Walks in Elounda, Crete - update April 2006 to the 2003 edition of Walks in Elounda, Crete
Walk 1. Elounda to Olous to Kolokythia Beach
para 5: “On the ridge, with a small church up to the left” The small church, Ágios Loukas, has been considerably tarted up, with stone facing, and a courtyard.
para 7: The dirt track behind the saltpan is called Odos Alykon.
Walk 2. Elounda to Pano Elounda to Kato Pines to Pano Pines to Pano Elounda.
para 6: In April 2006, the Kato Pines taverna-cafe, Oi Myli, looked as though it could be going to open. But then again, it might not...
para 7: “Just before reaching a path (off right, to the church), take the obvious path to the left, which leads alongside a water channel through the fields behind the houses.” The obvious path is now an obvious dirt track.
Walk 3. Pano Elounda to Mavrikiano
para 2: “Ignore a path down right but go left and up at the next junction of the asphalt road.” The path is now a concrete road.
Walk 4. Elounda to Kato Elounda to Pano Elounda
para 2: “Turn right at the church and follow the onward path immediately left of the church. This path drops down from the little hill, and then makes its way by a series of right-angle bends across the fields, to join the main road near the Pano Elounda road bridge.” The path from the church quickly becomes a dirt track - go left and right at junctions to follow it along the course of the original path.
Walk 5. Elounda to the Elounda Residence to Olous saltpans to Elounda
para 5: “However, for the main walk, turn right near the Elounda Residence, onto a dirt track that rises gently along the hillside, passing another accommodation, before reaching a junction.” The start of the dirt track is now concreted and there is more than one other accommodation.
para 6: “Go past a narrow building on the left, with roadway on either side, and continue on the main road pavement to a left turn in Odos Halkyon.” The street is no longer name-signed, but is signed to the Paradisos Taverna.
Walk 9. Kato Pines to Agios Pandeleimon to Havgas to Plaka
The path from below Agios Pandeleimon to the Havgas road is overgrown and difficult, while much of the Havgas road is asphalted, so the route beyond Agios Pandeleimon is no longer recommended.
para 2: “Where the concrete-surfaced track swings right and down, fork left and up onto a broad kalderimi.” The broad kalderimi path is now a concreted track.
Walk 10. Plaka to Agios Ioannis to Plaka
para 2: “The drop-off point for taxis is just before the village of Vrouhas – at a recently cemented road” This junction is now clearly signed to the wind-farm (“wind park”).
Walk 12. Areti monastery to Kardamoutza to Kato Pines
para 6: “The track curves around the back of the valley and becomes overgrown, fading to a path, but this joins a much better used road coming up from Dories.” The path is now so overgrown you need to leave it over the wall to the left (a well-used route), to join a parallel dirt track.