Walks in Kalymnos (book and map)

The book describes walks on the East Aegean Greek island of Kalymnos - based on the Melitsahas-Myrties-Massouri resort - and the small neighbouring island, Telendos.

The rugged and magnificent limestone landscape makes Kalymnos a paradise for both walkers and serious rock climbers. The scenery is a combination of high, parallel mountain ridges and deep valleys, with numerous limestone cliffs, bare rock, and very few trees. Views are often panoramic, to nearby islands, but often hazy in the distance.

The fifteen walks on Kalymnos include routes from Myrties across to the next bay at Linaria-Kandouni and to the spectacularly sited little monastery churches at Stavrou and Agia Fotini; inland to Agios Pandelimon monastery and the Panormos area; from central Hora town to the 679m limestone summit of Mt Profitis Ilias, the island's highest point; two routes into the deep Vathy valley, including the paved kalderimi (donkey path) from Pothia which is one of Greece's finest; from Vathy onward to the fjord-like harbour at Rina, or to the remote and hidden Kyra Psili monastery, and to Arginonda in the north; around the southcoast, high above another hidden monastery, Pithari. The walks on Telendos are a circuit of the island's interesting southern promontory, passing early Christian barrel tombs, a ruined basilica and tiny beaches; and a more challenging route to the Agios Konstandinos ruins in the high interior.

Because of the nature of the scenery, the longer walks in this book involve considerable ascents and descents, often on quite stony paths and in remote areas. Because of the absence of trees, there is very little shade on the upland and remoter walks. Humidity is usually low. The area is extremely popular with rock climbers, but it is only beginning to be discovered by walkers who enjoy some more challenging routes away from busy tourism.

Most walks are possible from Pothia (Kalymnos Town), or Panormos-Elies (Kandouni) using the local buses.

Large-scale sketch maps of the Melitsahas-Myrties-Massouri-Armeos area, Panormos-Kandouni, Hora, Argos, the central Vathy valley, and eastern Telendos island 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 with Kalymnos on one side and Western Kos on the other, at a scale of (Kalymnos) 2.5cm:1km and (Kos) 3.1cm:1km. Book and map are supplied in a tough A5 plastic sleeve.

Book first published 2002, updated 2006; map published 2002, extensively updated 2008.

ISBN 978-1-905333-07-3

It is possible to combine Kalymnos island with nearby Western Kos for an interesting, contrasting, twin-centre holiday. We therefore also offer the two walk books and map as a package.

UK ONLY Kalymnos book and map
Royal Mail 2ndClass Standard KYBM-UK-2nd Ł8.00
Royal Mail 1stClass Standard KYBM-UK-1st Ł8.50
Royal Mail 2ndClass Recorded Signed For KYBM-UK-RSF2 Ł9.00
Royal Mail 1stClass Recorded Signed For KYBM-UK-RSF1 Ł9.50
Royal Mail Special Delivery Next Day KYBM-UK-SDND Ł13.50 (not Saturday delivery)

OUTSIDE UK Kalymnos book and map
Europe Royal Mail Airmail Small Packets KYBM-EUR-SP Ł9.20
Europe Royal Mail Airmail International Signed For Small Packets KYBM-EUR-ISF Ł13.70
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA Royal Mail Airmail International Signed For Small Packets KYBM-WD-ISF Ł14.50
Europe Royal Mail Airmail Airsure KYBM-EUR-AS Ł14.35
Canada, New Zealand, USA Royal Mail Airmail Airsure KYBM-WD-AS Ł15.15

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Lance Chilton and Marengo 2010

Marengo, 17 Bernard Crescent, Hunstanton PE36 6ER, England