Our walk of Sunday 2 June 2024 takes place in the picturesque dense forest between Kakopetria and Platania, starting in the area called Platania and following a dirt road in the direction of Agios Nicolaos tis Stegis. This hike is linear, with several modest uphill and downhill sections, and an elevation change from ~1150 m at start to ~900 m at the other end. We walk back along the same path, covering a distance of over 12 km. The walk starts at 10:30 am. Xenophon is leading this walk, which will go ahead even in light rain; if you need to, call 97613720. The hike will take about 3 hours and is rated 1 ½ to 2 for difficulty (on a scale from 1 to 3).

The forest is rich in pine trees, golden oaks, plane trees and other trees.

This event marks the conclusion of the 20th season of activities by the Cyprus Strollers (10 full years, in other words), and all participants are invited to the taverna lunch after the hike, to celebrate.

We shall follow the walk with a served meze lunch at our choice restaurant in Kakopetria. Registered participants will receive full details via e-mail the day before.

To provide you with maximum safety, and in order to have maximum traceability, we require every participant to register, irrespective of your participation at lunch or not. To facilitate arrangements, for your better service, you are required to e-mail Xenophon by end Friday, indicating whether you will be joining us for lunch or not.

You have the choice of meeting the group at the 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 an open field which offers ample parking space in Archangelos. 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 walk start from Nicosia:

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. After 25 km you pass the entrance to the village of Kakopetria on your left. Zero your odometer and continue to drive along the main road, in the direction of Troodos. At the 1.9 km reading you pass a road sign on your right, directing you to ‘Pedoulas, via Agios Nicolaos Stegis’. Do not turn right, continue to drive straight. At approx. the 4.2 km reading, you pass the left turn to Spilia. Do not turn left, continue to drive straight. After 1.8 km, i.e. at approx. the 6 km reading you arrive at the walk start, a dirt road on your right, bearing a green sign ‘Agios Nicolaos 9 km’. Near it, another sign pointing in the same direction reads ‘Kakopetria 6 km’. Park on the side, ensuring you do not block vehicle access to the dirt road. We meet here. In the event that you have reached the road junction at Karvounas (at the 8 km reading), you have gone too far: drive back for about 2 km, looking out for the sign on your left.

How to get to the walk start from Limassol:

Take the main road towards Trimiklini, then Saittas. 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 turn left towards Troodos square. Do not turn right (this takes you to Kyperounda). Zero your odometer and go straight, downhill towards Kakopetria. At approx. the 2 km reading slow down and look out for a green sign ‘Agios Nicolaos 9 km’ pointing to a dirt road on your left. Near it, another sign pointing in the same direction reads ‘Kakopetria 6 km’. Park on the side, ensuring you do not block vehicle access to the dirt road. We meet here.

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 go straight, along Archangelos avenue, in the direction of Troodos. At the 0.3 km reading you reach the first traffic lights; turn left into Agiou Alexiou street. At the 0.4 km reading you reach a T-junction; turn right into Agiou Gennadiou street and immediately after you observe on your left an open field used for parking; get onto it and park your car. We meet here. In front of this field there is a violet box for collecting clothes and also a water tank from where people can buy water. For additional parking spaces, while in Agiou Gennadiou street turn first right into a road with a cul-de-sac sign.

Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from the junction between Cineplex and Apolloneion Hospital to the parking field on Agiou Gennadiou street http://tinyurl.com/lg3u78q  

Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from the Presidential Palace to the parking field on Agiou Gennadiou street: http://tinyurl.com/k9gabhs

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. If you do not wish to receive further e-mails, reply to this message, stating so.