Walking in Cyprus
Cyprus is perfect for walkers, whether you prefer hardcore hiking or a simple stroll through beautiful countryside. Book a trip to this glorious Mediterranean isle in the next couple of months and you can enjoy colourful displays of gorgeous spring owers – not to mention butter ies and birds, and, if you’re lucky, even the mouflon, an indigenous mountain sheep, which is one of the national symbols of Cyprus.
Since 2007, Cyprus has made up the final leg of the 10,000km E4, one of a number of European longdistance footpaths. While most long-distance paths in Europe are located in just one country or region, each of the numbered paths passes through many di fferent countries. I know what you’re thinking: that sounds like hard work. But, of course, you don’t have to tackle the whole E4 at once.
What it does mean is that Cyprus is recognised by serious ramblers as a wonderful place to go walking, and how much you do is entirely up to you. The beautiful island has 97 walking paths, covering almost 1,000km in total, which together take in the beautiful unspoilt Akamas region in the far west, the Alpinesque Troodos Mountains and the coastal area in the east.
Base yourself in your choice of picturesque town or village, in a guesthouse or self-catering villa perhaps – the island has a thriving agrotourism industry – and you can take in as many of these walks as you feel up to over a week or so.
Break up the walking with visits to cultural sites, such as elegant churches and monasteries, or to local wineries. And, of course, Cyprus has wonderful restaurants where you can sit for hours tucking into delicious food. The island’s meze – a selection of tasty little dishes, hot and cold, sweet and savoury, meaty and vegetarian, a spread of local foods – is legendary.
Stunning views along the Akamas peninsula
The Akamas peninsula is one of my favourite spots in Cyprus. Named after the son of Theseus, who landed here after the Trojan war, it’s also the home of the Aphrodite nature trail (7.5km), nishing at the Baths of Aphrodite where the goddess herself took a dip according to legend. The coastal views are stunning and a million miles away from the popular seaside towns of Paphos and Larnaca.
I also adore the Troodos Mountains region, dotted with gorgeous villages and lookouts where, it seems, you can see from one side of Cyprus to the other. This is where the painted churches of Cyprus can also be found, 10 of which are on Unesco’s World Heritage List.
020-7321 4181, www.visitcyprus.com
www.agrotourism.com.cy
Return flights with Cyprus Airways, from Heathrow to Larnaca, cost from £240: www.cyprusair.com
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
Since 2007, Cyprus has made up the final leg of the 10,000km E4, one of a number of European longdistance footpaths. While most long-distance paths in Europe are located in just one country or region, each of the numbered paths passes through many di fferent countries. I know what you’re thinking: that sounds like hard work. But, of course, you don’t have to tackle the whole E4 at once.
What it does mean is that Cyprus is recognised by serious ramblers as a wonderful place to go walking, and how much you do is entirely up to you. The beautiful island has 97 walking paths, covering almost 1,000km in total, which together take in the beautiful unspoilt Akamas region in the far west, the Alpinesque Troodos Mountains and the coastal area in the east.
Base yourself in your choice of picturesque town or village, in a guesthouse or self-catering villa perhaps – the island has a thriving agrotourism industry – and you can take in as many of these walks as you feel up to over a week or so.
Break up the walking with visits to cultural sites, such as elegant churches and monasteries, or to local wineries. And, of course, Cyprus has wonderful restaurants where you can sit for hours tucking into delicious food. The island’s meze – a selection of tasty little dishes, hot and cold, sweet and savoury, meaty and vegetarian, a spread of local foods – is legendary.
Stunning views along the Akamas peninsulaThe Akamas peninsula is one of my favourite spots in Cyprus. Named after the son of Theseus, who landed here after the Trojan war, it’s also the home of the Aphrodite nature trail (7.5km), nishing at the Baths of Aphrodite where the goddess herself took a dip according to legend. The coastal views are stunning and a million miles away from the popular seaside towns of Paphos and Larnaca.
I also adore the Troodos Mountains region, dotted with gorgeous villages and lookouts where, it seems, you can see from one side of Cyprus to the other. This is where the painted churches of Cyprus can also be found, 10 of which are on Unesco’s World Heritage List.
020-7321 4181, www.visitcyprus.com
www.agrotourism.com.cy
Return flights with Cyprus Airways, from Heathrow to Larnaca, cost from £240: www.cyprusair.com
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk