Cycling in the Peloponnese

Greece: Peloponnese Cycle Tour 1st - 15 March 2006
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The Peloponnese is our favourite area for cycle touring and this was our 3rd tour of this lovely part of Greece, having cycled around here previously in 1988 and 2001. It has georgious scenery, relatively quiet roads, friendly people and some spectacular ruins.

The best time for cycle touring is in the spring, when the wild flowers are at their best and before the main tourist season.

Tuesday 28 February: Train to Coulsdon South and cycled to Gatwick. Checked in at 10 pm and stayed overnight at TravelLodge Gatwick (£26). Distance 45.67km. Climb 651m.

Wednesday 1 March: 06:40 Easyjet flight to Athens. Suburban train to Athens Hotel Dioskouros €25 inc. b'fast. 4.9 km.

Athens: Temple of Zeus

Athens: Hadrians Gate

Thursday 2 March: Cycled to Pireus for the 09:30 ferry to Aegina. Visited temples of Afaia and Paleochora. According to mythology, Aegina was a beautiful princess with whom Zeus fell in love with. In order to be alone with her, he took her to this uninhabited island, and they had a son, Aeacus, who became the first king.

From here we took the 14:10 ferry to Methana. Rode to a volcano (near Chora) and walked to the crater. Hotel Avra €45. 64.08km. 1177m.

Pireas - the port for Athens

Aegina: Temple of Aphaia.
One of the best preserved temples in Greece

Aegina: Temple of Afaia

Aegina: Paleohora

Aegina

Aegina

Aegina

Methana: Volcano at Chora
This shaft volcano has been dormant for 2500 years.

Methana: Volcano at Chora

Friday 3rd March: Trizina, ancient Troezen, Galatas, Saronida, unpaved road over mountain ridge, descended to coast, stayed at Ermioni. Rooms €40. 90.53km. 1747m.

Methana: Sunrise

Methana

Ancient Troezen

Poros

Poros

Mt Aderes

Saturday 4th March: Ilio Castro, Didyma, main road N, Neohori, Nafplio. Visited Palamidi fortress and old town during the Lent carnival. Overview of Akronafplia fortress. Hotel Economou €30. 82.31km. 1398m.

Nafplio: Akronafplia Fortress

Nafplio: Palamidi Fortress

Nafplio: Venetian Arsenal

Nafplio

Sunday 5th March: Visit Tiryns, coast road, Poralia Astros, Astros, Leonidio. Hotel Costarini €35. 94.16km. 1186m.

Ancient Tiryns a Mycaenian citadel from the early Bronze Age.
According to mythology, this was a birthplace of Heracles.

Ancient Tiryns

Coast road to Leonidio

Students celebrating the start of Lent

Monday 6th March: 35km climb to Kosmas, Geraki (visit Byzantine city - shut, but gap in fence), Molai. Hotel Gregory €40. 89.68km. 2250m.

Leaving Leonidio

Moni Profitisllias
A monastry perched on the side of the mountain.

Kosmas: pothole
This recently resurfaced road was the main through route.
There were no warning signs!

Geronthrai
This area was the last stronghold of the Byzantine empire.
It fell to the Ottomans under Mehmet in 1460.

Tuesday 7th March: Gefira, Momemvasia (visit old town and citadel), Ellinko, Papadhianika, Elia. Hotel Georgia €40. 88.02km. 1550m.

Monemvasia
The 200m long causeway to the island was built in 1971.

Monemvasia

Monemvasia
Byzantine christians occupied this 100m high stronghold
from the 6th to the 15th century.

Monemvasia

Monemvasia

Monemvasia

Monemvasia

Wednesday 8th March: Skala, Githio, Passava, Scutari, E coast of Mani, Gerolimenas. Hotel Akrotenaritis €35. 111.24km. 1800m. We cycled through an horrendous thunderstorm, with lightning striking all around, before decending to our hotel to dry out.

Kotronas

Mani

Mani: Lagia
The Deep Mani was once notorious for its feuds.
These tower houses were refuges against attack.

Mani: Gerolimenas Akrotenraitis Hotel

Gerolimenas

Thursday 9th March: W coast of Mani, Kitta, Areopoli, Stoupa, Karamyli. Rooms (Olympia Koumonakou) €30. Walked to old town, Ag. Spiridon, up above Viros Gorge and another gorge to Ag. Sophia, down into valley, up to Petrovani and back. 71.65km. 895m.

Areopoli

Areopoli

Neo Itilo

Itilo

Kardamili: Agios Spiridon

Friday 10th March: Kalamata, Messene, Koroni. Visit Venetian citadel. Hotel Diana €35. 90.44km. 1117m.

Koroni: Timios Prodromos Convent

Koroni: Timios Prodromos Convent

Saturday 11 March: Inland route to Methoni (Venetian citadel shut), Pylos (visit Neokastro), Gialova. Visit Paliaiokastro and climbed down to Nestor's cave and Voidokilio beach, Navarino bay and lagoon. Hotel Zoe €35. 61.60km. 883m.

Koroni

Pilos: Neokastro

Gialova: Paleokastro

Gialova: Paleokastro

Gialova: Paleokastro

Gialova: Nestor's Cave
According to mythology, Nestor was the king of Pylos,

whose father was killed by Heracles (Hercules).
He took part in the voyage of the Argonauts
 and fought in the Trojan War.

Sunday 12 March: Visit Nestor's palace, Chora (museum)(note there is a hotel on outskirts), Vlasis, Milioti, Aristomenis, Sterna, Dhraina, Petralona, Mavromati. Large rooms €40. 86.44km. 1912m.

Mavromati

Monday 13 March: Visit ancient Messini. Archadian gate, Meligalas, Megalopoli, Tripoli. Hotel Galaxy €45. 80.29km. 1406m. Hail storm.

Messini

Ancient Messini has a large theatre
a stadium and well preserved walls.

Messini

Messini: Arcadian Gate

Tuesday 14 March: Argos, main road to Chania, minor road to N coast, Perighali, Corinth. New rail station near motorway outside town, past Lidl store. Train to Athens. Hotel Dioskouros €25. 121.09km. 983m.

Wednesday 15 March: Cycled to main station, but there was a general stike, so we cycled to airport (38km) including the motorway approach, which was unavoidable. Plane to Gatwick. 49.79km.

Some stats:
1232 km cycled (765 miles) and 18,304m climbed.
£176.16 Flights
£657.68 Hotels, meals, entrance fees, trains.
£833.84 Total cost for two people.