Kritina Village and Castle €35pp
Duration:
5 hrs An excellent mid-length walk through interesting and contrasting terrain, this venture on the west side of the island makes a good low-level alternative. A good amount of interest is maintained throughout this walk.
Starting below the impressive Kritina Castle, the first part of our walk takes us into some of the most fertile farmland of Rhodes. It can come as quite a surprise, after having walked or driven through the pine forests and Mediterranean scrubland found on much of Rhodes, to find yourself walking through fields filled with a huge variety of different fruit and vegetables. Every time we visit Kritina we enjoy discovering this seasonal produce as we walk up through the valley.
As we approach the head of the valley, we start seeing signs of Kritina village and reach the outskirts at an old church. Kritina is a real locals village, most likely the old men will be sat in the shade putting the world to rights. Here is an opportunity to have a coffee and experience an alternative part of Rhodes. Having explored the village our walk takes us down the valley flanks a way in search of a good lunch spot. Your guide will help explain the options available for the optimum combination of view, shade and seating comfort.
At this point, there is a choice of route available that depends on how adventurous you are feeling. Firstly and most easily, we can stick to the farm tracks and explore the valley. Secondly, we have discovered a route that follows a streambed; however, due to minimal traffic it can be a little overgrown. If you are prepared for a bit of bush-whacking (long-trousers recommended) then there is the opportunity to discover a really wild almost jungle like corner of Rhodes and get an insight into how we find the walks you enjoy. Either way the paths meet up again a little further down the valley.
Our path now leads on towards the coast, what has so far been a wide and fertile agricultural valley begins to steepen and narrow. We skirt down the edge of this gorge like valley feature on a superb single-track path. This path takes us all the way to the coast and a special little place you can only discover by coming on the walk.
Single-track leads uphill from here skirting cliffs in magnificent position with great views. Over the top of the hill, we pass a bizarrely positioned tennis court before finishing at the castle.
Equipment:
You will require walking boots and walking socks for support and comfort while walking. It is advisable to wear light long sleeve shirts and light trousers in addition to sun hat, sun cream and sun glasses as the sun is often strong here in the valleys. You should bring a rucksack, as it will be necessary to carry your lunch, personal items and at least two litres of water. A pair of walking poles can be helpful and we have these available to hire or buy if you feel you need them. A camera is also recommended.
Food:
We will stop for a pack lunch on route and will likely snack along the way. The best rule of thumb is always to come away from a walk with some food spare.
Walking conditions:
The majority of this walk is on dirt tracks but there are some technical sections and an optional section that is quite adventurous. There are some steep uphill sections but these are quite short; the overall altitude gain is low to moderate.
Stops & Breaks:
We can stop at any time on the walk for rests and picture etc. Generally, we will just stop for lunch on this route but is convenient to stop for a drink in Kritina and there are a couple of other excellent places for a break later in the walk. Our walking leaders know the route well and can usually find good stops with shade and/or good views.
