Update: the plan is to proceed to lunch after the hike, in our choice restaurant in the village of Kakopetria. Kindly confirm if dining or not, when registering. Please remember lunch payment is only in cash. Participants registered for lunch will receive further details via e-mail.

N.B. Because the hike is linear (we return along same path), do not be deterred by the degree of difficulty; one can select to walk slower/only part of the uphill, and reconnect with the group on its return.

Our hike of Sunday 14 November 2021 takes place in the beautiful forest above Kakopetria, starts at Platania, and follows a combination of forest roads and narrow paths to reach the oddly named area Mnimata Piskopon on Troodos mountain. This hike is linear, rated 3 (difficult), 9+ km long (4.5 km each leg), and is expected to take up close to 4 hours (incl. stops). The hike is all uphill on the way from Platania, downhill on the return leg. Some of the uphill sections are strenuous! We walk on dirt road for the starting 35 min, then catch a tough narrow path for the next 20 min; from there on the elevation climb is less steep, to reach Mnimata Piskopon after a total of ~100 min from start. We take the same route back.

The forest we cross is rich in pine, golden oak and strawberry trees and a variety of bushes. Platania is a wonderful location with plenty of underground water, hence the large number of plane trees, which give it its name. Platania offer many benches for picnic, facilities and drinking water. Mnimata Piskopon is Greek for tombs of bishops, and owes its name to the execution of 3 Orthodox bishops in the times of the Ottoman occupation of Cyprus.  

The walk starts at 11:00 am. Xenophon is leading this walk, which will go ahead even in light rain; if you need to, call 97613720.

Depending on the government restrictions on the day, we shall follow the walk with a served lunch or a picnic. Kindly visit this page in the week prior to the activity for updated news. In the case of lunch, this will take place at our taverna of choice in the vicinity. To provide you with maximum safety vis-à-vis covid-19, 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 9:45 am. Please ensure you observe start times, for the benefit of the group.

How to get to the 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 (principal access to the village comes at the 24.8 km reading, where there is a left turn going downhill). Continue to drive along the main road, in the direction of Troodos. A couple of km further uphill you reach a junction with a right turn towards Agios Nicolaos Stegis and Pedoulas; do not turn right, read your odometer and stay on the main road. At the 29.2 km reading you pass the left turn taking you to the village of Spilia; do not turn left, stay on the main road. A couple of km further uphill you reach the area of Platania. Turn right at the sign to Platania; immediately up this secondary road comes a sharp right turn, then you notice the area’s coffee shop on your right and a Forestry Department station opposite, on your left. Just after the Forestry Department station park on either side of the road. We meet here. From right turn to ‘Agios Nicolaos Stegis and Pedoulas’ the count is 4.7 km to the right turn to Platania. If you have reached a crossroads (no traffic lights), named Karvounas (at the 33 km reading), you have driven too far: turn back, drive downhill the way you came and look out for the indicated point.  

How to get to the walk start coming from Limassol:

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 turn left, which drives uphill towards Troodos square. Do not turn right (this takes you to Kyperounda). Go straight, downhill (towards Kakopetria). A few km further on you reach the area of Platania. There are 2 exits for Platania on your left, both taking you to the starting point. We advise you to take the 2^nd exit, on your left. Immediately up this secondary road comes a sharp right turn, then you notice the area’s coffee shop on your right and a Forestry Department station opposite, on your left. Just after the Forestry Department station park on either side of the road. We meet here. If you have reached a right turn taking you to the village of Spilia, you have driven too far: turn back, drive uphill the way you came and look out for the indicated point.

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.

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.