Our excursion of Saturday 25 May 2019 takes place at the Troodos mountain range. This is an extraordinary outing of the Cyprus Strollers, since it involves not one, but two hikes. In addition, the outing offers the not so common excitement of a visit to a waterfall. The first hike starts at 10:45 am. Xenophon is leading this outing, which will go ahead even in light rain; if you need to, call 97613720.
Troodos is the highest mountain of the island, with its highest peak (Hionistra) at 1950 metres altitude. Troodos is covered by a variety of pine trees, junipers, cedars and fir trees, and also presents the majestic golden oak, an endemic species to Cyprus, as well as a rich variety of bushes and wild flowers. Troodos is also a rare geological phenomenon.
The 1st trail takes place at Kampos tou Livadiou, which lies some 1800 m before Troodos square, as you are driving uphill from the Karvounas junction, coming from Nicosia. Kampos tou Livadiou is a circular trail, 3 km long, will require about one hour and degree of difficulty is 1 (easy). This hike is at an average altitude of 1650 m, in a forest of black pine and juniper trees.
At the conclusion of the Kampos tou Livadiou hike, we return to our cars, to drive to the start of the 2nd hike. The 2nd hike takes place in the village of Platres, one of the prettiest mountain resorts by any standard, which inspired the famous Greek poet George Seferis. From Platres we walk to the Myllomeris waterfall, at an altitude of just over 1000 m and back. Total hiking time is under 90 min and degree of difficulty 2 (medium difficulty). The trail involves a few downhill and uphill sections and part of it is alongside the banks of the river Kryos Potamos. The river flows all year round and vegetation in the area is rich, with many plane trees and bushes. The waterfall comes at the end of the trail and is impressive, falling from a height of over 15 m. It derives its name from the word ‘myllos’, which in Cypriot dialect means wet, and the word ‘meros’, which in Greek means place.
After the 2nd walk we shall drive a distance of about 10 km on the main road towards Limassol, to our taverna of choice in the village of Trimiklini, for lunch. The taverna lies also on the main road and is on your right hand side, with plenty of parking spaces on either side of the road. Return to Nicosia or Larnaca is easier via Limassol, since you will take advantage of the principal Limassol-Nicosia highway. To facilitate arrangements, for your better service, you are required to pre-register, if you are joining us for lunch. To do so, please e-mail the walk leader by end Thursday. No need to register if you are not dining.
You have the choice of meeting the group at the 1st walk start, or meet at the designated meeting point in Nicosia. In either case, you need to carry copy of this set of instructions. Meeting in Nicosia offers two important advantages: we drive in full cars, leaving some cars behind; thus, we save in fuel and enjoy the trip in good company. The meeting point in Nicosia is the very large church named tis Theou Sophias (also referred to as Agia Sophia) in Strovolos, which offers ample parking space on its side street. The car trip starts at 9:30 am. Please ensure you observe start times, for the benefit of the group.
How to get to the 1st walk start:
From Nicosia take the A9 motorway towards Troodos. The A9 smoothly becomes the B9 highway towards Troodos, when the motorway ends, near Kokkinotrimithia. On the B9 you drive past the villages of Akaki, then Peristerona and then you reach the village of Astromeritis. At the Astromeritis traffic lights, where most cars turn left towards Troodos, zero your odometer and turn left. Drive along the main road. After 25 km you pass the village of Kakopetria. Continue to drive along the main road, in the direction of Troodos. At the 33 km reading, you reach a crossroads (no traffic lights), named Karvounas. Do not turn left (this takes you to Kyperounda village and Madari mountain). Do not go straight. Turn right towards Troodos square. At the 39.7 km reading you reach Kampos tou Livadiou on your right.
How to get to the 1st walk start coming from Limassol (via Karvounas):
Take the main road towards Trimiklini, then Saittas (exit number 28 on the Limassol-Nicosia motorway). Get to the principal junction at Saittas, where you have the options of going straight to Platres or left to Pera Pedi, or right to Amiantos. Zero your odometer and turn right. At the 10.9 km reading you reach the principal junction of Karvounas (note, no traffic lights). Do not go straight, downhill (this takes you to Kakopetria). Do not turn right (this takes you to Kyperounda). Zero your odometer, turn left and drive uphill towards Troodos square. At the 6.7 km reading you reach Kampos tou Livadiou on your right.
How to get to the 1st walk start coming from Limassol (via Platres):
Take the main road towards Trimiklini, then Saittas (exit number 28 on the Limassol-Nicosia motorway). Get to the principal junction at Saittas, where you have the options of going straight to Platres or left to Pera Pedi, or right to Amiantos. Continue straight to Platres. At the junction of Psilo Dendro (taverna and trout farm on your right) (this is the starting point to Caledonian waterfall) zero your odometer and continue straight, towards Troodos. At the 2.1 km reading you pass a junction with a left turn leading to Trooditissa monastery; continue straight towards Troodos. At the 7.4 km reading you arrive at Troodos square; turn left, into the square, and drive along the cobbled road through the square; at the 7.5 km reading you reach the exit from the square at a T-junction; turn right, in the direction of Nicosia. After 1.8 km drive carefully, looking out for the road sign marking the Kampos tou Livadiou picnic site and hikes, on your left. Turn left and park your car.
How to get to the 2nd hike start, from the 1st hike start:
From Kampos tou Livadiou get on the main road turning right and drive uphill towards Troodos square. After 1.8 km you arrive at Troodos square. Zero your odometer and turn left into Troodos square, past the car park on your left. At the 0.3 km reading you reach the end of Troodos square, with a roundabout; take the second exit of the roundabout and drive downhill, in the direction of Platres. At the 7.8 km reading you reach the junction of Platres/ Psilo Dendro, where you need to turn right, to enter the village. At the 8.3 km reading you reach another junction; both roads, the one continuing straight ahead and the one turning left will get you to your destination. Turn left, because it will take you along a shorter route, downhill. At the 8.9 km reading you drive past the police station on your right. At the 9.0 km reading you drive past the Petit Palais hotel on your left. Continue straight, downhill, towards Kato Platres. At the 9.4 km reading you reach the main village church, Panagia Phaneromeni. Park in the car park on the right, on the same side as the church, which lies about one hundred metres before you reach the church. We meet inside the open air car park.
How to get to the taverna from the walk finish:
From Platres take the main road downhill towards Limassol. A few km further on you reach a main crossroads (left takes you to Amiantos and Karvounas, right to Pera Pedi) where you continue straight. 2 km after the crossroads you pass a large church on your right. 1.1 km after the church you reach JR taverna. The taverna lies also on the main road and is on your right hand side, with plenty of parking spaces on either side of the road.
How to get to the meeting point for the car trip:
From Nicosia get to the junction between Cineplex and Apolloneion Hospital. At the traffic lights where you have the Cineplex on your left hand side and Apolloneion Hospital on your right hand side, zero your odometer and turn left. At the 0.3 km reading you see Lidl supermarket on your right. At the 0.8 km reading you reach traffic lights. Turn left into Elaionon street. Immediately after you observe the very large church of tis Theou Sophias, with its green dome, on your right. Just past the church (1.0 km reading) take the first turning to the right into Kastellas street. This side street offers ample parking space. Park here.
Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from the junction between Cineplex and Apolloneion Hospital to the church of tis Theou Sophias http://tinyurl.com/ll9fefj
Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from the Presidential Palace to the church of tis Theou Sophias: http://tinyurl.com/ndnr6uo
Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from Troodos square to the start of the 2nd hike http://tinyurl.com/paztwum
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