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 Koutloumousiou Monastery and turn R down paved FP. |
| 100 | Pass through gate to leave monastery grounds and KSO downhill along concrete road. |
| 350 | Ignore FP on R signed Iviron. KSO past old bridge on R. |
| 450 | Where road bends to L, signed Karyes and Stavronikita, KSO on track that goes straight on, signed Iviron and Koutloumousiou Skete. Ignore track to R, signed Koutloumousiou Skete. |
| 220 | At junction where main track bends sharply to R, KSO going L on minor track, signed Iviron and Stavronikita. |
| 350 | Where this track bends sharply to R, KSO/L onto rough track which curves R. |
| 10 | Fork L off track onto narrow FP. Caution. May be difficult to spot. |
| 400 | At T-junction in FP, turn L, downhill (not signed). |
| 250 | Cross Stream (Cross fixed to plane tree on R immediately beforehand).
Caution. FP has become narrow and dangerous in parts of this next section due to erosion. |
| 400 | Cross stone bridge and continue on FP, now uphill. FP may be seasonally overgrown but eventually broadens to become track. |
| 500 | Reach edge of olive grove with rough crossroads. Turn R to along R
edge of grove with trees to R. Alternatively, to avoid steep descent, KSO along to track for 90m to road. Turn R along road for 200m to pick up FP again on L where it crosses road marked † below.] |
| 50 | Ignore narrow FP to R. KSO to pick up K FP under trees ahead (signed back to I C Koutloumousiou and Karyes) |
| † 200 | Descend very steeply down bank to reach road. KSO on FP which continues on far side of road. |
| 250 | FP emerges onto track. Turn R along track. |
| 90 | At bend in track, ignore minor track to R into field. Immediately afterwards, bear R off track onto FP under trees (signed Iviron). |
| 450 | FP emerges onto coastal track between Iviron and Stavronikita with small dwelling on L, opposite arsanas tower. Turn L for Koutloumousiou Arsanas (and Stavronikita; R leads to Iviron). |
| 60 | Arrive at Koutloumousiou Arsanas, on R. |