Exploring The Countryside Around Theletra
The countryside in the centre of the Paphos District is some of the most beautiful in Cyprus, especially after a nice wet winter. I recently explored some of it, on the hunt for interesting hidden gorges. I found some possible locations, but also ran into a spot of bother...
This Green And Pleasant Land
So, I've taken a farm track off the road between Stroumbi and Kathikas, and this had led me to the following spot. In front of me is a narrow valley which I can't reach from here. You can see some interesting rocks in the foreground which mark the other side. But look all around, and see how amazing the hillsides look. Add to that the sound of insects buzzing, birds singing,the aroma of wild flowers and you get one of my recipes for paradise.
Different Angle
Towards the start of my journey, the track is pretty good and loops round to a lower point. I can now look up the valley and see a definite point of interest. I shall have to explore that at a later date.
Possible Access
There is a track visible on the other side of the valley too. These can be quite misleading. From a distance they look ok, but often they will have been unused for some time and will have gulleys running down the middle where winter rains have washed the top surface away. You should always explore areas like this with caution.
Closer
This was about as close as I could get to the potential gorge from the car. I shall return later in the year when there is less vegetation to give it a proper look. There are lots of narrow gorges in the area like this, because of the amount of gypsum in the rocks. Indeed, it is one of the reasons Theletra was abandoned in the first place. Being water-soluble, gypsum dissolves over time, making landslides more likely and allowing rapid erosion. On the plus side, it results in nice, narrow gorges, but on the minus side, it causes many structural problems. The B7 from Paphos to Polis was badly affected by it, and was closed for some time while they had to build reinforcements. Similar stories occur on the roads near Droushia and other villages.
The Road Less Travelled
On this route I could see gypsum all over the place. It sparkles very nicely, but should be treated with caution. Once wet, areas with a high gypsum concentration are notoriously difficult to drive on. They go like ice, and your car can easily get stuck. Also, I couldn't help but notice that the route wasn't used very often. I needed to drive carefully from here on in...
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Theletra Waterfall
The abandoned village of Theletra, between Stroumpi and Kathikas, is a great place to visit and explore. Equally fascinating is the surrounding countryside, which consists of forgotten tracks and overgrown orchards and vineyards. The other day we went exploring, looking for a church. I am still not sure whether we found it or not, but we had a lot of fun on the way, and discovered a little waterfall...
The Abandoned Village of Theletra - Part 1
Old Theletra was abandoned several decades ago. The threat of landslides drove the population up the hll to a new settlement. Since then the village has mainly been left to crumble, save for its church and a few buildings which are still inhabited. At first glance, there is not much to see here, aside from some picture-postcard views. But get adventurous, and there is a whole host of places to explore...Related Pages
MapExploring The Countryside Around Theletra
The countryside in the centre of the Paphos District is some of the most beautiful in Cyprus, especially after a nice wet winter. I recently explored some of it, on the hunt for interesting hidden gorges. I found some possible locations, but also ran into a spot of bother...
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eBookCyprus Road Trip 01: the Kathikas - Panagia Loop
Let me take you on a journey around the region of Paphos, Cyprus. Starting at Paphos itself, we travel to Akoursos, then Kathikas, Kritou Terra and Simou. We continue past Lasa and Kannaviou, before taking in the delights of Panagia. Getting a bit more adventurous, we visit the abandoned villages of Statos and Agios Fotios, before passing through Choulou, Letymbou and Polemi, and rejoining the main Paphos - Polis road.
The route is suitable for all types of vehicle, and requires no off-roading. The guide contains about 130 photographs including shots of all the road signs you need to pay attention to, as well as some of the highlights you may experience along the way.
There are also several maps which will help you keep your bearings.
You can do this journey in a day, or you can break it up into chunks. You can also do it in reverse, to get some completely different views. It is entirely up to you.
