Cicerone Guides: Western Crete 45 Walks in Kissamos and Selinos

About this book

Kissamos, situated in western Crete, offers a rich variety of landscape for the walker to marvel at and explore. The mix of mountains, gorges, peninsulas, fertile plains and endless ridges ensures that there is something for everyone. Such is the variation of terrain, history and interests within the districts of Kissamos and Selinos that views and surrounds constantly change and delight the walker. This guide describes 45 walks, including mountain treks, ridge and hill walks, gorge explorations, cliff and coastal walks, rambles from village to village and through the many archaeological wonders Crete has to offer. It also has a comprehensive introduction on walking on the island.

Contents

Map of Crete
Map - Location of Walks
Map Key

INTRODUCTION
Kissamos and Selinos
Climate and Weather Patterns
Flora and Fauna
History: Time Charts
Access and Accommodation
About this Guide
Special Interest Table
Clothing and Equipment
Safety

CHAPTER 1 Rocky Peninsulas & the Northwestern Hinterland of Kissamos
Walk 1 Through ‘Mud & Blood’ to Green Hills Beyond
Walk 2 A Stroll of Two Halves – Above & Below Afrata
Walk 3 To the ‘Hall of Tombs’
Walk 4 Afrata to Ravdouha
Walk 5 Rodopou is Spectacular
Walk 6 To Kastelli – Ancient & Modern
Walk 7 Ancient & Modern Kastelli
Walk 8 To the Bay of Pirates
Walk 9 To Vouxa, Crete’s Northwestern Extremity
Walk 10 Gramvousa’s Pinnacle by Church & Chapel
Walk 11 An Adventurous Ascent of Geroskinos
Walk 12 A Scenic Journey to Tilifos Monasterie
Walk 13 (A & B) An Eagle's-eye View of Phalasarna Bay & Cape Koutri
Walk 14 A Seat on Manna, Grandstand of Profitas Illias

CHAPTER 2 The Scenic Heart of Kissamos
Walk 15 High Expectations and a Little Sadness
Walk 16 Tsourouniana to Topolia’s West Ridge
Walk 17 The Sirikari Gorge to Polyrinia
Walk 18 Saint Sophia’s Cave
Walk 19 To Milia and Beyond
Walk 20 High, Wide & Handsome
Walk 21 I’m the King of the ‘Kastelos’
Walk 22 Leventies – the Character of Kissamos
Walk 23 By Gorge, Ridge, ‘Monasterie’ and Valley
Walk 24 A Scenic Sunday Walk
Walk 25 Agios Dikeos - The Olympus of Kissamos
Walk 26 ‘Inahorian’ - So Many Shades of Green
Walk 27 A Crater, A Donkey Track and a Seat in the ‘Gods’
Walk 28 The Lonely Valley to Sassalos
Walk 29 In the Stomio Valley to Vathi
Walk 30 To Saint Paraskevi on its Lofty Perch
Walk 31 The Mountainous Enclave of Ztitzifa
Walk 32 The Plokamiana Loop
Walk 33 ‘Pendihorian’ – 5 Villages Walk
Walk 34 Chrysoskalitissis to Elafonisos

CHAPTER 3 Byzantine Selinos
Walk 35 The Paleochora Circuit
Walk 36 Crete’s SW Extremity
Walk 37 Eagles Eye View of Paleochora
Walk 38 Two Gorges, Anidri and the Sea
Walk 39 To Saint Kyriaki
Walk 40 To Preacher’s Pulpit
Walk 41 In search of Byzantine Art
Walk 42 High above Kandanos
Walk 43 To Elusive Spina
Walk 44 Anisaraki and Kandanos to Paleochora – the Ancient Way 

APPENDIX 1: Glossary of Names and Local Terms
APPENDIX 2: Further Reading
APPENDIX 3: Useful Information
APPENDIX 4: Summary Table of Walks

Customer Reviews

Biography

Alan Hall, a Scottish 'squatter' for 44 years, has written and photographically illustrated 10 outdoor and walking guides covering the Scottish Borders, the Lammermuirs, Kielder Forest, Northumberland, the North Pennines, North York Moors, Fife and Perthshire, and Lochaber - Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. Plus, at the time of writing, Kissamos and Selinos in western Crete. An inquisitive pedestrian, full-time writer and photographer, Alan has walked in, in addition to Britain, Catalyuna and the French Pyrenees, Italy and Sri Lanka, plus some 20 Greek islands and small areas on the Greek mainland. None more extensively, however, than his favourite, the addictive island of Crete.