Our walk of Saturday 30 January 2016 takes us to Athalassa Park, in the outskirts of Nicosia. The location is a very short trip from the centre of the city. We explore the pleasant and quiet natural park and can discover the landscape and diversity of the biggest well maintained park in Cyprus.
The hike is circular, follows the pedestrian roads of the park, most of them being narrow macadam paths, and includes long stretches of modest uphill and downhill, as we go round the park.
If we are lucky … and not too noisy, we will enjoy the close view of different species of birds, as so many of them are hibernating around the main lake of the park from December to March. The birds awaking and grooming and singing are just a powerful reconnecting rush to nature! The hike includes stopping at a birds watching spot.
The hike will be followed by a meal at a nearby taverna. Instructions will be announced on the day.
We start at the main south parking of Athalassa Park, at 10:30 am. Please ensure you observe start times, for the benefit of the group.
Gerard is leading this walk; if you need to, call 99432401. The hike is about 11 km long, will take about 3 hours, and is classified 2 (medium) for difficulty. There is an option for a shorter walk (8km) and thus getting back to the parking place after 2 hours. See the map below.
The hike will go ahead even in light rain; as the road is 90% on macadam paths, the walk is easy even on rainy days.
This is the planned map of the hike. However, we may take a slightly different trail.
You have the choice of meeting the group at the hike start, or meet at the designated meeting point in Nicosia. In either case, you need to carry copy of this set of instructions.
The meeting point in Nicosia is in the parking space opposite to the Handicrafts Centre (Kentro Heirotechnias) on Leoforos Athalassas (Athalassa Avenue). The car trip starts at 10:15 am.
How to get to the walk start, coming from the Handicrafts Centre (about 2.7 km = 10 minutes)
Zero your odometer at the parking of the Handicrafts Centre and go towards Limassol road. At 100 m, at the Kalispera traffic light, turn right and enter the motorway. At the 750 m reading you take the exit towards the General Hospital and IKEA/Mall commercial centre. At the 1.2 km reading you reach a small roundabout, take the second exit towards the General Hospital. Pass the General Hospital and at the 2 km reading you reach a large roundabout, where you take the first exit towards Geri. You pass a traffic light and then at the 2.650 km reading you turn left into Athalassa Park. Continue the road and you reach the parking at the end of the road. We meet there, in the second parking area.
Google Maps: Here is the google map from the meeting point on Athalassa Avenue to the south parking of Athalassa Park. The road described above is the second road named “Via Λεμεσού”:
How to get to the meeting point for the car trip, coming from the Hilton hotel area:
Get yourself on Makarios Avenue, heading out of town and set your odometer to zero as you drive past the Nicosia Hilton hotel. At the 0.1 km reading you reach traffic lights (with the Apoel club building on your right), go straight. At the 0.5 km reading you reach another set of traffic lights, go straight. Driving along, you pass a few more traffic lights, staying on this main road (named Leoforos Lemesou/ Limassol Avenue). At the 2.1 km reading, you reach a principal set of traffic lights. Set your odometer to zero again and turn right here. You are now in Leoforos Athalassas, a very busy avenue. At the 0.2 km reading you see a large empty space on your right and the Handicrafts Centre (a single-storey building) on your left. Park in the parking area. We meet here. The Handicrafts Centre is next to the church of St. Barnabas.
Google Maps: Here is a map for those coming from the Hilton area to the meeting place for the car trip http://tinyurl.com/phjc6s7
How to get to the meeting point for the car trip, coming from the Presidential Palace area:
Get to the round-about next to the Presidential Palace. From downtown Nicosia you reach this along the Kyriakou Matsi avenue or along the D. Severi avenue. Set your odometer to zero on the round-about and drive along the principal road towards Strovolos. At the 0.3 km reading you reach traffic lights. Go straight. At the 0.6 km reading you reach a 2nd set of traffic lights. Set your odometer to zero again and turn left. You are now in Leoforos Athalassas, a very busy avenue full of shops. At the 2.6 km reading you see a large empty space on your left and the Handicrafts Centre (a single-storey building) on your right. Park here.
Google Maps: Here is a map for those coming from the Presidential Palace area to the meeting place for the car trip http://tinyurl.com/neo9duy
Disclaimer: If you attend a Cyprus Strollers walk you do so entirely at your own risk. The Cyprus Strollers is a social club and neither the organizers nor the leader of the walk are responsible for the health and safety of those taking part.
The Cyprus Strollers 