Troodos Mountain Trail, Path and Track Hiking in Cyprus.
3 Walks around the scenic Troodos Mountains to try whilst on holiday on Cyprus including The Artemis Trail, Atalante Nature Trail and Persefone Trail.
Welcome to our topic about Troodos Mountain walks and photos guides from our holiday in Cyprus in Autumn 2005. A Troodos holiday does not just have to involve skiing and winter snow sports
- the area is excellent for hiking and mountain biking too. The three walks described are circulars and each walk is
approximately 18kms in distance. None of our described Cyprus Troodos Walks could be considered particularly strenuous from a climbing point of view but perhaps more so due to the
distance especially if the weather is particularly hot. Incidentally we did not consider vertigo to be of any significance on these three walks.
One advantage of walking in Cyprus and when up in the Troodos Mountains - especially in the Summer - is that the
temperature in the mountains is considerably lower than that found down near the coast and beaches - we left a 28 degree day in Pafos and once we were up into the Troodos
Mountains we were hiking in around 17 degrees. Of course it then follows that you should recognise that these are mountains
and you should have the necessary clothng with you in case of a sudden weather change.
Troodos - Mount Olympos - Troodos. There is plenty of parking available at the large car park which is located at the northern
end of Troodos [N34°55'20.64" E032°52'46.74"]. Opposite the car park is a large building (the
OTE exchange) and behind this is an information board showing the route of the Atalante Nature Trail - the walk starts here.
Follow the trail as it descends slowly through pine trees and then loops right alongside a stream bed - a large hotel can
be seen high above on the right. The trail simply loops back on itself and runs along the opposite side of the stream bed. The path becomes
much narrower and becomes quite stoney underfoot - you can see the Visitors centre below on the left and then the valley.
This is now simply a case of following the path as it bears right round the hillside. Around 2.5kms from the start you come to an open area with a seat -
really good views from here. Ignore a wide trail going to the right, instead simply keep to the narrower path which passes to the right of the seat. The path continues wandering
along with the hillside on the right and then around starts to curve round to the right after passing a spring.
Around 2kms from the seat the path goes quite sharply to the right - now through lots of pine trees and with a gorge on the left.
You can in fact also see your eventual onward path on the far side of the gorge.
A little way along the path widens considerably and then soon passes the tunnel entrance of Hadjipavlou Chromide Mines - this is not
blocked off but maybe be wary about going in very far. Shortly after the mine the path doubles back on itself as it crosses the river and then
commences to wander along the other side of the gorge, climbing slightly as it does so. Around 1.5km from the river you emerge on another open
area where again there is a seat and really good views of the countryside below.
From here the path turns sharply right and then continues along still with the hillside on the right - to finally reach
a road after about 3kms. You need to be particularly careful on one area of the path which is really slippery underfoot
because of the scree. At the road turn right and follow it uphill - going past the ski lifts on the right - then about 400 metres along the road
lookout for a s sign on the right by some steps which directs you to a large tree. Follow this path to the tree and then go left - now on the
Artemis Trail. The trail gently rises and passes under another ski lift - to eventually arrive at the road. Opposite is a parking area,
information board and is the continuation of the Artemis Trail. However turn right up the road now heading towards Olympos. A little way up the
road it is possible to cut the corners through the woods - there are usually cars driving up and down so it is easy to see a point to aim at.
At the top are the entrances to the Cypriot military camps and also an ice cream van. You can get a little higher by walking straight ahead up to the British Military camp
gates where probably the guard will be happy to have a chat for five minutes. Walk back down the road to arrive at the parking area - turn right and pick up and continue along the Artemis Trail.
Soon at a fork take the left hand trail (marked) which stays fairly level and widens as it goes through fir trees, then around
480 metres from the previous junction fork left again on a track which then becomes really rocky. This track goes fairly straight for a while
and then starts to wind round to the left.
You need to look for the start of another track below and on the left - this is quite hard to see initially because of the rock and debris but does become clearer to see - scramble down onto it and continue on soon quite steeply - the hillside is on your left and fir trees and a considerable drop on the right. The track comes back to join the original outbound Atalante Trail - turn left and retrace your steps back to Troodos car park.
Trooditissa - Prodhromos - Trooditissa. This figure of eight Troodos walk starts at
Cyprus's Trooditissa Monastery - the walk undulates
over a distance of around 20kms and could be considered mildly strenuous only because of the distance - there is only one short steep climb to
bother your knees. There are several cafes at Prodhromos.
Getting to the Start: The monastery is located on the road between Platres and Troodos and is clearly signposted - there is a large car park just
outside the Monastery's main gate.
Walk through the main gate and continue along with the outside walls of the monastery on the left - carry on
straight ahead and pass through another gate which brings you onto a track.
Ignore a track on the right - just keep going as the track winds round through trees - you can just about see parts of Trooditissa
Monastery in places. As the track continues - now bending slowly right around the hillside you get views into the valleys and can see Foini below you.
Around 1km from the start ignore a track going off to the right (note you come back on this on the return route - eventually.)
and also ignore shortly afterwards a track going left which goes (and is signposted) to Fioni.
The track winds round and eventually comes to a open area with a water tank - this is now around 3.5kms
from the monastery. Take the track on the right (marked Prodhromos) and follow this always upwards (it's not particularly steep - just
constant) - ignore any sidetracks - to reach a camping area around 2.5kms from the water tank. Pass the campsite to reach the
main road and a very large picnic area - Kampi Kalogirou. [N34°55'38.10" E032°49'55.32"]
Cross the main road and take a path leaving almost opposite which is clearly marked "Prodhromos 4km" . This starts off with a really steep
climb and winds round to meet another track. Turn left here - a little way along ignore a track going off to the left signposted Asprokremnos
but at the next track junction take the left track which starts to descend.
Stay on this track soon passing a large water tank - track goes through pine forest and then eventually becomes much rougher underfoot.
Eventually Prodhromos comes into view and you can also see what is not a castle but the ruins of the Hotel Berengaria looming above the village.
You come to a very steep scree descent - this is only a short distance but is quite horrible to traverse - this
comes out on a tarmac road. Turn right and follow the road which circles
round to the right side of the village and then joins the main f295 road. Turn left and follow the main road down into the village and it's
"roundabout [N34°56'59.16" E032°49'56.70"] - there are cafes and things all round here. If you go to
the right of the Over Hill restaurant a small road takes you up to the ruined hotel - note this is marked no entry so naturally we did go up
and have a look. The Hotel Berengaria must have been really impressive at one time.
Facing the Over Hill restaurant, take a cobbled path on the left which take you quite steeply down to a small
road - cross the road and continue on down passing houses on both sides. Keep straight ahead at a
junction passing by houses and extensive fruit orchards - the initially concreted track soon changes to dirt - keep and
eye out for the frequent small water tanks which are used to irrigate the fruit trees and grape vines. The track eventually leaves the fruit
growing area and continues along now through pine trees. Cross a quite muddy stream on a sharp bend and then half a kilometre from there take
the left hand track at a fork - this rises slowly up. At the next track junction around 650 metres take the right hand fork which descends to
soon reach another stream bed and a spring. Continue on the track ignoring any side tracks to reach the Kampi Kalogirou picnic site
after around another kilometre.
Turn right and follow the main road towards Trooditissa - around 750 metres from the picnic site and on a
sharp bend take a track which drops off on the right and is signposted Trooditissa 3km. Follow this track as it descends through pines - the
track is generally ok but in several places rocks have fallen onto it - perhaps in early spring this could be a problem since you can clearly
see where really heavy rock falls have occurred and been subsequently bulldozed away.
Simply follow the track on down to reach the original outbound track. Turn left and walk back to the monastery.
(Outside) Platres - Pouziaris - Troodos - Platres. This circular has a bit of a climb of around 600 metres at the start but then becomes much easier - total distance approximately 17.5kms. The walk starts just outside of Platres on the main road to Troodos at the Psilo Dendro Trout Farm/restaurant where there is a small car park. [N34°53'45".66 E032°52'06".18 ]
Turn left out of the car park and almost immediately turn left again onto the signposted forest road to Mesa Potamos. Locate
the Nature Trail Board which indicates the Pouziaris trail and take the small path to the left of it which heads up into woods. Stay on this
rising path as it passes near a viewpoint bench on the right and then reaches a dirt road. Cross over the road and continue on the path which
is almost opposite - the path continues climbing and zig zagging. At a path junction with a sign indicating "Psilo Dendro 1km" turn left onto
an old mule track. Soon cross another forest track and continue on up the path opposite - there are at times steep drops on the left and good
views too. Around 2.5kms from the start turn right on a path which winds really steeply uphill through the forests to reach the top of Pouziaris.
There is a bench seat here but the steel pylon mentioned in several walking books is an ex-steel pylon - i.e. not there.
From the top continue along and soon pass another bench/seat and at the nearbye signpost continue straight ahead crossing a ridge and heading towards the golf
course (I mean golf balls). You eventually join a very rough dirt track - go ahead on this and climb steeply up to reach a signposted
track junction - go left and continue as the track winds through woods and soon the security fences from the military camp appear on the right.
Simply follow the track to arrive at a tarmac road - St-George-in-the-Forest church is on the left and the entrance gates to the camp are a little further on to the right.
So turn right at the church and follow the tarmac road past the camp gates to soon reach the outskirts of Troodos. Just as you enter Troodos
look out for the Nature Trail Board on the right which indicates the start of the Persephone Trail. Take this trail - it is a narrow path and
goes fairly level for a while through pine trees as it heads towards and then bears to the left of the previously passed military camp.
Simply stay on this path as it slightly undulates along through the woods and fairly soon you start to get the magnificent views of the asbestos mine workings down
on the left. These massive workings have hardly anything growing on their bleak surface and really scar the otherwise great countryside.
The path passes an area where there are several seats and then just keeps going along through the forest eventually to reach a track crossroads. Go straight across and about
half a kilometre along you reach the view point at Makrya Kontarka. There are several seats here and this is an ideal stopping place for
lunch - and the views are excellent.
Walk back to the track junction, now turn right and follow the track and then quite soon go right again at the next track
junction [N34°54'36.60 E032°53'46.38] now heading towards Vryses. You again soon get more views of the
asbestos mines on the left but then the track curves away to the right through a cut and then from here you have good views down to the left of
the heavily forested valley below.
From now on the track starts it's descent - ignore a turn off to the left which goes to Mesapotamos, instead continue along the main track as it winds down the side of the
valley. The track hooks back left really tightly at a rock face as it crosses a stream bed. There are several tracks and paths which join
along here but follow the signs for Vryses and Platres at the various junctions.
You reach a main junction just under 2 kilometres from the rock rack bend - turn right and follow the increasingly broad forest track as it continues it's descent into Platres. Soon as you continue down you can see in the woods on the left various buildings and houses and then you soon arrive back at the start point.
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