Old Perithia

Old Perithia

Route: Old Perithia Trail

Area: North East Corfu

Date of walk: 22nd June 2017

Walkers: Andrew, Gilly and James

Distance: 6.4 miles

Ascent: 300 feet

Weather: Sunny and very hot

There’s something satisfying about a linear walk and even more so – as in today’s case – when it starts high up in the hills at an ancient semi-abandoned village and ends by the sea on a pristine beach. Our family group had rented 2 cars for our break in Corfu and thanks to Jody for enabling us to leave one car at our destination and then driving us to the start of the walk in the other car

After being dropped off at the start point we wandered around the atmospheric village of Old Perithia, now a heritage site. The village dates back hundreds of years and was once used as a refuge from pirate attacks. The inhabitants all left in the 1960’s but there is now a small population and there are some tavernas and accommodation

After leaving this fascinating place we set off along a dusty track lined with wildflowers. Progress was slow as we tried to photograph some of the hundreds of butterflies that were fluttering around. Although it was hazy, there were some wonderful views ahead looking out to sea and to the coast of Albania in the distance

The journey was downhill all the way, and the descent was always at a gentle gradient. Much of the time we were walking in woodland and the dappled shade gave us relief from the boiling hot sun overhead. Navigation was fairly straightforward, though the path is only intermittently waymarked and we had doubts on a couple of occasions when parts of the path seemed to have been abandoned and were being taken over by undergrowth

Eventually we arrived at our destination – Almiros beach, a glorious long white expanse of sand. The nearby Taverna George, which specialises in fresh fish, tempted us in for lunch – a fantastic end to a fantastic walk

Click on the icon below for the route map

Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow

Previous walk: « | Next walk: »