Note: All distances given (in metres) should be taken as approximate. The route described is liable to unpredictable change: for example, forestry work, road or track construction and plant growth may alter the route, or its appearance. Signposts may disappear or new ones appear. The Friends of Mount Athos strives to keep this description correct and up to date but cannot take responsibility for its accuracy.
| Abbreviations: |
L = Left; R = Right; KSO = Keep straight on;
FP = Footpath; K = Kalderimi (stone-paved FP or mule track) |
| Walk (m) | And then . . . |
|---|---|
| 0 | From the Karyes square where the buses arrive, face down main street towards Protaton and turn R, uphill on K, immediately before fountain (on R). |
| 20 | Pass WC on L. KSO uphill. |
| 90 | Ignore FP (kalderimi) up L. KSO on K. |
| 300 | Cross Daphni-Karyes road; KSO on track, signed Vatopedi & other monasteries, with Skete of St Andrew on R. |
| 400 | Ignore gated track R to kellion. KSO on concrete, now uphill. |
| 300 | Ignore track R (signed to Kellion Pateritsa). |
| 150 | At junction with large painted metal cross (ahead, L), turn hard L uphill. |
| 30 | At junction, turn R onto FP (K) uphill (remains of fountain in wall to L of FP). |
| 100 | FP joins track from back L. KSO on track. |
| 100 | Ignore track up to L (signed I K Marouda). KSO on track (now K in places). |
| 250 | At junction, fork L, signed to Vatopedi and various kellia. |
| 400 |
At fork in tracks, turn R, downhill,
signed Vatopedi apo monopati (Vatopedi by footpath).
Caution: not L, uphill, which leads to main road to Vatopedi. |
| 200 |
Where main track begins to descend steeply to R,
ignore track slightly to L ahead.
KSO on level onto narrow FP ahead
signed Vatopedi,
just to R of this track, initially toward white building.
Note: early sections of this path may become seasonally overgrown, but it becomes K. |
| 1000 | Cross road; KSO on K. |
| 150 | Pass ruined fountain on L. |
| 450 | Bear R at possible fork, away from hillside, towards very large and
ancient tree. Caution: FP may be overgrown & difficult to spot. |
| 30 | FP turns R at tree, with another fountain (dry) on L. |
| 200 | Footpath becomes forest track; fine views down R to Pantokrator and the coast. |
| 1200 | After passing cement works, emerge at main road and turn R along road. |
| 50 | Fork L up forest track (in line with track past cement works). Track soon becomes FP (K). |
| 1150 | Turn L onto main road. |
| 250 | Turn L off road onto FP (signed Vatopedi). |
| 150 | Cross minor road. KSO on FP steeply down bank immediately to R of installation with solar panels (signed Vatopedi). |
| 1300 | FP emerges onto road. Cross over road and follow track opposite (signed Vatopedi). |
| 40 | Turn R off track onto FP (K), downhill (signed Vatopedi). |
| 800 | FP ends at level track from back L. Turn R along track. |
| 200 | Track joins main road. KSO/L along main road, downhill. |
| 300 | At T-junction bear L. Then KSO, downhill, ignoring two turnings to L. |
| 200 | At junction beside olive grove, fork R onto K. |
| 150 | At T-junction turn R, following K, soon passing covered well on R. |
| 200 | Arrive at the gate of Vatopedi Monastery. |