Kardamyli – Proastio

Route: Kardamyli – Petrovouni – Proastio – Kardamyli

Timing: approx. 2.5/3 hours

Difficulty: 3/5

Description: A great kalderimi up to Petrovouni followed by a plateau of olive groves across to Proastio. Can easily be combined with Walk 2.

The walk begins at the southern end of the High Street by turning left at the council building.

1. Just before the sign-posted start of the kalderimi up to Petrovouni, there is a concrete road also signed ‘Petrovouni’- ignore it.
2. At the top of the path, at the derelict house that everyone wants to buy, refer to the map for your chosen route through the village. Once you emerge onto the main road, pass the church on your right and take a right fork up into the olives.
3. After reaching a junction of dirt roads, turn down the way marked path into a shallow valley. Across the valley, a group of Cypress trees are visible- this is the Church of Agios Giorgios, where you will end up, having crossed the valley.
4. Agios Giorgios and its outbuildings were once a monastery. The church is sometimes open and has some faded frescoes, including one of George on horseback.
5. Just after the church there is a possible short-cut to get to the main road into Proastio. Again, it is way marked.

You first pass the school house and olive oil factory before reaching the village proper.  There is a  mini- market further along the main road.

As you continue away from the village you pass an area where spring water was used for washing- a sign advises not to drink it.

6. Further along still, a green walkers’ sign by a small church indicates the beginning of the path down to Kalamitsi beach. At the house at the bottom, turn right, cross the road and then immediately left , down to the beach.
7. Just before the beach road ends, turn right at the outer walls of Sir Patrick’s house and follow the shady path all the way to the main road (by an abandoned car!).