route 2: Horio - Skiadi - Mavrospilia

duration:  3 hours

degree of difficulty: easy up to Skiadi, then medium.

The departure point is the OTE building. Heading out of the village, you turn left shortly before the church of Ag. Efstathios following the blue arrows. The first hour of this walk is the same as the walk to Paleokastro (indicated by the red arrows). As you are leaving the village, take the right hand road at the first fork and where the road ends, turn left. Don’t take any of the smaller paths which cross your route but keep on the wide,  mostly well-paved track.

Roughly half an hour after you pass the chapel of Ag. Anargiri, you’ll see a little further on, away from the track on your left, the chapel of the Profitis Elias. Roughly 45-50 minutes  from Horio,  you go left, still  following  the blue and red arrows. Alternatively, you can reach this point by motorcycle – up to here the track is reasonably negotiable. 

The path, which starts to narrow, continues along the slope – on your right is Mount Sklavos (you will see the radio transmitting dish  on the summit). Leaving  the mountain behind,  you will reach a point where two paths  diverge. For Skiadi you continue straight on, following the blue arrows while for Paleokastro you turn right. Starting your way down, you can  see Skiadi, even if the path is not very clear. Skiadi itself is a remarkable geological formation – a rock, perhaps three metres high and three or four metres wide, sculpted by the wind into the form of a mushroom.

 If you want to continue towards the sea from  Skiadi, head down the steep slope into the deep valley on your right (90 to your previous course). The path is difficult to find, and you may have to make your way through the low scrub vegetation. Once you reach the valley bottom ( about 10 minutes), however, you will again find a good wide track on your left following  a stone wall. Follow the track in the direction of the sea and it will lead you to Mavrospilia beach.

Press here to see the route on the map