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 | Leave the gate of Konstamonitou Monastery and turn L, heading for the gap between the single story building to L and large storehouse to R, to pick up FP (K) which begins to zig-zag uphill. |
| 260 | FP levels and turns R to emerge at small meadow. Continue across meadow and up road straight ahead. |
| 135 | Where road bends R, turn L onto overgrown track, uphill, signed Karyes. |
| 140 | As track bears L, KSO/R on narrow FP uphill, signed Karyes. |
| 350 | Path emerges at road. Turn L along road, uphill. |
| 170 | Road levels out. Fork R opposite sign back to Konstamonitou, uphill on narrow FP along overgrown track. |
| 500 | Rocky section of track ends and telecommunications mast is on skyline
ahead. At small cairns, turn R up small FP into wood. Traces of
K soon appear. CAUTION: May be hard to spot. |
| 400 | FP emerges at road on bend, with stone marker beside road to R. KSO/L uphill along road. (Altitude 520m) |
| 75 | Road, now concrete, makes sharp bend L. KSO/R on FP through narrow gully. FP traverses hill (on L) soon descending to reach . . . |
| 600 | Junction with ridge FP. Turn R, downhill (signed Karyes). (Ridge FP is straight on/L, signed Esphigmenou, Hilandar and Zographou.) |
| 200 | FP ends at road ascending from back R. KSO on road on level, passing large stone plinth with cross inlay on R. (This stavros marks a crossing point of the ridge.) |
| 90 | Turn L (signed) along forest track which initially bears R, uphill before descending. Views of Vatopedi and its bay appear. Ignore side tracks to L or R. |
| 180 | Bear R off track onto FP. FP continues downhill, often through trees,
and may be indistinct or seasonally overgrown in places. Watch out for
waymark arrows and orange tape. Note: Logging in this area has resulted in the loss of sections of the original FP. |
| 280 | At T-junction with another FP, turn L, on level (R may be blocked). |
| 60 | FP emerges at level road. Cross road to follow track descending opposite (signed Vatopedi). Ignore grassy track slightly to the R. Track crosses scrubland before becoming FP (K) which soon descends more steeply into valley. Ignore possible FPs joining from R. |
| 700 | At valley bottom, cross stream bed below ancient tree and KSO on FP, now level. |
| 50 | FP blocked ahead. Turn R to descend bank to forest road some 20m below. |
| 20 | Turn L along road (signed Vatopedi) to traverse hillside (on L). |
| 700 | At open area, where road bends L round headland, turn hard R (signed Vatopedi) onto FP which passes to R of wooden structure, downhill. Remains of K evident in places. |
| 1050 | Reach and cross road. KSO on FP (K) still downhill. Due to forestry, the route here deviates from the K for short waymarked stretches. |
| 550 | FP levels out at valley bottom (signed Vatopedi and reverse direction Dochiariou). Bear slightly R and cross stream. Then turn L and follow R edge of stream bed. |
| 80 | Bear R out of stream bed to emerge onto road at the outside of a sharp bend in the road. Bear L along road, downhill (signed Vatopedi). |
| 25 | Cross stream at ford and about 15m later bear R at fork onto lower road. |
| 200 | Cross stream. Then pass orchard on R. |
| 240 | After end of orchard, KSO/R at fork, uphill with stone wall on R. Vatopedi Monastery soon visible ahead. Road becomes K. |
| 350 | K road joins from R just before covered well on R. KSO. |
| 100 | Arrive at the gate of Vatopedi Monastery. |