Chóra - Lámyra - Strapouriés - Ménites - Lámyra - Chóra
Evaluation:
This hike is a variant of the direct hike to Ménites,
as it passes by the village of Strapouriés. It also offers
you a great view on the broad valleys above Chóra, with beautiful
panoramic views on the little town itself. You get to know the
marvellous trail of hike no. [9] in the direction of Ano Aprovátou,
till the turn to Ménites. In this way you walk through one of the most
watery areas of the island, with the wonderful valley of Ménites. All
the way long, the monopátia are again some of the most beautiful of the
island of Andros. This hike deserves an evaluation of ***.
[Update by
Raymond on October the 1st, 2012, by Dany Boute on April the 17th,
2014 and again by Raymond on May the 3rd, 2015.]
Estimated
time:
To hike to Strapouriés takes about 1h25 of actual
walking
time
and
the
beautiful part to Ménites will cost you also
1h25. To go back to Chóra
via Lámyra,
you will walk for about
2 hours (AWT).
All together this makes for 4h50 of actual hiking time. The
breaks - there are so many beautiful spots to have a rest on this hike!
- and the picnic or lunch (for instance in the nice tavern of Pigés Karidhiés in Ménites) will turn this day into a full hiking day of
about 7-8 hours.
(0h08) In a
slight depression of the street, you go down the staircase on the right, in
between two electricity poles (sign and [1]; down at the foot of the staircase,
you continue straight on a descending concrete street and you reach in this way
the river, which flows into the sea on the beach of Nimborió. If necessary you
can cross the river via the wooden bridge [1].
[Hikers staying near the
beach of Nimborió can also leave from the far end of the beach, close to the
bridge over the river. You then have to stay on the left-hand side of the river
and a little further on you even have to walk in the bed of the river – which is
only possible in the dry season. In this way you will also arrive at the large
wooden bridge [1].]
(0h11) Past
the wooden bridge you go straight ahead [1] and via an earth road you cross the
green valley.
Strikingly, the valley is full of cypresses and all the way up to the left you
can see the dispersed villages of, amongst others, Ypsiloú and Lámyra. About 3
minutes after your departure, you come on a concrete stretch, but, when the
little road veers to the right, a clear path starts straight ahead [1]. After
some minutes a nice pavement begins and after about 10 minutes, you cross a
concrete road, where the path continues straight [1]. Another four minutes later
on you cross a small brook by means of an old bridge made out of two flat stones
– there was still a lot of water on May
the 3rd, 2015.
After another two
minutes the trail takes a right near a church with next to it a ruin [1]
– mind the flat stones on
the rood and the bended walls!!.
(0h28) A
couple of minutes later you get to a beautiful stone staircase, wonderfully
shaded – this shade is so characteristic for Andros! Slightly further down you
keep left on a cross-trail; you notice a water pipe and a
[1]. The following narrow
path is really beautiful, but rather steep and it runs between high walls -
a little later, you keep to the right [1].
Some concrete steps announce
the village of Ypsiloú; a few minutes later, you turn left [1], following the
water pipe. After a nice stretch in between (dry) water-shoots and at the corner
of a large house, you keep to the left (there is a [1] on the staircase). You
continue between a couple of houses; the path or the steps are made out of
concrete and you always proceed in the direction of Ypsiloú - during the last
stretch, you should keep to the right on the paved path. You cross an asphalt
road and you continue on the opposite side (hiking sign and [1]. First, you
reach a little bridge (inscription 1891 of G.K. Empiríkos), immediately
thereafter you reach a spot shaded by a large plane tree: over here you can find
the old Doubli-source with an inscription from 1818, the "paradosiakí kríni
Ipsiloú".
(0h43) You
follow the paved path and after 1 minute, you keep to the left [1] along
beautiful cypresses; your trail zigzags further on, passing some waters-hoots,
gardens and citrus trees. After about 3-4 minutes you pass a small bridge from
1929 [1]. After a splendid old staircase, you reach a bifurcation, where you
take the steps on the left (sign "PROS LAMYRA").
You then get to another well,
a “paradosiakí kríni Ypsiloú” from 1842.
You continue straight and descend slowly and – pay attention – , near a
double electricity pole, you take a RIGHT (sign Pros Lámyra, a little further a
[1]). A little later, you keep to the right of a high white
house ([1] on the staircase) – the left path descends to a church. After
a concrete stretch, you go up to the right on a staircase ([1] on the stairs).
After a lot of steps, you keep to the left between 2 houses (sign Pros Lámyra
and [1]) and you reach in this way the third white source of Ypsiloú: it dates
from 1763 and was renovated in 1890 by the famous N.K. Empiríkos.
After 45 concrete steps, you see on the right the source of Vrysára, but
you should take the concrete path on the left [9b].
This trail always continues straight, first to the left of some houses
(2 X [9b]) and then with a beautiful view of Ménites and its church and
on the entire valley.
You go down and then you take a sharp RIGHT (no mark!). You get to many
steps and you keep to the right of a house [9b]. You zigzag between the
houses and descend again, until you arrive next to a nice bridge.
You veer to the left and, near a house, you get to a cross-staircase
([1b] on a pole) - it is here that you get to the path of walk [1], and
you go up to the right .
If at the top you keep to the right, you will get after some steps underneath
the church of Ménites. But the signposting [1b] sends you
to the LEFT on a concrete lane. Further on, you take a right [1b] and, after a
vaulted passage, you go up a staircase and get to the asphalt road (bus stop and
hiking sign). You take a left, you pass the tavern Fountana and arrive next to
the marvellous source with the six spouting lion heads. On the right you notice
the wonderful outdoor terrace of the tavern Pigés Karidhiés. Next to it, there
is also the taverna Drosiá. (2h48) These
terraces are
great spots to sit down for a while
– underneath the large trees and midst the gurgling of the water
coming from the wells and from the small river in the deep valley. If
you consider having lunch here, you should try the fourtália, an omelet with potatoes and sausage.
(2h48) For the
way back, you go down the stairs on the opposite side of the church (hiking sign
[9b], because this is the beginning of the walk to path [9]); after 5 + 12
steps, you continue straight ahead – walk [9b] goes here to the left, without
signposting… You continue your descent [1] and past a house – with to the right
the little waterfall – you veer to the right, but immediately after, you take a
sharp left on the stairs [1]. Later on, you keep to the right ([1b] on a pole)
and you keep going down, but past some houses you take again a sharp left on a
paved staircase [1b].
(2h53) You thus get
to the bifurcation, where you should take a LEFT (hiking sign [1]).
Route
description:
(0h00)
For all hikes leaving
from Chóra you have to depart from the main street near the large church
of the Panagía tis Kímisis – which is visible from all over this town
(for more details you might have a look at the description of the small
hike in Chóra itself). Today you should follow the main street to the
right (facing the church) and soon you arrive at the big square of Vas.
Goulandris, where you find an information sign of Andros Routes. You
keep following the pedestrian street (little signs
[1], [2], [3], [8a],
[17] and [18]!). At the end of this street, after 70 meters, hikes [3],
[17] and [18] continue to the left, but you should take a RIGHT here
(hiking sign [1] Ypsiloú 2,2 km / Lámyra 3,6 km / Ménites 6,1 km /
Messariá 6,8 km / Panachrántou 10,1 km).
You go down on the steps, you cross the asphalt road that descends to
Nimborió, and – pay attention – after another 8 steps, you should take a
left in a narrow street [1].
You walk past a
staircase on the right and continue to follow the concrete street between the
houses for some 5 minutes.
A little later, you reach a concrete road, which you follow to the left for a
short while ([1] on a wall and a pole). Slightly further down, though, on the
right of a row of cypresses, you can get to the trail again [1]. You then pass
the church of Mesathoúri, you go down to the left and pass another building with
abundant wells – there is also a fourth sign “PROS LAMYRA” [1].
You now go up to a very little square: there you take a left for a while
- you
get in this way to the bifurcation of trails [1] and [10].
[Walk [1] continues here to the left and below, see e.g. the walk Chóra -
Ménites and Chóra – Panachrántou.]
(1h03) You now leave the route
of walk [1] and you go up the stairs, while keeping to the right (hiking
sign [10] Strapouriés 750 m).
At the end of the staircase, you veer left on a cemented path and you
continue while keeping to the left onto a paved lane [10].
You go up, you go to the right at a bifurcation [10], but at the second
fork, you take a left [10].
You still go up and arrive down at the retaining wall of a road, you climb the
stairs to the left [10] and so you get to a concrete road.
(1h09) You go left for 10
meters [10], but you then climb the stairs to the right, next to some
cypresses [10].
You immediately veer slightly to the left, but after 1 more minute, you
turn right on a paved street (no mark!).
Later on, you still veer right and continue above olive trees and along
a beautiful row of cypress trees.
You arrive next to an impressive wall surrounding a huge property and you keep
to the right [10] following a wide concrete road.
(1h16) Pay attention: when the
road veers to the left, you continue straight [10] next to this enormous
"palace" in ruins (which is for sale!);
you go up to the left of a chapel, you veer left next to a house and you
then take a little street to the right [10], which goes up with steps
along a row of cypress trees.
You wind right and left, you continue to climb amid olive groves, you
come next to a house and you finally go left at the end of the stairs
([10] on the steps).
After 20 steps, you go to the left and you thus get to the asphalt road.
(1h23) Just opposite and
obliquely to the left, begins walk [9], for walk [10] that continues to
Evrousés, you should follow the road to the right.
So you continue obliquely to the left (hiking sign), at the foot of a
large rock;
you veer right between some houses and soon you reach a nice old trail
with beautiful steps.
After 3 minutes, you keep to the left ([9] a little later), but a little
further, there is a barricade of branches.
The beautiful trail continues flatly and as on a balcony above the
valley, with nice views of Chóra and the valley.
After a little more than 6 minutes, you get for a while on concrete, you
cross a small road and the old trail continues straight, to the right of
a ruin [9].
Shortly after, you keep to the right at a bifurcation [9] and the nice rocky
path climbs gradually between fairly high walls.
(1h35) After 4 beautiful
minutes, you pass through a small gate in reinforcing steel [9], you
veer left between cypresses [9] and you always go up between walls.
You thus walk between nice walls up to the left of the green hill - the
view is still beautiful: in the valley you distinguish
the elongated village
of Messariá, and on the opposite side the monastery of Panachrántou with
the villages of Fállika, Kouréli and Sasá (from left to right).
Then you begin to descend rather quickly and you arrive in a chaotic
river bed because of some subsidences.
You go up again and you still follow a nice stretch, gently sloping or flat,
mostly next to oaks.
(1h51) At a side trail, you
continue straight ahead [9] and after another fine and easy stretch, you
come next to a chapel.
A minute later, you cross a brook full of water and with lots of water
pipes: you continue quietly and after another 6 minutes, there is again
a spot with plenty of water, between rocks and
under the trees [9].
(2h04) You go up and you
follow again a beautiful and flat path with a wide view over the valley.
Once arrived in a depression, you continue straight [9] and after 5
minutes, you reach a wide triangular spot between walls: the walk [9]
continues here in front, in the right corner.
(2h15) For Ménites, there is
another path that continues in the LEFT angle [9b]: it is a wide trail
that descends slowly between nice walls, which sometimes have large flat
and upright stones.
After 5
minutes, the trail becomes rocky;
a little further, you keep to the left along a wall [9b], but later
on, you continue straight ahead.
You descend slowly, but at the end, the descent becomes steeper, and you veer
right.
(2h33) At the bottom, you veer
right, in front of a cave with waterfalls;
you follow a cemented lane for 5 minutes and so you get to the asphalt road.
(2h38) You take a left (hiking
sign [9b] 600 m up to the [1] walk) and after 30-40 meters, you
descend the stairs on the right (hiking sign and [9b]).
After some rest
you can also climb up to the church – striking here are the
bas-reliefs from 1808.
[If you want to continue to Messariá, you should take a right here - see the
alternative walk Chóra - Ménites - Messariá - Chóra.]
You cross the big arch bridge, and then the little bridge; after the stretch
with the uneven pavement, there are two small bridges, you then veer to right.
You climb old stairs, then you get to a very pleasant and flat stretch, while
you pass above the pigeon house and you enjoy the wide panorama of the valley
and the elongated village of Messariá. After a little more than 9 minutes, you
go up to the left and the right and you get a truly magnificent view – and then
you follow some flat stretches of the path
(3h11) At the moment you arrive at the
top, Chóra already appears in front of you in the distance.
(3h19) After another 7 minutes, you
arrive at the nice bend with the bridge built with flat stones, below 2 plane
trees. Your trail climbs again and after a flat stretch with two subsidences,
you reach another bridge (with the date 1912 on the balustrade). You now arrive
very soon between the houses of Lámyra: you pass underneath a chapel and get to
the junction with the blue chimney – to the right you could descend to Messariá.
(3h23) You keep to the LEFT, but after
2 minutes, you keep to the right near a beautiful arched bridge;
you pass some houses and you arrive at the bridge of 1899, also built
with the financial assistance of K. Empiríkos [1].
Further on, you cross a small
gravel road and continue on the opposite side between houses [1]. You keep to
the right, the concrete or paved trail continues to meander between the houses
of Lámyra and finally leads to a bend of the concrete road.
(3h30) You follow the climbing road
[1] – a hard stretch – until you get
underneath the church of Lámyra. A little further you descend to the right on
white steps, underneath a plane tree and to the right of a new house [1], and
you arrive at a concrete spot where you continue left [1].
The paved trail passes by some beautiful houses (some are dated 1840) and soon
you reach the platía 28 Oktovríou with in front of you the institute for girls.
(3h36) You go up to the left [1], and
after 1 minute, you continue STRAIGHT [1]. Pay attention: after 2 more minutes,
you go left this time [1]!
You climb, then you cross the asphalt road [1] and the climb gets steeper until
you arrive at the bifurcation of paths [1] and [10] (hiking sign). You take a
right (hiking sign [1] Chóra 3,2 km) and get to the
small square Theodóra Keraní.
(3h43) You descend for a while to the
right, then you get to the strange building with a source, just below the white
main church of the Panagía of Messathoúri. Near the tower of the church, you
keep to the right [1], and a little later you get to a concrete road that you
follow to the left. You follow this road for a few moments, but after 2 minutes,
you continue to the RIGHT on a staircase (sign Chóra 55 minutes and [1]) - and
right now, you arrive next to the first source of Ypsiloú (date 1763). At the
next crossroads, you turn RIGHT onto a narrow concrete path [1], and you soon
follow a nice paved staircase. Close to house with the high white chimney, you
keep to the LEFT (blue mark and [1]). You pass above the church with the blue
dome of Ypsiloú, and further, still near a white house, you take another left
[1].
(3h52) You thus arrive at a T-junction
in front of a neoclassical house: you go left again ([1] on the steps). You
climb and so you get to the second source, dating from 1842. At first, you
continue straight ahead [1], but at a bifurcation where a staircase goes up, you
descend of course to the right [1]. You finally begin the long descent in a very
green environment. You pass a small bridge from 1929, where you continue
straight and descend beside gutters and a splendid garden.
(3h59) You continue downhill beside a
beautiful row of cypresses, while keeping to the right, and you reach the last
source of Ypsiloú, dating from 1818. You walk down to the right on a beautiful
little bridge - the inscription mentions the date 1891 and the name of G.K.
Empiríkos.
You get to the road again,
where you continue on
the opposite side face [1]. Shortly after, you veer left on the concrete
path along a gutter [1]. You continue straight along a nice row of cypress.
Pay attention: a few minutes later, next to 2 houses, you descend the stairs to
the right ([1] and blue mark). A little later, you descend of course to the
right on the concrete steps ([1] and blue mark), and you continue to descend
while meandering, sometimes between high walls. At the cross-path, you again go
down to the right ([1] and blue mark).
(4h16) About 4 minutes later, you
arrive at the side of the chapel with the ruin, and you descend to the left ([1]
and blue mark). You veer to the left, but past an old bridge, you veer to the
right. You now follow an earth trail, later on a paved path that finally leads
straight to Chóra.
(4h23) You cross a small concrete road
(blue mark) and - while enjoying magnificent views of Chóra, bathed in the
evening sun - you finally arrive in the valley and on the road [1] that leads
straight into the river bed with the wooden bridge.
[You can possibly turn
left to continue in the bed and on the path towards the bridge and the
beach of Nimborió. (sign [1a])
(4h33) If you want to follow the walk
[1] until the end, you continue on the opposite side on the steep concrete
little road [1], next to the big hiking sign. You cross the asphalt road after 2
minutes and continue straight ahead on the stairs [1]. Above, you take the
concrete street to the left [1], until the end, where you climb the stairs to
the right in order to reach the beginning of the main street next. You go left
and you need now another 2 minutes to get near the church, your starting point.
(4h49)