Walks in Western Kos (book and map)

This book describes walks, based on the small town of Kefalos and the adjacent resort of Kamari, at the volcanic western end of Kos, an area very different from the island's much busier resorts of Kos Town and Kardamena.

The ten walks in the book include routes to the Neolithic Aspri Petra cave; to the Classical site of Astipalia, the ancient capital; to the ruined Byzantine chapel of Panagia Palatiani; to the castle of the Knights of St John at Kefalos; through pine woodland to the Panagia Ziniotissa church viewpoint on Mt Zini; south along the island's spine to the Agios Ioannis Thymianos monastery, and thence to Agios Mamas church at the isolated southern tip of the Kefalos peninsula; or to tiny Agios Theologos monastery and its beach, via the northwest coast.

Coastal scenery includes long beaches. Inland, the scenery is mostly open, stony hillside, with scattered small trees, occasional small areas of pine trees, and large flocks of goats. The area east from Kefalos town has a lot of scattered buildings, but head west and southwest and there is remoter countryside. On the peninsula there are a variety of volcanic rock formations, including small caves with sulfur exudations, and there are lovely views northeast along the island to its highest point, Mt Dikeos, or seaward to its even more volcanic neighbour, Nisyros.

Although some of the walks are quite long they are mostly straightforward, with ascents and descents but very few steep sections. There are no café facilities, other than at Kefalos and Kamari.

The book also includes suggestions for interesting visits further east, such as to the ruined Byzantine capital at Paleo Pyli.

Large-scale sketch maps of Kefalos and Kamari are included within the text.

The 32-page book is A5 size, with a card cover. It is accompanied by an A3 double-sided colour walkers' map of Western Kos. (Please note that this replaces the previous map, and that the photo on this page (top right) still shows the older map. A newer picture will be online soon.) Book and map are supplied in a tough A5 plastic sleeve.

Book first published 1999, updated 2006 (slightly updated 2010); map published 2002, extensively updated 2008, slightly updated 2011.

"I went to Kos at Easter and found your Walks in Western Kos book very useful. We did walks 1, 7, 8 and 10 and the descriptions were good. I don't think there were any changes needed. We would like to recommend the kafenion in Kefalos near the first windmill out of town and one of the restaurants on the road below the castle (I think it was called The Castle) both for their friendliness and good Greek food. It was a lovely place and I look forward to going back." Tim Q., May 2011.

ISBN 978-1-905333-18-9 (book and map)

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Lance Chilton and Marengo 2012

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