Black Pine along our path

Our hike of Sunday 2 October 2016 takes place on the Troodos mountain range. We walk on a combination of dirt (forest) roads and narrow trails, on a linear path which starts and ends at the picnic site of the attractive dam, near Prodromos village. Prodromos is the village with the highest altitude in Cyprus. The hike involves several uphill and downhill sections, is 10 km long, rated 2+ (medium difficulty to difficult), and is expected to take about 3 hours. We walk at an altitude of 1400 – 1500 m. The hike starts at 11:00 am. Xenophon is leading this event, which will go ahead even in light rain; if you need to, call 97613720.

The hike is in dense forest, with the impressive black pine trees (Pinus nigra), golden oaks, common pines, cherry trees and several other species of trees and bushes delighting the Stroller. We begin at the picnic site of Prodromos dam, walk south on dirt roads for the initial 4 km, then climb down on a trail for the next 1 km, to reach a pretty location named Platanos Kalogirou, situated on the old paved road connecting Prodromos village with Trooditissa monastery and then Platres village. We take the same path back.

At the end of the walk we shall hold a picnic at the designated picnic site behind Prodromos dam. The picnic site is equipped with the usual facilities, but does not offer drinking water. This should not present any problem, since we can take the cars to the picnic site parking area.

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 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 from Nicosia to the walk start (Prodromos dam), via Kakopetria village:

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 look out for the road sign on your right, directing you to ‘Pedoulas, via Agios Nikolaos Stegis’. Turn right and drive the entire 12 km along this picturesque paved road. At approx. the 14 km reading, this road ends at a T-junction, where it meets the Pedoulas – Prodromos road. Turn left at the T-junction, driving uphill towards Prodromos. You pass Louis taverna on your right. 200 m later you reach the only roundabout in Prodromos: take the main road continuing uphill, signposted to Troodos. In a few minutes you pass Prodromos dam, on your right. Continue to drive along the main road, past the dam, but slow down, looking out for a collection of signs; one wooden sign indicates ‘nature trail’, another wooden sign indicates ‘Stavroulia’ and has a map; a third, metal sign, carries illustrations of trees and an arrow. At this point, exit the paved road, turning right and park on the side; there are sufficient parking spaces. We meet here. The distance from Prodromos roundabout to the meeting point is 2 ½ km. Note: We meet on the side of the paved road, some few hundred metres before the picnic site, to ensure no one gets lost; we shall drive the final few hundred metres to the picnic site in a convoy. Note: the route via Kakopetria village and Agios Nikolaos Stegis is the shortest of the two options available, from Nicosia, and the most picturesque.

How to get from Nicosia to the walk start (Prodromos dam), via Troodos square:

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, turn left. Drive along the main road, until you reach Troodos. From Troodos, follow the road signs towards the village of Prodromos. The distance from Troodos square to the meeting point is 5 ½ km. As you approach the 5 ½ km mark slow down, looking out for a collection of signs; one wooden sign indicates ‘nature trail’, another wooden sign indicates ‘Stavroulia’ and has a map; a third, metal sign, carries illustrations of trees and an arrow. At this point, exit the paved road, turning left and park on the side; there are sufficient parking spaces. We meet here. Caution: if you have reached the dam on your left, you have gone too far; turn back and drive uphill. Note: We meet on the side of the paved road, some few hundred metres before the picnic site, to ensure no one gets lost; we shall drive the final few hundred metres to the picnic site in a convoy.

How to get from Limassol to the walk start, via Troodos square:

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 right (this takes you to Kyperounda). Zero your odometer, turn left and drive uphill towards Troodos square. At the 8.6 km reading you reach Troodos square and its car park on your left. Do not turn left into the square. Zero your odometer and drive straight ahead, downhill, along the main road, following the road signs towards the village of Prodromos. The distance from Troodos square to the meeting point is 5 ½ km. As you approach the 5 ½ km mark slow down, looking out for a collection of signs; one wooden sign indicates ‘nature trail’, another wooden sign indicates ‘Stavroulia’ and has a map; a third, metal sign, carries illustrations of trees and an arrow. At this point, exit the paved road, turning left and park on the side; there are sufficient parking spaces. We meet here. Caution: if you have reached the dam on your left, you have gone too far; turn back and drive uphill. Note: We meet on the side of the paved road, some few hundred metres before the picnic site, to ensure no one gets lost; we shall drive the final few hundred metres to the picnic site in a convoy.

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://tiny-url.org/zu5ijAJn

Google Maps: Here is a map taking you from the Presidential Palace to the church of tis Theou Sophias: http://tiny-url.org/hEk7ggCF

Google Maps: Here is a map showing the walk start area

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/34.9475314,32.843931//@34.9442071,32.8372791,15z

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.