Corfu Mountain Trail uses lockdown period to upgrade Corfu mountain paths
Mountain Trail
12 Jun 2020
/ 09:46
CORFU. The Mountain Trail may have had to be put off until May 2021 but organisation members took the opportunity to improve the mountain paths.
They had to adapt their objectives and decide what could be done regarding mountain running and races on the island, focussing on the needs of residents and visitors.
During this recent period they have made efforts to improve the already-existing paths on the island, whether they are used for races or not, starting with complete markings (on the Corfu Mountain Trail route) and 'bringing back to life' to old paths that were an essential part of people's lives years ago.
Corfu Mountain Trail trekking routes
Through ongoing work on the island's paths and in collaboration with local communities, volunteers and Corfu Trail, which also has a large network of paths, the Corfu Mountain Trail team, apart from making the race an international event, has managed to maintain a 150km network of paths on the island. As well as forming part of the race route, the routes also form a network of paths which join local communities and pass through some of the most beautiful spots on the island.
Permanent markings have now been painted (green, white, green) along the paths, which can be found on our site in digital format for mobile devices and watches - electronic markings such as those used in more developed countries are being planned for the future. These markings make the paths more accessible for locals and visitors all year round.
Below is a list of paths with degree of difficulty and distances between various spots along the path, allowing walkers to enjoy nature and the island's beauty spots according to their abilities and time available - following the Corfu Mountain Trail markings!
On foot:
1. Limanaki Ipsos - Pirgi - Spartylas: 4km / moderate
2. Spartylas - Taxiarhis (viewpoint): 2km / moderate-difficult
3. Spartylas - Pantokratoras: 7km / moderate-difficult
4. Spartylas - Taxiarhis - Pantokratoras - Old Sinies - Old Perithia: 11km / difficult
5. Old Perithia - Krinia - Loustra (at 8th km take path to left and not markings back to village) - Old Perithia: 11km / moderate
6. Old Perithia - Krinia - Loustra - Petalia - Episkepsi: 12km / moderate-difficult
7. Episkepsi - Nymphes Monastery: 4km / easy
8. Nymphes - Klimatia - Melisoudi - Kastelani Giros: 10km / easy
9. Lakones - Acapulco - Liapades beach: 2km / easy
10. Kastelani - Alimatades - Lakones (beautiful view): 7km / easy
11. Liapades Beach - Rovinia lake: 2km / moderate
12. Liapades Beach - Rovinia - lake - Yianades - Ermones: 13km / moderate
13. Mirtiotissa - Glyfada - Kontoyialos - Yialiskari Skafonas: 5km / moderate-difficult
14. Skafonas - Varipatades - Kouramades - Kastelani Messi: 6km / easy
15. Kinopiastes - Agii Deka - Agio Deka Pantokratoras Monastery: 5km / moderate-difficult
16. Kinopiastes - Agio Deka Pantokratoras Monastery - Ano Garouna - Stavros (Steki): 8km / moderate -difficult
17. Stavros (Steki) - Komianata - Pantokratoras Monastery Stavros - STroggili: 6km / moderate
18. Stavros (Steki) - Komianata - Pantokratoras Church Stavros - Agios Ioannis - Peristeron Monastery (circle over Tsaki Benitses) - Stavros (Steki): 12km / moderate-difficult
19. Britsh telephone box Stavros - Agia Paraskevi Benitses - Agia Kyriaki Gastouri - Piges Gastouri - Kinopiastes: 6km / moderate-difficult
20. Benitses - Agia Kyriaki - Gastouri: 3km / moderate-difficult
21. Stroggili - Episkopiana - Moraitika: 4km / moderate
On any route(s) that you like you can go further and join other routes depending on the distance you want to cover. At the start and finish points of all the above routes there is access to a public road.
For more information and maps:
https://corfumountaintrail.com
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/851578
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/689112
Pavlos Diakomakos from Corfu Mountain Trail says, "As we gradually come out of lockdown, we believe that the public and, later on when conditions allow it, visitors will be to enjoy Corfu nature on this network of paths.
"We postponed this year's Corfu Mountain Trail to 2021 and it is significant that 85% of international athletes who registered for this year have so far said that they will take part next year.
"We feel honoured by their trust and their love for the island and the race as several of the participants took part in previous years. We are also happy because many of those who have said they will take part next year are leading mountain runners who have taken part in big races.
"For the next event we are considering having several races along the island's paths and we hope that this present ordeal will make us stronger and wiser, keeping our smiles and our love of nature. We look forward to next year and wish everyone good health."
During this recent period they have made efforts to improve the already-existing paths on the island, whether they are used for races or not, starting with complete markings (on the Corfu Mountain Trail route) and 'bringing back to life' to old paths that were an essential part of people's lives years ago.
Corfu Mountain Trail trekking routes
Through ongoing work on the island's paths and in collaboration with local communities, volunteers and Corfu Trail, which also has a large network of paths, the Corfu Mountain Trail team, apart from making the race an international event, has managed to maintain a 150km network of paths on the island. As well as forming part of the race route, the routes also form a network of paths which join local communities and pass through some of the most beautiful spots on the island.
Permanent markings have now been painted (green, white, green) along the paths, which can be found on our site in digital format for mobile devices and watches - electronic markings such as those used in more developed countries are being planned for the future. These markings make the paths more accessible for locals and visitors all year round.
Below is a list of paths with degree of difficulty and distances between various spots along the path, allowing walkers to enjoy nature and the island's beauty spots according to their abilities and time available - following the Corfu Mountain Trail markings!
On foot:
1. Limanaki Ipsos - Pirgi - Spartylas: 4km / moderate
2. Spartylas - Taxiarhis (viewpoint): 2km / moderate-difficult
3. Spartylas - Pantokratoras: 7km / moderate-difficult
4. Spartylas - Taxiarhis - Pantokratoras - Old Sinies - Old Perithia: 11km / difficult
5. Old Perithia - Krinia - Loustra (at 8th km take path to left and not markings back to village) - Old Perithia: 11km / moderate
6. Old Perithia - Krinia - Loustra - Petalia - Episkepsi: 12km / moderate-difficult
7. Episkepsi - Nymphes Monastery: 4km / easy
8. Nymphes - Klimatia - Melisoudi - Kastelani Giros: 10km / easy
9. Lakones - Acapulco - Liapades beach: 2km / easy
10. Kastelani - Alimatades - Lakones (beautiful view): 7km / easy
11. Liapades Beach - Rovinia lake: 2km / moderate
12. Liapades Beach - Rovinia - lake - Yianades - Ermones: 13km / moderate
13. Mirtiotissa - Glyfada - Kontoyialos - Yialiskari Skafonas: 5km / moderate-difficult
14. Skafonas - Varipatades - Kouramades - Kastelani Messi: 6km / easy
15. Kinopiastes - Agii Deka - Agio Deka Pantokratoras Monastery: 5km / moderate-difficult
16. Kinopiastes - Agio Deka Pantokratoras Monastery - Ano Garouna - Stavros (Steki): 8km / moderate -difficult
17. Stavros (Steki) - Komianata - Pantokratoras Monastery Stavros - STroggili: 6km / moderate
18. Stavros (Steki) - Komianata - Pantokratoras Church Stavros - Agios Ioannis - Peristeron Monastery (circle over Tsaki Benitses) - Stavros (Steki): 12km / moderate-difficult
19. Britsh telephone box Stavros - Agia Paraskevi Benitses - Agia Kyriaki Gastouri - Piges Gastouri - Kinopiastes: 6km / moderate-difficult
20. Benitses - Agia Kyriaki - Gastouri: 3km / moderate-difficult
21. Stroggili - Episkopiana - Moraitika: 4km / moderate
On any route(s) that you like you can go further and join other routes depending on the distance you want to cover. At the start and finish points of all the above routes there is access to a public road.
For more information and maps:
https://corfumountaintrail.com
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/851578
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/689112
Pavlos Diakomakos from Corfu Mountain Trail says, "As we gradually come out of lockdown, we believe that the public and, later on when conditions allow it, visitors will be to enjoy Corfu nature on this network of paths.
"We postponed this year's Corfu Mountain Trail to 2021 and it is significant that 85% of international athletes who registered for this year have so far said that they will take part next year.
"We feel honoured by their trust and their love for the island and the race as several of the participants took part in previous years. We are also happy because many of those who have said they will take part next year are leading mountain runners who have taken part in big races.
"For the next event we are considering having several races along the island's paths and we hope that this present ordeal will make us stronger and wiser, keeping our smiles and our love of nature. We look forward to next year and wish everyone good health."
