Chóra - Ypsiloú - Lámyra - Ménites and back |
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Evaluation:
This is one of the
hikes on Andros you really have to make – it is the shorter variant of the hike
following the same trajectory, but continuing to the monastery of Panachrántou.
There also- other variants
that pass through, for example, Strapouriés or Messariá.
On this hike you get a
marvellous impression of the large valleys above Chóra, with beautiful views on
the town itself. It also brings you to one of the most watery spots on the
island with the wonderful valley of Ménites. In addition, almost all the way the
monopátia belong to the most beautiful ones on Andros – and this means a lot!
Throughout the long day, you
will have plenty of aesthetic sensations, because of beautiful elements such as
bridges, springs, churches, squares and paths...
This hike definitely deserves
the maximum evaluation of ****. Estimated time:
In actual hiking time, this hike
of 5,9 km to Ménites takes about 2 hours and about the
same time for the return route to Chóra.
All together this means 4h of
actual hiking time.
Taking into account the
pauses - there are so many marvellous spots to have a rest! -, and a picnic or
lunch (for instance in the beautiful tavern Pigés - Karidhiés in Ménites) this
hike will be turned into a full day of about 6-7 hours (TWT). By taking it
really easy, we hiked from 10am till 6.30pm, with a very long break at Ménites....
The hiking sign for walk [1] in Chóra.
(0h09) 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 [1] 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
(hiking sign [1]
Ypsiloú 1,6 km / Lámyra 3 km / Ménites 5,5 km / Messariá 6,2 km /
Panachrántou 9,6 km).
[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].]
(0h12) 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 4 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 and on October the 4th, 2018.
The marvellous path to Ypsiloú, with a bridge built with flat stones. 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!!.
Always those beautiful paths to Ypsiloú...
(0h28) You
thus take a right and a couple of minutes later you get to a beautiful
stone staircase, wonderfully shaded – this shade is so characteristic
for Andros! Mind the nice walls and 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 –
pay attention – , you turn left [1], following the water pipe.
(0h36) The
following stretch is nice and runs in between (dry) water-shoots; 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. 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" – mind the row
of 4 plane trees in the brook!
A nice source in Ypsiloú. (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" and [1]). You then get to another well, a “paradosiakí kríni Ypsiloú” from 1842. You continue straight and descend slowly and – pay attention – , just pas some white houses and 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. The inscription on the third source of Ypsiloú. 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.
(1h05) You
cross the asphalt road again (there is a sign “Pros Lámyra”, a red dot
and a [1]), you descend a staircase and veer to the right [1]; then you
keep a little to the left, where a concrete staircase goes up to the
right, and in this way you get to Lámyra. You enter this village on a
very beautiful spot, at the Platía 28 Oktovríou, next to the old "parthenagogío"
of Lámyra – a school for young girls, buil in 1926. This is an ideal
place to have a rest underneath a big plane tree...
(1h09) You
continue towards the right [1] and slightly further on you reach a
beautiful well: this abundant source was constructed in 1840 at the
expenses of K. Empiríkos. You follow now a marvellous trail with
beautiful houses alongside (some with the date 1840) and with a great
panoramic view. You go up again until you get to a concrete spot, where
you should take the stairs up to the right [1] until you get to the
concrete road underneath the large church of Lámyra. You follow the
concrete road to the left for a short while ([1] on a rock), but only
one minute further on, in a bend, you continue straight ahead on the
trail [1]. You keep to the left [1] and at another junction between tall
houses, you go down to the left again [1]. You cross a gravel road [1]
and on the opposite side you find a narrow path [1], to the right of 2
houses. (1h22) After some steps and a nice little bridge, you get to a trail that is slightly overgrown. After some 4 minutes you pass another old bridge made of flat stones. On the right you notice a sign from 1912, indicating who paid for this "odós" or road – it is of course Alkibiades Empiríkos again. Further on you get a beautiful view on the elongated town of Messariá with the church and the black Kaïri-tower.
The green valley, with Messariá.
Flat parts alternate with
steep ends…
A Serapia orchid.
(1h43)
Almost 20 minutes after the bifurcation, you pass a lonely house, where
you keep a little to the right; later on, you walk again on a flat path.
(1h50)
Slightly further on there is a bifurcation: the path to the left is the
path to Messariá (hiking sign [1] Messariá 1,1 km / Panachrántou 4,5
km), you should take a right here (hiking sign [1b] Ménites 370 m) – you
will return here after your visit of Ménites…
An elegant waterfall below Ménites. |
You climb a lot of
concrete steps, but in front of a house, you take have to take a left
([1] on a pole). At the top, next to another house, you should take a
left on an concrete lane ([1b] on a pole). 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 Springs 80 m). 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. (1h58)
These 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 omelette with potatoes and sausage. Also the dessert with the “glyká tou koutalioú” is very tasteful! A delicious "glykó tou koutalioú"... After some rest you can also climb up to the church – striking here are the
bas-reliefs from 1808. The church of Ménites.
(1h58) 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].
(2h04) You thus get
to the bifurcation, where you should take a LEFT (hiking sign [1]).
A nice bridge from 1912. 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.
Another old bridge of the famous 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.
Chóra in the evening sun. [You can possibly turn
left to continue in the bed and on the path towards the bridge and the
beach of Nimborió. (sign [1a])
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