A Walk On The North-East Coast

Distance - 4 km
Time - 1.5 hours
Start and end point - Avlaki beach

The route leads from the pleasant, undeveloped beach at Avlaki, first by road, past dense olive groves, and then through the delightful wooded area where tracks take you back down to the coast and a smaller beach, before returning to Avlaki.

Start at the east end of Avlaki beach. Follow the road east and uphill for about 1 km, and then, where the road bends sharply right and uphill, go left and off the road. Ignore a track running up right. Instead pick your way past dumped rubble and follow a rough path that leads past a deep hole on the right. The path becomes more distinct as it climbs a steep slope. At the top of the slope, where there is a wire fence on the right, go sharply left and follow a good track, downhill at first, then uphill.

The track leads through a delightful area of trees and is brilliant with wild-flowers in spring. Look out for cyclamen, valerian, anemones and in autumn such scented herbs as thyme, sage and oregano. Spring is a good time for bird watching, and in the dense, moist  groves around Avlaki migrant birds to look out for include nightingale, spotted flycatcher, black headed bunting and warbler.

At a junction with a broad track go left. (Alternatively, a right turn will lead you back to the road where another right turn leads to Avlaki beach.) At the next junction turn right and follow a track towards the sea. At a junction in a grassy dip, head down left to a small beach. At the left end of the beach (looking out to sea) seek out the hidden start to a good path that leads through dense woodland to emerge at Avlaki beach.