This high level easy route starts at the roadside just opposite the back entrance to the Athena Palace Hotel at Elia Beach. It is an easy woodland walk along forest roads and narrow tracks, which give fine views of the coastline and beyond. The walk visits the church to Paul the Apostle on the hill above Elia Beach and also Petros, the very large rock, with a trig point on its summit, which pokes up through the trees. This is the highest point on the ridge and those with a good head for heights can ascend the rock to enjoy 1he excellent views over the peninsula.
Ag. Pavlos (The church of St Paul the Apostle) is built near an ancient spring with very pure water you will probably observe local people here filling plastic bottles and loading them into their cars, particularly on a Sunday. The legend goes that St. Paul passed through here on his way to Rome and at this spot he was thirsty. He prayed for water and struck the ground wi1h his staff. The spring immediately gushed forth and it has been flowing ever since.
The path starts at the track, which leads into an olive grove almost directly opposite to the rear entrance of the Athena Palace Hotel. The track runs in a southeasterly direction along the edge of the olive grove for about 300m when attack junction is reached. Take the lower track, which passes an eJ.ectrici1y substation as it meanders along, but still continues in the same general direction. In 400m or so a shallow valley to the right gradually gets deeper and the route begins to climb more steeply through the trees in a series of short zig zags.
As the broad summit of the ridge is reached, the path turns more to the north and the woodland thins, thus providing fine views over the coast. Four hundred meters of gentle ascent along this broad ridge bring the walker to Ag. Pavlos, with its holy well. The land on this plateau is like a giant rock garden as massive rocks are interspersed with pine trees, flowering shrubs, heathers, and other plants. It is beautiful at any time of the year, but even more so in the spring. Like many other walks in the area, many of the forest tracks are lined with beehives and there is often the sweet smell of honey in the air. To continue on to visit Petros, take the sandy track that leads almost due east from the church (Look for the way-markers). Four hundred meters along this track look out for a Poseidon way marker on a tree to the right of the track. This marks the start of a narrow woodland path that will take us directly to Petros. The route winds through the trees and there are many tracks, due to the herds of goats that graze in these woods. To avoid getting lost, look for the Poseidon way markers on the trees. The track meanders on in a southeasterly direction for a distance of 300m to arrive at an open, grassy clearing in the woods surrounded by large rocks.
This is a good place to take a coffee break. The rocks in this area and the sand in the road sparkle a lot when seen in the sunshine. This is due to the presence of the mineral mica in the rocks, which is used in industry as an electrical insulator. The path now continues, through mainly open woodland, to the southeast. In 400m we emerge onto a track immediately to the north of Petros, although the rock itself is hidden amongst the trees. Follow the grassy track to the south end of the rock where there is a seat and old olive trees. Turn right and make for two pine trees below the southern end of the rock. The path up the rock passes between these two trees.
To return to Ag. Pavlos continue through the olive grove on the path which leads northwest (look for the waymarkers).As soon as you enter the woods the path turns left round a small hill, from where a fine view of the coast and Kelyfos Island can be seen. The path continues north West through the pinewoods, past a large rock and finally arriving at a wire fence surrounding an olive grove. The path follows the fence to reach a sandy track which leads directly back to Ag.PavJos. From here retrace your steps to the start.
