Walks in North Lesvos (book and map)

Explore the northern part of the interesting and traditional island of Lesvos, in Greece's eastern Aegean. Walks are based on the resorts of Anaxos and nearby Petra, but many of the walks are also possible from Mithimna/Molyvos, using the local buses.

Anaxos is situated on the north coast of Lesvos, 9km south of Mithymna (Molyvos). The village is spread over a wide area, but with scattered buildings and much open space between most of the buildings, in contrast to the more concentrated built-up areas of Petra.

Petra is a larger village, with an old heart centred around the Panagia Glykofilousa church, which is perched on a 35m volcanic plug. On the street circling to the north of the rock is the sunken 16th Century church of Agios Nikolaos, with some well-preserved frescoes.

This book describes thirteen walks, including routes southwest along the coast to the long beaches at Ambelia and Megali Tsikhranda; inland from Ambelia to Skoutaros; to the pretty hill-village of Lafionas and on to the ancient ruins and meadows hidden amongst the pine trees at Agios Alexandros; through the quaint hamlet of Petri to a hidden valley filled with ruined watermills; the dramatic ascent from Aryenos to Pelopi via Mt Lepetymnos, the highest point of the northern half of the island. A fourteenth walk makes a circuit of the beautiful woodland near the historic town of Agiasos in the mountainous centre of the south of the island.

The coastal scenery is of long, sometimes narrow, beaches separated by low headlands. The coastal plains have fields, with occasional outcrops of volcanic rock, while the lower hillsides are stony with low, shrubby vegetation. Higher hills have a band of pine or mixed woodland, below summits that are often bare. The island is popular in spring, particularly with birdwatchers, but also with plant lovers for its interesting variety of flowers.

The walks are not difficult, although some of the walks use old, cobbled paths which may have a lot of loose stones. Some ascents and descents can be steep in places. The Mt Lepetymnos walk is distinctly more challenging than the rest, because of the altitude changes and the faintness of the paths in some of the upper areas. Most en route villages have café facilities.

Large-scale sketch maps of Anaxos, Lafionas and Petra 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 the area, at a scale of 3.3cm:1km. Book and map are supplied in a tough A5 plastic sleeve.

Book first published 1997, updated 2010; map published 2003, updated 2011.

ISBN 978-1-900802-70-3

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Lance Chilton and Marengo 2012

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