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Walks in the Akamas Area (book and map)

view from top of Pano Vahines, Pissouromoutti summit

Walks in the Akamas Area describes twenty-four walks in the hills of this lovely, comparatively uncommercialized corner of western Cyprus, based on the resorts of Latchi and Polis (but would also be possible, with car-hire, from Pafos).

The Akamas peninsula in the northwestern part of Cyprus is an area that remains, in part, an undeveloped wilderness, formerly used by the British Army for exercises. The western section has retained, comparatively undisturbed, much of its flora and fauna, while along the eastern margin there is increasing development of tourist accommodation and holiday homes.

The main town, to the east, is Polis and main coastal resort is Latchi. East and southeast of Polis is an area of agricultural fields and some small villages, while in the hills to the south of Latchi are the large villages of Neohori and, at 600m asl, Drousha. To the west of Latchi are the Baths of Afrodite (Loutrá tis Afrodítis), a slightly disappointing, overgrown rock pool.

Some 2500 years ago, Polis was the site of the city state of Marion, which prospered from the nearby copper mines at Limni. After its destruction by the Egyptians, it was rebuilt under the name of Arsinoe, but in Byzantine times it was renamed Polis. There has been some archaeological excavation, particularly in the 1880's when the contents of 4,000 tombs were auctioned off in Europe and lost to science. In 1964 the town suffered Turkish air raids. In 1975, after the Turkish invasion of the northern half of Cyprus of the previous year, the Turkish-Cypriot population of the area moved to the north, and some local villages were almost entirely abandoned.

Walk routes go south into the lush Khrysokhou valley; wander southeast through arable fields up to Pelathousa; traverse the deep, hidden valleys between Kritou Tera and Kato Akourdalia; cross the high, open ridge between Drousha and Androlikou; travel along the coast between Polis and Latchi; visit the inland plain behind Prodromi and Latchi; and explore the fields and pine-covered slopes of the protected land of the Akamas peninsula.

Scenery, in general, is agricultural in the east and north (arable fields and citrus groves) and more varied in the west and southwest.

Overall, the routes are not difficult, although there may be short, stony sections of path on the Akamas. There are a few shortish steep sections, but most ascents and descents are relatively easy. Walks are short, medium or long, mostly straightforward, and there is some shade on most of them. Some en route villages have café facilities. Views are sometimes good, though tend to be hazy - perhaps the best panoramic views are from the northwestern Akamas. The signed Akamas trails can be quite busy with walkers, other routes much less so. Because of the generally mild Cypriot weather, the walks can be done in the winter half of the year, although you may need to start early in the day in December-January to benefit from the best of the daylight.

Large-scale sketch maps of the villages Drousha, Hrysohou, Latchi, Neohorio, Polis and Prodromi are included within the text.

The 40-page book is A5 size, with a card cover. It is accompanied by an A3 double-sided colour walkers' map of the area, at a scale of 2.75cm: 1km (1:36363). Book and map are supplied in a tough A5 plastic sleeve.

Book first published 1996, book updated 2007; map updated 2007-2010.

ISBN 978-1-900802-97-0

UK ONLY Akamas book and map
Royal Mail 2ndClass Standard AKBM-UK-2nd Ł8.25
Royal Mail 1stClass Standard AKBM-UK-1st Ł8.75
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Akamas book, map plus one EXTRA map
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Lance Chilton and Marengo 2012

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