Corfu Sunflower Walking Guide

Since 1983 people out walking in sunny climes have been relying on our ‘little blue books’ to follow the trails – and to make friends with other walkers. Sunflower started by exploring the Atlantic Islands, but has branched out: we still love islands – from the Azores to Zakynthos – but we cover many mainland destinations too, like land-locked Switzerland and the coastal Basque Country. All our guides have the familiar mix of car tours, walks and picnics. More recently, we introduced restaurants and recipes in our ‘Walk & Eat’ series, which explores around cities from Stockholm to Avignon.

Preface 5
Acknowledgements; Books and maps 6
Getting about 7
Plan of Corfu Town 8
with city exits and bus stations
Picnicking 10
Touring 12
CORFU’S RIVIERA AND PANTOKRATOR (Tour 1) 14
QUIET CORNERS OF THE NORTHWEST (Tour 2) 19
CENTRAL CORFU’S VARIED LANDSCAPES (Tour 3) 23
NOOKS AND CRANNIES IN THE SOUTH (Tour 4) 28
Walking (symbols are explained on pages 33 and 35) 33
The Corfu Trail 34
Grading, waymarking, maps, GPS 35
What to take 36
Where to stay 36
Weather 37
Things that bite or sting 38
A country code for walkers and motorists 39
Greek for walkers 40
Organisation of the walks 42
MT PANTOKRATOR AND THE NORTHEAST
1 Cape Agia Ekaterinis 43
2 Above Imerolia 46
3 Acharavi panorama circuit 49
Short walk: Circuit from Lafki
4 Circuit from Nissaki 52
Short walk: Katavolos
Shorter walk: Nissaki — Rou — Porta — Vigla — Kouloura
5 Coastal walk north of Nissaki 56
Short walk: Nissaki to Kouloura
Alternative walk: Eremitis Nature Reserve
6 From Nissaki to Lafki via Ano Perithia 59
7 Circuit to Old Perithia 62
8 Three tough hikes from Nissaki via Palies Sinies 63
Walk a: Nissaki to Roda (Shorter walk: Strinilas to Roda)
Walk b: Nissaki to Kalamaki
Walk c: Nissaki to Porta
9 Taxiarkhis chapel and north along the Corfu Trail 68
Out-and-back for motorists, linear walk for bus users
10 Circuit from Nimfes via two monis 73
Short walk: Moni Pantokrator
Shorter walk: Nimfes — Moni Ag Triada — Klimatia
11 Circuit from Sokraki 75
Alterative 1: Troumpeta to Spartilas or Pyrgi via Sokraki
Alterative 2: Troumpeta to Sokraki
Alterative 3: Sokraki to Spartilas or Pyrgi
THE NORTHWEST
12 Two walks from Cape Drastis 78
Walk a: Peroulades circuit
Walk b: Peroulades to Magoulades
13 Moni Ithamini and Moni Ipsili 81
14 Three walks to Cape Arilla 82
Walk a: Port Timone from Afionas
Walk b: Cape Arilla from Afionas
Walk c: Port Timone from Ag Georgios
15 From Paleokastritsa to Cape Arilla 84
16 Grand circuit from Paleokastritsa 87
Shorter walk 1: Mt Arakli obelisk
Shorter walk 2: Lakones
Shorter walk 3: Angelokastro
17 Three beaches 90
Walk a: Rovina and Limni
Walk b: Liniodoros
18 Marmaro Hills circuit 91
THE CENTRE
19 From Paleokastritsa to Sgombou 92
20 Ropa Plain circuit 97
21 Doukades and Ag Simeon 100
22 Ag Georgios and Mirtiotissa circuit 102
23 Across the islad to Mirtiotissa 104
Shorter walk: Scotii Pod ad the Ropa Plai
24 Three walks to Moni Pantokrator of Ag Deka 107
Walk a: Ao Garoua to Beitses
Walk b: Circuit from Makrata
Walk c: Ag Deka out-and-back
25 Four walks to Moni Pantokrator of Stavros 111
Walk a: Circuit from Benitses to Moni Pantokrator
Walk b: Pantokrator circuit including Ag Deka village
Walk c: Benitses to Strongili via Moni Pantokrator
Walk d: Circuit from Komianata to Moni Pantokrator
THE SOUTH
26 Two walks from Hlomos 114
Walk a: Messogi — Hlomos — Petreti — Perivoli
Walk b: Hlomos — Petreti — Boukari — Hlomos
27 Mt Ag Mattheos 118
28 Three walks at Lake Korission 120
Walk a: Lake Korission circuit
Walk b: Gardiki Castle to Argirades
Walk c: Gardiki Castle to Perivoli
29 Two circuits from Kavos 124
Walk a: Moni Panagia and Kanula Beach
Walk b: Moni Panagia, Kanula Beach and Spartera
30 The salt pans of Lefkimmi 127
Bus timetables 128
Index 135
Fold-out touring map inside back cover