There is one village in Cyprus, whose marketing has succeeded in registering a strong recognition for its production of noble scents, and this is Agros. Agros is connected with production or roses, and from the rose petals a long list of scented products; in the food, perfumery and other industries. Our walk of Sunday 9 March 2025 takes us to Agros, a 1^st for the club, where we schedule to hike 2 linear paths, of which the 2^nd is an extension of the 1^st. The combined hikes have a length of 7 ½ km return, which will take about 3 ½ hours, incl. breaks, and a degree of difficulty 2. There is a 200 m elevation change, from a high 1075 m near the start to a low 880 m at the far end. The path is slippery, with loose stones, at some points, and hiking poles are mandatory for the downhill! Vegetation along the way is largely pine trees, with fewer golden oaks and oak trees, as well as a variety of bushes. One further location of interest is a pond used for irrigation, with benches where we aim to have our banana break. The walk starts at 10:45 am. Nicos is leading this walk, which will go ahead even in light rain; if you need to, call 99587448. The starting point for this walk is outside the large Hotel Rodon, in Agros https://maps.app.goo.gl/q3mHw6GEvAC1Erq67. Time permitting, we may make a bonus stop at the end of hiking, at a local vendor of scented products.

We shall follow the walk with a served meze lunch at our choice taverna in the nearby village of Handria. Handria is the first village next to Agros, on the way to Nicosia or Limassol. 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 sms the walk leader or 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 hike start:

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 continue straight ahead (on the principal road towards Troodos). At the 0.5 km reading you come to traffic lights, go straight. At the 3.0 km reading you leave the main road, taking the side road on your left, named E903 and signposted to Palekhori.  At the 3.3 km reading you get to a roundabout; zero your odometer and take the first exit to the left, signposted to Palekhori. Drive along this main road for many km. At the 33.2 km reading you pass the entrance to the village of Palekhori (on your right); stay on the main road. At the 44.6 km reading you pass a first entrance to the village of Agros (on your left); stay on the main road. You enter Agros on your left, at the 47.9 km reading (note, the road sign is concealed) https://maps.app.goo.gl/M92jSeRkRrEUPXEp9. At the 48.3 km reading you reach a Y-junction: do not go right (uphill), go left, downhill. Continue on this road, ignoring minor side roads. At the 49.5 km reading you reach a T-junction: do not go left (downhill), go right, uphill. At the 50.3 km reading you have arrived at Hotel Rodon on your left https://maps.app.goo.gl/q3mHw6GEvAC1Erq67. Park your car on the side. We meet here.   

How to get from Limassol to the hike start:

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 go straight, downhill (this takes you to Kakopetria). Do not turn left (this takes you to Troodos square). Zero your odometer again and turn right, signposted to Pitsilia region. Drive through and out of Kyperounda, the first village on your way. The second village you meet is Handria. At the 11.4 km reading you leave the principal road, turning right, downhill, following the sign to Agros village. At the 12.5 km reading you reach a T-junction, where you turn right. At the 13.6 km reading you reach another T-junction, where you turn right. 800 m after that, you reach Hotel Rodon on your left https://maps.app.goo.gl/q3mHw6GEvAC1Erq67. Park your car on the side. We meet here. The total distance from Karvounas to the hike start is 14.4 km.  

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.