Our excursion of Sunday 13 October 2024 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 two waterfalls. The first hike starts at 11:00 am. Gunnar is leading this outing, which will go ahead even in light rain; if you need to, call 99251329.
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 two trails lie on either side of Platres village, a favourite mountain resort of visitors and residents on the island, which inspired the famous Greek poet George Seferis (Nobel Prize in Literature in 1963).
The 1st hike is linear and takes place in the village of Platres. 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.
At the conclusion of the Myllomeris hike, we return to our cars, to drive to the start of the 2nd hike. The 2nd hike is circular; its first section is entirely along the banks of the river Kryos Potamos, which we cross (there are small wooden bridges) several times. The river Kryos Potamos flows all year round and vegetation in the area is rich, with many trees and bushes. The first section of the hike is all uphill, to reach the popular Caledonian waterfall. The waterfall is impressive, falling from a height of over 10 m. We return along a side path. Estimated duration of the 2nd hike is under 90 min, including the stops to admire the landscape. Degree of difficulty is 2 (medium).
After the 2nd walk we shall drive to our taverna of choice for lunch. Lunch consists of a rich assortment of dishes, incl. salad, starters, meat and non-meat (but no fish), side dishes, as well as wine and Cyprus coffee. Expect to pay around 20 euro (only in cash). We live in times of ever-rising costs, and the Club will continue to negotiate the best deals for its members. 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 sms the walk leader or e-mail Xenophon by end Friday, indicating whether you will be joining us for lunch or not. Registered participants for lunch will receive full details via e-mail the day before.
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 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 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 pass Kampos tou Livadiou on your right. At the 41.6 km reading turn left into Troodos square, past the car park on your left. At the 41.9 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 49.4 km reading you reach the junction of Platres/ Psilo Dendro, where you need to turn right, to enter the village. At the 49.9 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 50.5 km reading you drive past the police station on your right. At the 50.6 km reading you drive past the Petit Palais hotel on your left. Continue straight, downhill, towards Kato Platres. At the 51.0 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 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 turn left, to enter the village. At the 0.5 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 1.1 km reading you drive past the police station on your right. At the 1.2 km reading you drive past the Petit Palais hotel on your left. Continue straight, downhill, towards Kato Platres. At the 1.6 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 2nd hike start, from the 1st hike start:
Zero your odometer as you depart from the car park. Drive uphill on a straight path and out of the village of Platres, past the Petit Palais hotel on your right, past the police station on your left, until you reach a T-junction at the 0.8 km reading. Turn right at the T-junction. At the 1.3 km reading you reach the main road to Troodos. Facing you is the area named Psilo Dendro (taverna and trout farm just in front). Here is also the start of the Caledonian trail. Park on either side of the main road. We meet at the trail start.
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: Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from the Presidential Palace to the parking field on Agiou Gennadiou street: http://tinyurl.com/k9gabhs
Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from Troodos square to the start of the Myllomeris hike http://tinyurl.com/paztwum
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