Memories

[Greecemad]

On the basis that I thought the plank of wood over the stream was a public right of way I've been known to walk through the gate at the top of Hapimag, or climb over it, then just walk through their reception as though I was staying there. More recently, though, there is a more substantial gate that is always locked so you can't do this.

I didn't know anyone else still walked to Damnoni. Gone are the days when you would see several people walking through the olive groves. Nowadays everyone seems to go by car. Last time I was there I scorned the road round the headland from Damnoni to Mikro Ammoudi and walked over where the old path was over the top, then climed down the rocks at the other side onto the beach - my legs got scratched in the prickly undergrowth though as no-one goes this way any more.

Greecmad.

[Karen T]

We used to hop over the gate at HapiMag too but as you say, it isn't possible any more.  I think I've probably said this before, we generally stay at Ifigenia which is the building behind Oasis Pension (along the same road, next door in fact ignoring the olive groves, to Sharon).  Although we take the car when we're heading for the beach (we use Ammoudaki too) due to amount of baggage we usually have with us these days with two kids, we generally walk if we're only going as far as Akti as we don't want to have to drive back.

The old path from Damnoni to Ammoudaki is still just about visible although the bulldozed tracks have taken parts of it away.  I suspect the paths we used on rambles from Skineria, past Ammoudi are even more eroded!

Karen

[Graham_and_Karen]

Last year we walked to Damnoni several times - very pleasant. Fortunately we no longer have kids in tow. Uncertain about the route through HapiMag, we've kept to the road to the left of HapiMag. We'll try going to the right this year.

[Greecemad]

From Plakias village walk along the road out of the village. As you get to the top of the hill there are two roads to the right. Take the second (which is now surfaced), with an olive grove on the left. Eventually it bends to the left and meets the Oasis to ? Hotel (the one that used to be nudist) road at 5 or 6 lane ends. Here take the track almost straight ahead that goes downhill. This point is what I call 'windy corner' as it's where the Meltemi seems to blow strongest, especially when you are coming back. You will pass Hapimag on the left (noting the locked gate). After passing Hapimag, follow its boundary fence round to the left down a very steep rough path to the beach.

There is another route from the 'far end' of Plakias beach, but this is very difficult to describe and I've sometimes forgotten it between visits to Plakias because of changes to the vegetation.

Greecemad.

[Graham_and_Karen]

Thanks Greecemad - Can recommend the route from the far end - we were fine, finding that part of the route as we happened to meet someone coming the other way.

[ostraco]

The hotel that was nudist was called Calypso.
I think it is still operating, but now is all-inclusive and clothing required.
You sometimes see a minibus from there in town.

[Greecemad]

I suspect the paths we used on rambles from Skineria, past Ammoudi are even more eroded!

Karen

For some reason, I've just been re-reading all this thread. It brings back memories. On my last visit to Plakias (nearly 2 years ago now), I walked (or rather scrambled) over the rocks from Ammoudi to Skinaria and back. It really was a scramble, not to be recommended, and I had to unfasten the 'gates' in the fence at each end - they were fastened with bits of wire. I'm sure we walked from Skinaria back past Ammoudi back in SunMed days and I'm sure it wasn't so bad then.

Greecemad

[harribobs]

I suspect the paths we used on rambles from Skineria, past Ammoudi are even more eroded!

Karen

For some reason, I've just been re-reading all this thread. It brings back memories. On my last visit to Plakias (nearly 2 years ago now), I walked (or rather scrambled) over the rocks from Ammoudi to Skinaria and back. It really was a scramble, not to be recommended, and I had to unfasten the 'gates' in the fence at each end - they were fastened with bits of wire. I'm sure we walked from Skinaria back past Ammoudi back in SunMed days and I'm sure it wasn't so bad then.

Greecemad

we do this route at least once  a visit, usually on our first day as warm up to try and get used to walking in the sun and because we can split the day with a little beach  

the route via the far end is easy enough to find, just to the right of the plakias bay hotel, there's a path that leads up (not towards the headland, you keep to the hotel edge) a small incline and leads you to a wire fence on the left, follow it to where the where a path leads right thru the olive groves, this bears left, through some fields and it leads you to the road to kalypso, cross over to damnoni

cross damnoni..look for turtles swimming in the river under the bridge, up the other side of the bay, turn right for the small bays ( too crowded for us) and onto amoudi beach cross the beach.

on the far side of amoudi, look for the signs which show you the gates, immediately to your left there's the first cairn, these are the key to an easy route over the head!! but they are not easy to spot amongst the other rocks. there is only one place where it is necessary to climb and its only six foot or so up a stepped rock. if you find yourself in difficulty or in a dangerous place , you have gone wrong stop, retrace your steps and look for the cairns!

the path leads you off the rocks and through the scrub to the side of shinaria beach where you can rest and recuperate, with the help of the Libyan Star restaurant  

we usually go up the road to lefkoyia and come back past the amoudi hotel to damnoni

chris