gramvousa

[paleo]

one regular trip we always do is the bay at the end of the gramvousa peninsula - ie the end of the left finger at the top left hand side - very careful drive over potholes with a precipice on one side (takes an hour to do a mile or so) then hike over the field then down 500 steps (remember you have to come back up) then absolutely nothing (no shade, no caff, no water tap) except a most marvellous emerald and blue lagoon. You can almost hear the theme from Desert Island disks or the one from the old Robinson Crusoe TV series.

[harribobs]

one regular trip we always do is the bay at the end of the gramvousa peninsula - ie the end of the left finger at the top left hand side - very careful drive over potholes with a precipice on one side (takes an hour to do a mile or so) then hike over the field then down 500 steps (remember you have to come back up) then absolutely nothing (no shade, no caff, no water tap) except a most marvellous emerald and blue lagoon. You can almost hear the theme from Desert Island disks or the one from the old Robinson Crusoe TV series.
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this sounds like an absolutely wonderful place, but where exactly is gramvousa?

[wakefossil]

this sounds like an absolutely wonderful place, but where exactly is gramvousa?
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It's the westernmost peninsula of the North coast.
The name of the beach is "Balos". I've attached some pics (taken from the top of the stairs leading down to it).
I've been there 4 years ago. The description is correct, but you can do the gravel / pothole part much faster on a bike. Big fun (if you can get past the s-l-o-w cars    ).

[harribobs]

great pictures !

i've found it now, north of kastelli, i've been that way but gave up (i didn't know about gramvousa though     )

it does remind me of ellefonissi as well

[paleo]

If you're not up for the either the hike or nervous family and back-seat driver friends screaming "mind the road - we'll all be killed - shriek shreik " etc. I think you can get a boat trip there from Kastelli / Kisamos

[wakefossil]

If you're not up for the either the hike or nervous family and back-seat driver friends screaming "mind the road - we'll all be killed - shriek shreik " etc. I think you can get a boat trip there from Kastelli / Kisamos
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ROTFL!
Sounds quite familiar...  
Non-Regulars to Crete take some time to get used to the scenic views that you get in some curves...