start). You do come across the 'camping ground' part of the 'picnic site' by seeing railings on your right. There were no campers so we used a picnic table here and as already indicated turned right onto the road. We did note a couple of concrete water tanks, not "close" but about 100metres into the woods on the right. The track was very obvious. We made the total distance 11.5km not 10km. (User, 5/08) + The start point is still correct, but I would suggest parking just outside the new archway and walk through the arch past the entrance to the Monastery.Then go through a new gate at the top of the car park and you are now on the start of the walk. The book is also correct at the1h30min point. The picnic site is across the main road and if you do visit it for a rest then you would turn
left along the main road as the book says. (User, 7/08)

Walk 7: There are at least three more benches than you mention, one of them before the 15min-point. All with superb views. (User, 11/05) + Keen walkers must attempt the circuit indicated in yellow on your map. It is a wonderful walk of 13km, and very well signed by the CTO. In fact it was so good we did it twice, once in both directions - try it clockwise, then you have one gradual climb in the mid-section instead of steep climbs at the beginning and end, and you finish with the spectacular ridge walk back to Doxasi o Theos from Mount Adelphi. (e-mail, 4/06) + The trail map is wrong. The path goes south (not north) of the first ridge (highest point 1536m). Seats are at approximately 10 mins (looking north), 20 mins (looking south) and 33 mins (looking north). The circuit (Teisia tis Madaris') is not quite as straightforward as implied. After going round the mountain path for 40-45minutes, you join a paved road just below some masts, where there is a trail board but it takes a while to decipher you have to turn right onto a track, then a few minutes later you must ignore the arrow pointing to the path going down on the right (which is a short way up if you happen to notice it climbing up on the right from the path you were on 10 minutes ago), but keep following the track round to the left. (User, 5/08)

Walk 8: After the 1min-point, instead of saying 'turn left at a T-junction and left again at the church' it would be more accurate to sa 'ignore a junction to the right and turn left at the T-junction at the ver old church'. (The church looks more like an old church all, nothing at all like a more typical Cypriot church building.) At the 33min-point the sign to Koilani was lying on the ground, hidden by undergrowth. (User, 4/05) + Paragraph 3: The "roughly-surfaced road is now a new tarmac road"; Paragraph 4: The "run-down basketball pitch" is still there, but the street is no longer Afami Street. Paragraph 5: The crucial cairn on the track has disappeare completely; it is better to say "on the first left-hand bend" it is a round, not a sharp bend - we spent 3/4 hour looking for this little path. (User, 4/07)

Walk 10: I did not walk this, but drove on the new, unfinished, tarmac road linking Pano Panayia with Cedar Valley. I suspect the unsurfaced road on which you start the walk is now that main road. (User, 11/05) + There is now a spectacular tarred road running from Pano Panayia up towards Cedar Valley. It reaches a fork where the right hand fork is signed Cedar Valley, but this was closed, perhaps for road works. [The other end was also closed off and was still untarred.] The left fork leads up to the road from Stavros to Kykko, meeting it at the exact point where the Mount Tripylos walk starts. The track direct to the top of Mount Tripylos (ie the short walk) does have an E4 arrow up to it. (User, 12/06) + You need changes to the directions for the beginning of walk 10 (Cedar Valley) and its map. The first part of the walk is now a new main road, and there is no visible sign marking "Dhodheka Anemi" at the start. (User, 4/08) + This walk is now not viable since the loop road into and out of Cedar Valley is now totally paved (apart from 100 metres at the picnic site). Coming from Kykko the first road into the area says 'Cedar Valley 10km' and some 15km further on at the end of the loop (and the start of the original walk) says 'Cedar Valley 8km'. There is no obvious Mount Tripylos sign. We did walk from the picnic site to the top and back. The trail map is wrong in that the solid green zig zag near the picnic site is much more accentuated - the path goes three times the distance shown SW before going NW (i.e. it goes below the level of the picnic site).
(User, 5/08)

Walk 11: There is no longer a chain across the track (5min)... In Koili the street where one turns left is called 'Archip. Makariou III'... The last two paths are very overgrown, especially as you near the monastery. Wear appropriate clothing! (User, 7/04) + Path down to monastery is still not obvious and very overgrown. (User, 4/05) + There are now FOUR (not two) signs to Koili, and the bus shelter is opposite the fourth sign now. The housing estate is quite confusing - we found Makadonias St, but not by your instructions. The path to the monastery also has a bit of barbed wire here and there and is tricky. (User, 4/05) + The directions in the book are quite clear. To avoid confusion in Koili which evidently is still developing, it is probably worth saying "This road goes through a housing estate and after about 100m/yds bears right - ignore the right turning before this". The overgrown path down to the monastery is quite hard to find and is not suitable in shorts unless you don't mind getting your legs scratched ! It might be worth clarifying by saying : at the end of the main track continue contouring around the hillside for about 30m on a path above some barbed wire before continuing to zig-zag down to the water tank. (e-mail, 11/05) + Ignore counting the numerous signs when approaching Koili .. After the bus shelter (which is on the right hand side of the road) turn left into Archip Makariou III road and follow the instructions in the book.
The end of the track above the monastery is signified by a pile of soil. Walk over the pile onto a narrow path which takes a 180 degree turn to the right before zig zagging down to the monastery. At this time of the year the path down was quite obvious and vegetation was only a minor problem. (User, 6/06)

Walk 12: In Feb 04 the walk as not passable, due to a mud slide soon after the 20min-point. (e-mail, 02.04) + Another e-mail (3/04) says it is still out of action. + The path referred to above has been rebuilt. Timing NOW to reach the crossroads is more like 1h18min than 1h8min. Signposting at the crossroads has gone. No beehives seen at this point, but maybe because of the time of year March. (User, 4/05) + After 15min, there are now TWO benches, only one of which has a spring, but both have paths to the right. Best to say, "... comes at the bottom of the slope to a bench by a spring" - in other words, ignore the first bench. The correct path passes the SIDE of the chapel - there is a track which passes the front, but this is incorrect. The signpost to Kathikas was lying on the ground in undergrowth. We saw no beehives nor the pink house, but found the path anyway. (User, 4/05) + Shortly before the 15min-point the path joins a newly tarred lane coming from the right. The picnic site (20min) had a full to overflowing rubbish bin when we were there - not a pleasant place to stop. No signpost (1h08min), but metal and concrete footings still there; no beehives. (User, 11/05) + Alternative walk: A new road is being built between Akoursos and the rapidly-developing village of Peyia. This may result in an increase of traffic on this walk. (User, 11/05)

Walk 13: I saw a large snake here near the dam (Picnic 13). (User, 4/05) + If you are taking a taxi to Kissongera it might be better to take the taxi to the tall conifers (para 3 on page 74), as the road is very busy and rather tedious. (User, 3/06)

Walk 14: The directions are fine. The road as far as the turn-off to the Lara Restaurant was easily passable in a 2WD vehicle, and several cars went beyond this to the turtle beach. However this section, and that down to the restaurant could become heavily rutted afterwet weather. (e-mail, 11/05) + Echo previous comment that no taxi would go there along that VERY bumpy track! (User, 11/08)

Walk 15: I did not do this walk, but was told that there is now a surfaced road from the Droussia/Inia area to Lara Bay. (User, 11/05) + ref walk 15 from your updates site. I have been to Paphos for cycling holiday jan 07. The road from the area of the Lara signs to Ineia or Droussia is mainly a concrete road, occassionally stone like Akamas tracks. It is very steep in parts and I think about 8k plus in distance.There are two differant concrete roads from the Akamas over the top, the other is longer. The concrete roads are very rough going, to give grip in bad weather. I am not sure if there are any buses down from the Iniea area. (User, 2/07) + We did this walk in March 2007 and found that while much of the route could be driven by a 4x4 there was very little tarmac. The update page for this walk may give the impression that Lara Beach could be accessed by a tarmac road. This is not the case so one could not expect to be collected by taxi until you reach Ayios Yeoryios. (User, 4/07)

Walk 16: If you turn right at the picnic place, you can walk some of the Koufon Gorge for about 20min or so. Although not as impressive as Avagas, it is worth combining the two while you are in the area. (User, 4/05) + How to get there: this area seems to have changed. After turning at the signpost for the Avagas Gorge, one comes to a first car park (not mentioned in the guide), where the correct track is UPhill (not right and downhill). Towards the top of the uphill track and quite close to the Viklari Taverna is another track bearing right and downhill. This leads to the car park in the book, which is fairly LARGE now. (User, 4/05) + Thanks to the update of 4/05, we also walked along the Argaki tou Kouphou gorge with enjoyment. We also walked up a steepish track in between the two gorges from where we enjoyed some worthwhile views. This track combined with the Avagas Gorge would perhaps make up a good circular walk?? (User, 12/06) + Echo previous comments about the Car Parks. It would be helpful for the 5th Ed to indicate just how long it takes to go right up (or down) the gorge. We stopped after 30 mins ascent as you suggested but had no idea how far up we were. People coming down at that point seemed pretty unmuddy and fresh! (User, 11/08)

Walks 17 and 18: We did the walk 17/18 loop of the Khapotami Gorge in the anticlockwise direction starting from Alekhtora. The directions in the book are still fine, although there are some possibly confusing tracks near the top of the ridge after the pylon referred to in the alternative routes. I think it would be clearer to advise walkers to keep to the main track throughout the climb up to the crest of the ridge as this is evidently a vehicular track from Alekhtora to Kato Arkhimandrita. (e-mail, 11/05) + We parked in Alekhtora ( much easier to reach as were staying in Limassol ) and tried to do the purple loop of Walk 18 south of the village. Your instructions were so vague "skirt around the vineyards" plus the map was inaccurately drawn that we eventually retraced our steps to Alekhtora and tried to find our way out of the village along route 17 to pick up the circuit through the Khapotami Gorge. As your instructions coming from the opposite direction gave no clues as to where the entry/exit point for the village this proved a frustrating exercise. Eventually we found the correct route but were less than impressed with your map. (e-mail, 4/06) + We, like other readers, parked in Alekhtora and aimed to walk into the gorge. Like others, we struggled a bit to find our way at the start. We have written a description which might help others who try this: Drive well into the village and park at its north end. There is a wide area near a water tap and a somewhat closed-looking shop? One very clear landmark here is a large palm tree. The route sets off west on the tarred roadway below and behind that palm tree. Follow the road downhill. It becomes concrete and does a U bend down and up again. There is a vineyard on the left and a large tree separating two forks of the road. Take the right-hand fork uphill, towards some farm buildings. You pass to the left of them. Then, just beyond a round metal water tank, at a complex junction, take the major right -hand fork. Follow that to the next junction. The right turn here leads uphill and is the point described as just after the 2h05min-point on the alternative (circular) walk 17. However, if you don't take it but continue on the main road, you can walk direct to the gorge (we did). You need to keep left at a junction very soon. Then proceed along the road till the gorge is met. (User, 12/06) + Walk 18: There is a definite track used by motor vehicles past the trig point. The coaching station is now almost completely renovated as is the farmhouse now with a sand covered paddock for horses. (User, 3.07)

Walk 18: We had some problems from the farm (after 1h08min) finding the track heading south. There are nw no pines in sight, and a multitude of tracks. (User, 4/05) + I do not agree with the user of 4/05. While there are many pines and many tracks, I walked south and saw a faint track to my left. Soon the trig point confirmed my position, the best route is probably a few degrees east of south (for those who use a compass). The track past the renovated farmhouse has been resurfaced and no cobbles are visible. (User, 11/05)

Walk 19: As described. (User, 4/05) + When making the walk longer, as suggested, by walking from Fontana Amorosa to Cape Arnauti (which was certainly worthwhile) there are many tracks. It might help to suggest taking the track nearest the coast whenever feasible! (User, 12/06)

Walk 20: After crossing Argaki tou Pyrgou I would emphasize that our route is the highest one avalable, turning left twice. Signage in the area is misleading. (User, 7/04) + Just before the 15min-point, the 'climb steeply' is really a switchback and quite difficult to spot. Otherwise instructions are very good. (User, 4/05) + Adonis trail: anyone who can get from trail point 20 to the turning in 3-4min is running! 8-10min is more realistic. The signage at this turning is not clear, but following your instructions is quite simple. (User, 11/05) + The directions are fine, although I do agree with other correspondents about possible difficulties finding the zig-zag path upwards after exiting the nature trail area around Aphrodite's Bath. On leaving the exit the track required contours around the side of the hill for a short distance slightly above the obvious main track before starting to zig-zag up. The viewpoint from Moutti tis Sotiras is excellent but several other people evidently missed it when we were there. It is important to follow the main track up a few yards from trail point A35 to a vehicle turning area and then continue on about 400m on a minor trail up to the plateau. (e-mail, 11/05) + Looking for a longer route, we started from The Baths Of Aphrodite along the Aphrodite Trail to Pyrgos tis Rigenas then wanted to follow the purple route of Walk 21, according to the map next to the Queen's Shelter. But in fact this forest track is at least a quarter of a mile up the Aphrodite Trail - the quality of the mapping leaves a lot to be desired. The distance to the link with the Smiyies Nature Trail is far longer than shown on the map. (e-mail, 4/06) + Previous walkers have had problems in finding the rocky uphill path after Argaki tou Pyrgou, but this is not difficult. After Argaki tou Pyrgou and the following steps, pass through a turnstile and look left to see two white concrete cairns, the higher one of these has the number 2 painted on it. Head for this cairn, and with it on your right hand side, follow the path that leads to a third white concrete cairn which is also Trail Point 8. (User, 6/06) + We followed an interesting alternative suggested by a fellow rambler. You can set off from the Baths of Aphrodite along the road back towards Lachi and then follow the Adonis trail (in reverse). It is marked by the E4 arrows. When the Aphrodite trail is encountered, you can then follow that (in the direction described). [In fact, at the point labelled B29, we (accidentally) took the black road and went round three sides of a rectangle. In this way we walked along a ridge with good views down to the S coast.of the Akamas.) (User, 12/06)

Walk 21: Excellent map. The main ridge is part of the E4 and is waymarked down to Pyrgos tis Raeginas which we followed and then went down to the Baths on the Aphrodite Trail. It would be helpful to include a time for this Alt 1 walk. We were too tired when we got to the baths to contemplate a further 10k/2.5 hrs walk back to Neo Khourio and got the restaurant to call us a taxi. We had a pot of tea while we waited for it and the fare was ¤10 was well worth it! Previous comments about no taxis waiting at the baths echoed. (User, 11/08)

Walk 22: We had some difficulty finding our way through and out of Kritou Terra. The following may be helpful: 1) you must fork left at the coffee shop; 2) the communal laundry is only visible if you peer over the wall on the left; 3) you must keep left as you pass below the church on your right; 4) the footpath at the grating goes hard left (easily missed if you don't realise this). + Recently (April 05) I completed this walk, and had no difficulty in negotiating Kritou Terra. However I confirm the correct exit from the village, immediately beyond the metal grating in the road, is hard left, on grass, and downhill. The more obvious track to the left and on concrete only leads into an orchard and is by a metal gate (not wooden). (User, 04/05) + Alternative walk: After passing the open-air theatre and going ahead on Odos Karis we were unable to find a track at a green arrow. The only track is to a private house and leads to terraces. We had to abandon this walk. (User, 4/05) + We got lost at first. Walkers should take the downhill track at the coffee shop, then all becomes clear. (User, 4/05) +The taverna in Kritou Terra has closed and, with the exception of one easily-missed wooden sign, there is nothing to suggest it was once a taverna. The comments in the update above are useful and accurate. From Terra we are told to 'follow the road back to Kritou Terra' - yes, but bear in mind that it zigzags uphill and comes to a T-junction at which you must go left. On the Alternative walk I suspect the problems the user of 4/05 experienced were down to timings. There is a track with an E4 yellow arrow (replacing the green arrow), but I doubt anyone will reach it in 10min - 15-20min is more realistic. (User, 11/05) + This needs a complete re-write. We came in from the E709 and echo previous comments about "no taverna". We did find the coffee shop with the metal outside ladder and saw the church but could NOT follow your instructions. What grating? The whole village is being heavily developed as a Laona-type project with a study centre and there will be lots of old houses and rustic artifacts to see, but there are no signs (that we could find) to Terra. We looked for where the "indistinct path (near a wooden gate)" might have crossed the dried-up stream bed, but there is no sign of it and I guess it was wiped out when the new link road up to the E709 was put in, IF it was off the old road. The walk is further not helped with the business part of the map heavily obscured in the binding. A pity as this sounded like a nice walk. (User, 11/08)

Walk 23: Hotel Agii Anargyri is closed, but scheduled to reopen in 2007. + At 29min-point there is a very very faided blue arrow, after this no more markings. After a further 250 m, on crossing a small gully, fork LEFT and soon start to descend towards the Neradhes Gorge etc. At 1hr 25 mins execute a U turn etc. Go right at a fork just opposite THE smallhoulding ( there is another far above you to the left). At 2h20min take a short cut on a brand new concrete road down to the left. Back at the road, continue as in the book... (User, 3/06) + We agree with the (3/06) reader's comment about the turn being left, not right. The map is correct. After the 1h25min-point, the small holding opposite which you fork right is the same smallholding walked past a couple of minutes earlier but now on the opposite side of the valley. It might help also to mention that the stone hut, mentioned after the 1h39min-point, is passed on its left. (User, 12/06) + The concrete path no longer has a hunting sign and a red circle but has a new electricity pole ( number L3-36-21-5). We agree with the comment about THE smallholding. We followed directions as in book without any problems. (User, 3/07)

Walk 25: An excellent walk, but your overall distance of 5.9 miles is ridiculous - our GPS gave an overall distance of 8.25 miles. (e-mail, 4/06)

Walk 29: Approaching Cape Greco, you say ' keep well to the right of a cultivated area and climb a low hill, beyond which is the path leading down to the Cape Greco road.' My experience was that when I kept to the right of the cultivated area (I was on a farm track) and came to the tarmac track which went down to Cape Greco, trying to follow the instructions I ended up climbing over rocks to reach the coastal track. It would be easier to suggest walking down the track to Cape Greco when, almost at the gate, you pick up a coastal track rounding the coast. After the 2h15min-point after crossing the bridge the track seems improved, and did not peter out as quickly as suggested in the book. (User, 6/6/04)