FOOTPATHS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN
FROM KARYES & KOUTLOUMOUSIOU
TO PHILOTHEOU
Distance: 9.2 km Journey
Time: 2½ - 3 hours
This route
mostly follows the contours of the mountain, although there are one or two
steep places. While the initial
and final sections are mainly along traditional kaldirimi paved stone paths, there is a long
middle section along a road. But
there are fine views from the road down to Iviron and along the adjacent coast.
Notes:
Be aware that, while the paths themselves do not move, over time it is
possible for other details to change (eg, signposts disappear, new roads or
tracks appear). Distances (in
metres) have been measured by GPS and thus are horizontal measurements, without
allowance for ascents or descents; they are normally accurate to within around
10 metres.
Abbreviations:
L =
Left; R = Right; KSO = Keep straight on;
FP = Footpath; K = Kaldirimi stone path
Description of Route:
Distance (m) Directions
From Karyes
0 From
the Main Square in Karyes,
follow the main street, passing the Epistasia and Protaton on the R.
Bear R following main street.
210 Ignore
K path up R; KSO/L past bakery and out of town.
170 At
the outer gates into Koutloumousiou monastery, take FP on R (signed Philotheou)
270 Arrive at monastery wall and turn R to follow wall. Path from monastery joins from L.
(continue
at ÔCombined RoutesÕ below)
From Koutloumousiou
0 On leaving the
monastery entrance, turn L and L again, with the monastery wall on the L.
50 Path
from Karyes joins from
R. KSO following wall.
Combined Routes
80 Fork
up R away from monastery
50 Bear
R after buildings (signed Philotheou and Xeropotamou) and descend to cross stream.
150 Reach
road and turn R along it; ignore small paths/tracks off to L.
190 Ignore
track diagonally down to L.
400 Ignore
another track diagonally down to L; KSO (signed as before).
490 Ignore
two adjacent tracks off L.
140 Turn
L down track (straight on signed Xeropotamou and Simonos Petras).
40 At
clearing, with building to far L, bear R onto FP (Kaldirimi) signed Philotheou and Iviron. Path
continues through trees and across stream (CAUTION).
540 Pass
Fountain on R
110 At
kellion gate (on L), turn R and immediately L round building and KSO on
track. (Ignore road up to R).
70 Take
small path (unsigned) diagonally R off track. This soon becomes Kaldirimi.
50 At
gate, downhill on L, bear R on level.
Cross stream.
380 Emerge
at road. Ignore track straight
ahead. Turn R along road to
T-junction and then L along more major road.
700 Ignore
minor road L to kellia; KSO on road, crossing watercourse.
400 After
building on L, ignore FP off L signed to Iviron. KSO on
road.
1000 Ignore
minor road to kellia back R.
1200 At
major junction, take first road up R, signed to kellia and Philotheou (NOT second road down R, signed Iviron).
300 Ignore
track up R and track L; KSO on road.
500 Cross
watercourse and KSO, now uphill.
160 Ignore
track up R
600 At
junction, fork L off road onto level track.
160 Take
FP diagonally R off track (signed Philotheou). Path
contains stretches of K and descends into valley,
560 Cross
bridge with fountain and waterfall, both on R. Path then climbs steeply up other side of valley.
250 At
top, KSO to arrive at track and buildings; KSO on K between buildings ahead,
ignoring tracks to L and R.
70 Reach
walls of Philotheou
monastery on R; follow wall to L to reach É
40 Philotheou
Monastery entrance
This description has been produced by The Friends of Mount Athos, a charitable organisation which, among other activities, works with monasteries to keep this, and certain other footpaths on the Holy Mountain, open. Copies of this and similar descriptions are available, free, from the Friends website, www.athosfriends.org and in a number of places on or associated with the Holy Mountain.
May 2007