Kyrenia Trails

After a morning briefing, please meet your tour leader in the hotel reception at 10:30, where you will learn more of the week ahead, you set off on your first walk.

Please note that North Cyprus has many paths and tracks to discover; because of this and occasional access restrictions, the walks followed during the week may differ from those shown below, which are given for illustration only.

Your first day of walking sees you depart by bus for the small village of Bellapais. Lying just a few kilometres out of Kyrenia, amongst hills dotted with slender Cypresses, Bellapais was made famous by Lawrence Durrell in his book ‘Bitter Lemons’. Durrell describes this beautiful village in detail and today much is still recognisable from passages in his book.

The famous ‘Tree of Idleness’ stands in front of the magnificent 14th Century Crusader Abbey after which the village takes its name. You have time to wander around the site before walking uphill through the village’s bougainvillaea-strewn houses, to reach a broad forest track. After an hour or so of walking, with splendid views back across to Kyrenia and the sea beyond, you enter a high mountain valley. Here the track weaves its way amongst low bushes of sage and several species of young pine. The dense pine forest that once covered this area was destroyed by forest fire in 1995. However, the local Forest Department have been working hard to restore the natural habitats and today you will see many thriving young trees. After lunch beneath the mountain summits you’ll pick up a little-used track, which leads you down to Catalkoy village and your transport back to the hotel.
Distance walked approx. 8 km (BL)

North Cyprus’s compact size means that distances really are quite small and are therefore easily and quickly covered; your drive to the start point of today’s walk at the Alevkaya Forest Station doesn’t take much more than 45 minutes or so. A short visit to the Herbarium here (founded by the respected British botanist Dr. Deryck Viney) is a great introduction to Cypriot flora.

Setting off on foot you walk on forest tracks towards Yayla Peak (927m) passing through stands of the strange strawberry tree (Arbutus Andrachne). These tracks are typical of those you will walk during the week. Broad, but occasionally rough underfoot and sometimes steep (making them 'moderate' in the sometimes hot weather) these are mainly used by farmers so you are unlikely to come across many other walkers.

You gradually gain altitude from Alevkaya to around 825m, directly below Yayla Peak, and then descend to arrive at Tirmen Pass. At this point there are fantastic views to the south over the Mesaoria Plain and, to the north, the Mediterranean.

Today and over the next couple of days you will walk past many varieties of herb, their scents filling the air in the warm sun. One of the most common is Cistus salviifolius or sage-leafed rockrose. This plant is a key ingredient in ada chai - ‘island tea’ - an infusion made from the leaves of the plant and which is used locally to treat upset stomachs.

Turning north you walk down to Antiphonitis Church. This pretty little church, built in a number of contrasting styles - Byzantine, Lusignan and Venetian - is tucked away in the depths of the forest. Receiving few visitors (yet with a gatekeeper!) those who do stumble across the church may be able to view the deteriorating frescoes – if you keep your fingers crossed it should be unlocked with the opportunity to share a coffee with the gatekeeper. You then return to Kyrenia. No doubt this evening you shall head down to the harbour front for a meal and a chat about the day’s walk.

Distance walked approx. 16 km (BL)

Dramatically located on a rocky outcrop, Buffavento is the highest Crusader castle on the island. Set at an altitude of 954m, you’ll have seen the castle on some of your walks earlier in the week; today you’ll explore its imposing ruins. You drive to Buffavento Castle along a newly paved forest road overlooking the Mesaoria Plain. Starting from the car park below the castle, we will make the 700 step climb to this strategic fortress, which in parts ascends steeply - adding to the sense on invincibility of the castle’s position. Once at the castle you enter through an arched gateway and inside can see the remains of a number of rooms, a cistern and chapel. Built in Byzantine times, Buffavento was once used by the king as a hideaway from Richard the Lionheart but the king’s daughter is said to have surrendered the castle to the Crusaders in 1191.

After taking in the extensive views south and north from the castle walls you’ll descend the steps and have a well-earned break for lunch, under the shade of an olive tree. Your descent from the mountain takes you westward on the southern flank of the Besparmark Range with views inland across the Mesaoria Plain – the “breadbasket” of Northern Cyprus. You will first walk along a road, before heading into the forest for the walk up and downhill back to Bellapais village, where you will meet your driver for the return journey to the hotel. Distance walked approx. 14 km (BL)