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Walking Plakias in the Spring

Walking in England is enjoyable, but our best times have been in Greece. For the past 10 years we have walked, Spring and Autumn, in Samos, mainland Greece and (especially) Southern Crete. We were privileged to lead rambling holidays in Plakias, Crete for some years. April-May is the preferred time; the temperatures are cool enough for comfortable walking (though the sea has not yet warmed to its optimum swimming temperature) and the profusion of wild flowers is almost indescribably beautiful. Walking under a warm sun through meadows with wild orchids, gladioli, poppies, tulips and brilliant orange-yellow corn marigolds, embraced by the scents of wild thyme and sage, is a taste of heaven. Later in the year, in early Autumn, Kingfishers fish in the sea which is now warm, the country side is golden and Autumn flowers bloom: Sea Daffodils and Sea Squills on the coast; Cyclamen, Narcissus and Sternbergia in the mountains.

Plakias in Southern Crete is a wonderful centre for walking. Set in a wide bay, the resort is still small, with unspoiled villages set in the hills behind it. A chain of mountains up to 3000ft overlooks Plakias; these mountains isolate the area (road access is via two large and spectacular gorges) and have so far helped preserve its solitude and identity. They also provide superb walking; a mixture of limestone ridges and fertile valleys. (One might imagine like the Yorkshire Dales in the Lake District, with sun). Two miles north of the coast the villages are not affected by tourism; the real Crete, with its rugged scenery, and the charm and hospitality of its citizens, will immediately seduce the walker. See for yourself: try Plakias on the Interkriti site.

The Kotsifos Gorge above Plakias, looking west to Sellia along the main coast road.   Plakias Bay, looking south-east from the mountains

In Samos, we were based in Kokkari on the north coast. The picture shows us in a small taverna above Manolates, having walked up from Kokkari to Vourliotes and thence to Manolates. (Spring 1999) The scenery on Samos is beautiful: wooded valleys ringing with the sound of Nightingales. The inland village of Vourliotes has the most wonderful fresh water - just the thing after a hot walk up from Kokkari - and the Blue Chairs taverna in the central plateia serves the best beer and yoghurt ever!

	In Ithaca we have stayed at Kioni, a small village on the north-east coast. It lies at the top of a large sheltered bay and is consequently a popular overnight stop for the many who use the Ionian Sea for sailing holidays. The view on the left was photographed above Exoghi, close to the highest point on Ithaca. (Spring 2000)
The most remarkable aspect of Ithaca and Cephallonia when we stayed there was the sea; its brilliant, iridescent blue looks almost like a completely overdone postcard view! In truth it is probably like that because it is clean and clear, with white rock below the surface reflecting a high proportion of light.

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