Exohori

KARDAMILLI TO EXOHORI

Kardamilli, Petrovouni, Exohori and Aghios Sophia Tuesday 17th October 2017

Today saw 4 of us do an exploratory walk, from Kardamilli to Exohori. Once again it was a beautiful and sunny day. The purpose of the walk was to check the route out for a group of walkers for next year. The walk took all day and lunch was taken at the Frengie Hotel. Enjoy.

TIGANA CASTLE

Tigana Castle Wednesday 4th October 2017

Today saw 11 of us set off for Tigana Castle deep in the south Mani peninsular. The walk was organised and led by my good friend Liz Chandler again. So that left me playing sheepdog rounding everyone up.
It was a perfect day for walking, this is an all day walk so after coffee in Areopolis we set off for the castle across what is called the pan handle. A narrow spit of land that has the sea lapping on both side, that connects to Tigana Castle. After reaching the castle we did a walk around the outer walls before descending for a packed lunch at the base of the castle. Then it was the big climb back to the car park and for those who were feeling energetic a visit to a small church that is carved in to a rock face overlooking the sea. Not for the faint hearted. Thanks to Ken Bigrave for those photos and some of the others he contributed. Hope you all enjoy the pictures.

Kolombatika

Kolombatika Circular 22nd September 2017

Todays walk saw 5 of us do a circular walk from the village of Kolombatika round the edge of the Vyros gorge. Another wonderful sunny day and an early start to beat the midday heat. This was a new walk for me and was lead by my good friend Liz Chandler. Leaving Kolombatika we headed downhill and through the quiet village of Kato Hora and continued on down towards the village of Aghios Sophia, but not quite. Turn right about 500 meters before the village and then walking on the rim of the Vyros gorge giving views of the sea beyond Kardamilli and also down into the gorge by Lukaku Monestary. Then we started the climb up to the the small church of Aghios Gorgos which stands on a pinnacle a bit like the church in Mamamia. From there it was a relatively easy walk back to Kato Hora and back to our starting point. But just when you think your finnished we then visited two churches nearby over looking the gorge. Eventually lunch was taken and a cool beer at the Ferengie Hotel over looking the gorge and the not too distant Taygetos mountains. A big thank you to Liz Chandler for leading the walk.

LAGNADA

LAGNADA TO AG MARINA 15th September 2017

Our first walk of the autumn, saw seven of us head off for the village of Lagnada. Another warm and sunny day, so an early start to beat the midday sun. This was a linear walk to see an amazing church built in to a cave. The walk took the best part of 3 hours and at first followed the kalderimi from Lagnada to Ag Nikon. At the point where the path crosses the Lagada gorge we turned off and head down the gorge towards Trachilla. About halfway down you come across the church of Aghios Marina built in to a cave and standing above the floor of the gorge, simply stunning. Its a pity the pictures  cannot do it justice. We followed the same route back to Lagnada and a lite lunch was taken at the kafenion in the village.