FOOTPATHS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN
FROM IVIRON TO KARYES,
VIA KOUTLOUMOUSIOU
Distance 4.5 km Journey
Time 1½ – 2 hours.
(5 km with detour to Kellion
Panagoudes)
This route ascends from sea level to over 300m; the
clinb is well-graded since almost the entire route is along a fine, broad kaldirimi
path which for much
of the way follows the course of a river, initially to the left of the path,
latterly to the right. Once the
path leaves the broad valley in which Iviron lies, it is almost entirely
through trees.
Notes:
Be aware that, while the paths themselves do not move, over time it is
possible for other details to change (eg, signposts disappear and appear, new
roads or tracks appear). Distances
(in metres) have been measured by GPS and thus are horizontal measurements,
without allowance for ascents or descents; they are normally accurate to within
around 10 metres.
Abbreviations:
L =
Left; R = Right; KSO = Keep straight on;
FP
= Footpath; K = Kaldirimi stone path
Description of Route:
Distance Directions
0 Leaving Iviron entrance, KSO, slightly uphill, with kiosk
on L. Ignore paved path R down to arsanas and sea.
40 At fork, with gate and steps ahead, bear L up K, with valley to L. Views back to monastery as FP climbs.
650 Cross track. KSO on K.
280 Pass chapel
on L. KSO on K.
520 Cross
bridge over river which is now on R.
90 Fountain ahead/L as path turns to R.
930 Cross
bridge over stream.
180 FP to L
signed to Kellion Panagoules
To visit the kellion, former home of Fr Paisios, turn L along
path and follow detour described at à below.
Otherwise,
KSO along K.
220 Ignore
second FP to L signed to Kellion Panagoules and KSO to cross river.
50 Buildings
ahead across valley. Bear L on K.
520 FP ends at
concrete road. Turn hard L, uphill
along road.
100 After
buildings on L, track meets road from L.
(Detour to Kellion Panagoudes returns to main route here)
200 Concrete
road ends. KSO through gates with Koutloumousiou
monastery ahead.
100 Entrance to
Koutloumousiou Monastery on L.
For Karyes, KSO.
310 KSO through gates out of Koutloumousiou grounds.
170 Ignore K FP
up L opposite bakery. Bear R along
K, with Protaton ahead
and, keeping it on L continue along Karyes main street, past bar, fountain to É
210 Arrive at Karyes main square.
Detour to visit Kellion Panagoudes, former home of Fr Paisios
à 0 Turn L off
main Iviron – Karyes path onto FP.
50 Turn
hard L at kellion gate. Then
ignore all paths joining from R and É
250 Path ends
at Kellion Panagoudes. After visit, retrace steps.
30 At first
junction, turn L.
20 Path joins
from R. KSO.
50 Descend to
cross stream.
100 At junction, turn L
200 FP levels
out and becomes track. At fork,
bear R.
500 Pass
kellion on L and then pass behind buildings on R. Ignore FP off R.
290 At
T-junction with concrete road, turn L onto road (at point marked above).
This description has been produced by The
Friends of Mount Athos,
a charitable organisation which, among other activities, works with monasteries
to keep this, and certain other footpaths on the Holy Mountain, open. Copies of this and similar
descriptions are available, free, from the Friends website, www.athosfriends.org and in a number of
places on or associated with the Holy Mountain.
May 2007