Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WALKING THE CORFU TRAIL
The
Corfu Trail
, 200km in length and open since 2001, covers the whole island from
Cape
Asprókavos
in the south to Áyios Spyrídhon beach, next to
Cape Ayías Ekaterínis
in the far
north. The route avoids roads as much as possible and takes walkers across a variety of terrain
- from beaches to the highest peaks - passing by Lefkími, Korissíon lagoon, Áyii Dhéka,
Pélekas, Myrtiótissa, Paleokastrítsa, Áyios Yeóryios Pagón, Spartýlas and Mount Pandokrátor.
Paths along the entire route are
waymarked
with yellow aluminium signs. As usual,
ramblers are advised to wear headgear and stout footwear and carry ample water and
provisions, as well as all-weather kit in all but the high summer months. It is reckoned that
strong walkers can cover the route in ten days.
Those interested in attempting all or part of the trail should pick up Hilary Whitton Paipeti's
excellent
Companion Guide to the Corfu Trail
(
W
corfutrailguide.com; €10), which contains
detailed
maps
and descriptions of the route, divided into ten daily sections. A proportion of
the profits goes towards maintenance of the trail, and anyone using the trail is asked to
contribute €3 for the same reason. You can also log on to
W
travelling.gr/corfutrail for
information on organized walking packages, including accommodation.
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migratory birds. Its northern section, which is over 5km long and 1km wide at its centre,
is separated from the sea by the dunes of
Halikoúna
beach
, an idyllic spot for swimming
and rough camping, while more touristic
Íssos
beach
borders the southern end.
Áyios Yeóryios, Marathiá and Ayía Varvára
Far pleasanter than
Áyios Yeóryios
, the main Brit-dominated but rather brash resort on the
coast south of the Korissíon lagoon, are
MARATHIÁ
and
AYÍA VARVÁRA
, both essentially
forming a single resort further southeast along the same continuous strand. They are
separated only by a stream that you can easily cross on the beach but each settlement must
be approached by different roads. The most direct route to Marathiá beach
is signposted
from the tiny village of
Marathiás
, a couple of kilometres southeast of Aryirádhes on the
main road, while
AYÍA VARVÁRA
is signposted from the village of Perivóli further south.
Lefkími
Anyone interested in how a Greek town works away from the bustle of tourism shouldn't
miss
LEFKÍMI
, towards the island's southern tip. The second-largest settlement after Corfu
Town, it's the administrative centre for the south of the island as well as the alternative
ferry port for Igoumenítsa. The town has some fine architecture, including several striking
churches:
Áyii Anáryiri
with a huge double belfry,
Áyios Theódhoros
, on a mound above a
small square, and
Áyios Arsénios
, with a vast orange dome that can be seen for miles.
Kávos
There are no ambiguities in
KÁVOS
, 6km south of Lefkími: either you like 24-hour
drinking, clubbing, bungee-jumping, go-karts and chips with almost everything, or
you should avoid the resort altogether. Kávos stretches over 2km of decent sandy
beach, with watersports galore. As numbers have dropped in recent years, unbelievable
accommodation bargains can be had, should you choose to stay.
South of Kávos
Beyond the limits of Kávos, where few visitors stray, a path leaving the road south to the
hamlet of Sparterá heads through unspoilt countryside; after around thirty minutes of
walking it reaches the cliffs of
Cape Asprókavos
and the crumbling
monastery of
Arkoudhílas
. The cape looks out over the straits to Paxí, and down over deserted
Arkoudhílas beach
, which can be reached from Sparterá, a pleasant village 5km by road
but only 3km by the signed path from Kávos. Even wilder is
Áï Górdhis Paleohoríou beach
,
3km further on from Sparterá, one of the least visited on the island and not to be confused
