Alonissos Walks.

Alonissos Beach, Track and Path walks visiting Gheladhia, Meghalo Chorafi, Meghali Amos, Tourkovighla and Aghi Anarghiri.

Gheladhias - Meghalo Chorafi - Meghali Amos - Patitiri: 14kms     This long Alonissos walk starts from the main road about three quarters up the island in the Gheladhias area - we took a taxi ride from Patitiri which at the time cost 12 Euros (started at 15 for some reason so always remember to negotiate and fix a rate before taking a taxi ride). Also and maybe surprisingly our taxi driver was not too certain where we wanted to go to even though we showed him it on the Topo map - basically continue on the main road past the Steni Vala turn for 2.9kms - the drop off point is the second dirt road on the left on a very sharp bend.
Start off on this wide dirt road and follow it along across the island towards Psili Rachi - the area is quite rocky but has plenty of low foliage and you get the impression of being on the top of the island. You also are quite likely to come across some of the inhabitants up here - namely Greek goats - one herd which passed us must have numbered well over a hundred. The track drops down gently - ignore a track going off to the left - to finally reach a junction at about 2.6kms where you will find an old threshing circle. (The track on the right from here takes you the short distance along to the church at Aghios Konstantinos - well worth a diversion if you have not already walked path 13). Take the marked path on the left (yellow 6) - this path stays high as it makes it's way down the island and is very well marked with yellow 6's and red dots. After about half a kilometre and by a farm building and fence the path goes slightly left to cross a small dirt track and then continues on down island. The path passes through a threshing circle as well as very open country which in places still had the appearance of old marked out fields - also from this high path you get views of distant Chora, Kalovoulos and in the distance Skopelos. The path eventually comes out on a dirt track - continue along this track now in the Meghalo Chorafi area - soon the track bends sharply and here take the second path on the right which is clearly marked path 8.

This path goes into woods and is quite rocky underfoot in places - also there are a lot of trees down from the winter storms and this makes it awkward to go through in places - however the aim is to stay in the same direction downwards always keeping in what becomes a dry river bed. There are red blob markers in places - in particular in one very overgrown area you need to keep to the right hand side and also further down the path splits - make sure you keep to the right i.e. straight on since the left path takes you out of the ravine. There are loads of butterflies around here and also quite heavy but low undergrowth and in front of you appears a very high rock face - but don't panic - you do not need to climb over it.

Instead and luckily the path bears right to go between the hills. Here the path is not terribly evident - there are lots of olive trees and small walls and you have to wind your way between them until you come to a gate. Go through the gate and the path changes underfoot to small stone scree which is quite difficult to walk on - this lasts for a few 100 metres until the path comes out on a dirt road. Turn left and follow the dirt road until you reach a junction, go right and carry on to the next junction where you go right again - the dirt road climbs slightly and comes out by houses - then on the left is a signpost and path marker no 5. Take this path to go down sometimes quite steeply to reach the beach at Meghali Amos - this was our favourite beach to go to - no shade, no facilities, very hot, white pebbles and clear sea-water (and usually at most a couple of people on it - magic). Needless to say because of how isolated and empty this Skopelos beach is then having a nice relaxing nude swim and sunbathe was a must for us.

From behind the beach the path continues along the coast - marked with red dots - passing a tiny un-named beach and then reaches a small dirt road - turn left and then on the bend take a path on the right going up through olive groves - the path continues along and above the shoreline and comes out on another dirt road. Turn right and follow the dirt road steeply up and as it bends left take a path going straight on through the woods to later emerge back on the dirt road. Ignore the track on the right and continue straight on soon passing a concrete spring (the water in it is total crap by the way) - the dirt road winds up and round - look out for a more open wooded area on the right with a signpost to Ag. Anarghiri.

Take this path through the trees and then olive groves - keep a lookout for a narrow path on the left which goes steeply down to a house (you can see the roof) (and you may see a snake here too if you are lucky). On reaching a dirt road go left and follow this until it eventually reaches a tarmac road. Go almost straight on uphill to a junction, turn right and follow this round to pick up the main road, turn right again and follow this back into Patitiri

Tourkovighla - Meghali Amos - Aghi Anarghiri - Patitiri This Skopelos walk starts from the main road by cross tracks in the area between Pefko and Pagiri - this is on the Steni Vala bus route and the driver will happily stop here providing you point it out on the map. It takes you up to one of the accessible high points on the island - Tourkovighla - and then to our favourite beach before enjoying the 90 minutes or so stroll back to Patitiri.
From the bus stop cross the road and take the dirt track opposite - this soon bends round and then heads up to a junction - turn right. Continue on this dirt road and when it splits take the track on the right and keep going on up until you reach another junction - take the rough track going sharply off on the right and follow it up until it ends in an area of walls and olive groves.

The path up to Tourkovighla is somewhat difficult to find since the area is very rocky and also has lots of goat paths - start off by the wall on the left and make your way up by criss crossing and selecting paths as you see them obviously always aiming upwards. The top is identified by some large rocks with a circular trig point - this is at 349 metres. Apart from trees, goats and lots of rocks there is nothing else up here except of course really good views of both coastlines. Return back down the same way (probably a faint hope of finding exactly the same way...) and on reaching the dirt road head back down again.

Ignore a track on the right (which is a dead end) by a sharp bend (except we did walk down this a little way and it is a nice pretty track to walk if you fancy it) and then take the next track on the right - this is a grassy track which goes down through olive groves and then becomes a very narrow path into the woods. The path bottoms out in a gorge on a dry river bed - cross over this and then head left downwards through the gorge - there are loads of butterflies around here and also quite heavy but low undergrowth and soon in front of you appears a very high rock face - the onward path bears right to go between the hills. The path is not too clear in places - there are lots of olive trees and small walls and you have to wind your way between them until you come to a gate. Go through the gate and the path soon becomes quite slippery and difficult underfoot because of the small stones and rocks - this lasts for a few 100 metres until the path comes out on a dirt road.

Turn left and follow the dirt road to a junction, then turn right onto a smaller road and then left at the next junction - which is marked Meghali Amos. Follow the road until it ends near a house on your right - make your way round the left side and then behind the house. (red blob marks) (this part may well change by the house since it was still being built/renovated). The path continues down through shrubs and quite soon arrives at Meghali Amos beach. Just away from the beach and with the sea behind you take a marked path going off to the right heading along the coast - soon passing a tiny un-named beach and then reaches a small dirt road. Turn left and then on the bend take a path on the right going up through olive groves now with views of Toukoneri Bay - the path continues along and above the shoreline and comes out on another dirt road.

Turn right and follow the dirt road steeply up and as it bends left take a path going straight on through the woods to later emerge back on the dirt road. Ignore a track on the right and continue straight on soon passing a concrete spring the dirt road winds up and round - look out for a more open wooded area on the right with a signpost to Ag. Anarghiri - take this path through the trees and then olive groves and then on into the woods. When you reach the cliff top turn right (but first go down to look at the two churches)and continue along the coastal path to emerge on a dirt road by a house. Follow this until it eventually reaches a tarmac road, go almost straight on uphill to a junction, turn right and follow this round to pick up the main road, turn right again and follow this back into Patitiri.

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