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Walking
As the title implies, On Foot in North Lesvos
concentrates on routes in the north of the island, where most holidays are based.
It is also where, until recently, we had most experience,
and to share that you'll have to buy our book.
Sorry!
However, there is much good walking to be had elsewhere,
and we are now spending all our available time exploring other parts of the island
with the intention of publishing On Foot around Lesvos in the near future.
Watch out for it - you'll read about it here first.
Meanwhile, here are a few hints.
In any of these areas you will need your own transport -
buses do not stray off surfaced roads, and apart from a few school buses
keep to the main roads between major settlements.
The South
The Mt Olympos region, between Plomari and Agaisos, is covered with
a network of forest roads and tracks climbing from village to village
through the mountains. Most are unsurfaced, carry very little traffic
apart from the occasional farmer in his pickup,
and offer a series of spectacular views.
A short guide to the Vatera area is on sale locally.
'Vatera, Around and About', by Brian and Eileen Anderson,
describes ten walks from Vatera and four wider ranging car tours.
Uniquely, in this area the ROAD map of Lesvos also shows numerous footpaths.
Some seem to be works of fiction,
and the information should be treated with caution,
but with it there should be no problem putting together a satisfying day's walking.
Parakila
On the west side of the Gulf of Kalloni another web of forest roads rises up behind
the coastal village of Parakila towards the local peak of Profitis Ilias
(one of several in the island of the same name; traditionally the highest point in any district is named in honour of the Prophet Elijah).
There is a colour booklet about this area 'The Footpaths of Rhododendron',
published by the Municipality of Kalloni,
which should be available from the town hall there.
Again, the ROAD map clearly marks most of these roads.
Trails of Lepetymnos
This is an initiative by the Commune of Lepetymnos covering paths in the
Lepetymnos and Sikaminia area, which were cleared, signposted and waymarked
ready for the 2006 season.
There are also noticeboards in Lepetymnos and Sikaminia with, to me, rather confusing maps of the routes.
Most of these paths already feature in 'On Foot in North Lesvos'.
Sigri to Eresos
The unsurfaced 'direct' road from Sigri to Eresos follows the coastal plain south,
skirting the edge of the petrified forest, and then climbs to cross a 650ft ridge
before descending into Eresos. In all the distance is about 16km, so you will need
a non-walking driver for your car, or return to it by taxi.
Walking Holidays & Guided Walks
Sappho Travel of Skala Eresou (www.sapphotravel.com)
introduced walking holidays in 2004. See their website for details.
 Books & Other Information
'Lesvos car tours and walks'
by Brian & Eileen Anderson (Sunflower Guides)
Published by the authors of the Landmark Guide,
this has detailed instructions for 5 car tours and 28 walks
covering the whole island (the walks concentrate on the south)
A car is also required to reach the start of most of the walks.
The book is widely available in Lesvos
or from booksellers and www.amazon.co.uk in the UK.
'Lesbos' by Thomas Schröder
If your German is up to following simple instructions there are timed routes
here for twenty walks in various parts of the island.
(Having scraped through O-level German over fifty years ago,
Mike can just about cope)
But be warned, he expects serious walkers: his suggested starting time, sunrise.
 'Sigri: Where the Road Ends', by Roy Lawrance
This little book, by a regular English visitor to Sigri,
is a useful short guide to the area and its wildlife,
illustrated with his own drawings,
It includes a number of walks, mainly to beaches near Sigri,
and is available in Sigri or direct from the author at
87 Glebe Road, Deanshanger, Milton Keynes, MK19 6LX, UK
(e-mail roylawrance@talktalk.net)
'Trekking Trails of Lesvos'
Four signed and waymarked long distance trails, from Sigri to Eresos in the west,
Petra to Lapsarna along the north-west coast,
Sikaminia to Kapi following the flanks of the Lepetymnos range,
and Vatera to the Gulf of Gera in the South.
These routes were set up some years ago: time, road-building and other changes
mean that whatever continuity they may have had has been lost.
You will still come across some of the signs and waymarks, but any attempt
to follow them is, in our experience, doomed.
If you are curious, they are outlined here.
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