FOOTPATHS OF THE HOLY
MOUNTAIN
FROM KOUTLOUMOUSIOU TO ITS ARSANAS AT KALIAGRA
Distance: 4 km Journey
Time: 1½ – 2 hours
This walk leads over a combination of roads, tracks and paths from the monastery down to its small port (arsanas) at Kaliagra, intersecting along the way with roads and paths to Stavronikita and Iviron. There is a variety of scenery and features to enjoy along the way, including a bridge across a busy stream, open fields, and stretches of shaded kalderimi.
Notes:
Be aware that, while the paths themselves do not move, over time it is
possible for other details to change (eg, signposts disappear or 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 (m) Directions
0 Leave Koutloumousiou
Monastery and turn R
down paved FP.
100 Pass through gate to leave monastery grounds and KSO downhill along concrete road.
330 KSO past old
bridge on R. Ignore FP on R signed
Iviron.
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.
130 Track reaches T
junction. Turn L, signed Kaliagra.
360 Arrive at rough
crossroads on open ground. KSO, signed Kaliagra. Track becomes FP.
120 At T junction in
FP, turn/bear L (not signed).
80 At T junction,
turn L (not signed).
180 Pass cross fixed
to plane tree on R before crossing stream.
420 Cross stone bridge and follow FP, now uphill.
510 Reach open area
and rough crossroads. KSO, as FP
becomes track. (Old FP goes off to
R then turns L, but is very hard to find.)
90 Track reaches road at T junction. There is a gate across a track almost opposite. Turn R along road.
210 Turn L along
FP/track. (In May 2007 the entrance
was marked/obscured by a pile of sand.)
This becomes a pleasant shady walk.
260 FP emerges onto
track. Turn R along track.
90 Turn R off track
onto FP at a corner – Red painted marks on tree.
440 FP emerges onto
coastal track between Iviron and Stavronikita
with small dwelling on L, opposite tower.
Turn L for Koutloumousiou Arsanas (and Stavronikita; R leads to Iviron).
60 Turn sharp R to
arrive at Koutloumousiou Arsanas.
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