Walk Gerriskipou Beach to Mandria

[Anarita John]

On 26th November I walked from Gerriskipou Beach to Mandria. The aim was to do the walk by just paths, but I ended up walking a short distance on roads. I'll have another go, trying from the Mandria end.

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I started at Gerriskipou Beach. A lovely sunny November day with temperatures around 22c.

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The last of the benches that both Paphos and Gerriskipou municipalities have installed. Both are making a real effort to keep the area tidy. There is now a path along the whole of Gerriskipou Beach with plenty of seats and three new tavernas on the beach front plus G and Ts just across the road.

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The estuary of the River Ezousa. Don't know if this bit would be walkable after periods of heavy rain. The river, a little bit upstream, only a few hundred yards from here, was a raging torrent two years ago and what was a good track on the banks of the river, was like quicksand. The European footpath is supposed to follow the Ezousa valey to Episkopi and then to Tsada, but there are no signs directing walkers, except one at the airport.

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What used to be the path has been eroded by the sea, so you now have to walk on the beach.

[Anarita John]

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I wanted to take a picture of the water fountains which I knew were on the old path which went through a wooded area. Problem, I was on the beach and now not able to clamber up a crumbly embankment. Luckily for me, the horse farmer had left a pile of seaweed which I was able to walk up and I came out at the old water fountains.

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The seaweed was being used to cover a horse track, making the surface soft and spongy.

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If the seaweed pile is not there, and, like me, you find it difficult to climb up vertical embankments, there is a rough slipway up from the the beach, near where the airport fence starts which leads up to the airport fence path.
The airport fence and the two Shackletons. There is a path along the airport fence but it disappears after you have rounded the headland and you have to walk across a sandy and partly stoney beach, which is in desperate need of a cleanup.

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[Anarita John]

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Looking back towards Gerriskipou Beach before I rounded the headland.

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A fairly inaccesible beach parallel with the airport fence.

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Sea defences protecting the airport. Thankfully I did not have to clamber over these as there was still a path level with the airport fence.

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Finally, at the old airport building road. A sign marking the beginning of the E4 footpath. I've only ever seen two of these markers, this one and one on the River Ezousa Trail at Episkopi. There is a real need for the path to be marked and wardens to walk it regularly to make sure all parts are open.

[Anarita John]

Now a walk alongside the old airport terminal building and memories of our first visits to Paphos.

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There is a small chapel on the way to the old airport.

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From the airport road, down on to Timi Beach. Had a coffee at Timi Beach taverna as I knew Bonamare had shut for the winter.

[Anarita John]

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A lovely walk along Timi Beach. I then tried walking along a farm track parallel with the beach, but it was blocked off. I could see some steps down to the beach but couldn't get to them. Therefore, from Bonamare I had to walk back to the airport road and a 1km walk to a farm track which I knew would take me to Mandria.

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A lovely walk. A bit challenging for me in places, trying to clamber up a crumbling coast line to get to paths.

Finally, St Vrioni church, the church on the beach at Mandria. I walked on and Rosemary picked me up near the new football pitches.

[Princebytor]

Really useful stuff John.

I have an aspiration to do a walk from Secret Valley to the Harbour.

I did get part of the way, which involved wading through the stream that flows out of the fish farm and getting through some sort of weird barrier associated with the old WW2 posts. However once I got beyond the airport on the Gerriskipou side, I struggled as I don't remember seeing the Tsada sign.

Next time I am over in the cooler part of the year I'll give it another go safe in the knowledge that you succeeded from that point.

Thanks again

[Anarita John]

It would be brilliant if you could walk easily from Aphrodities Rock to the harbour on a path. The sign for the E4 path is right at the end of the old airport road, and leads down to some rocks, then the airport coast defences and a beach. You did well to get from Secret Valley to the airport. I've not been able to follow a path eastwards from the far end of Mandria beach, past where the holiday huts are. Last time I tried, the farmer had ploughed the field right up to the edge of the cliffs, and I had to make my way along a farm track and then right, round the back of Mandria to the cemetary and then the village.

[Princebytor]

Must admit I can't remember how I did it now, but I was able to stay pretty close to the coastline. You pass some interesting stuff, there's the abandoned desalination plant and the Medieval olive oil factory, I think both of which have been covered by Dominic.

[Kili01]

Actually, we do havd a desalination plant now! Which is good news.

Anarita John,
I applaud you for pathfinding a most interesting and challenging walk! I have walked parts of it, but not the part immediately by and around the airport...
Thanks also for the photos.
One week day, a few years ago, I led a circular walk from the Fish Taverna ( Max's favourite) accross the fields/grassy area towards Mandria. When I recce'd the walk on a Sunday all was quiet. Two days later, leading the walking group, we turned a corner soon after leaving the taverna and were stopped by an armed soldier, who let us pass when he saw the walkers behind me! It was a most unusual walk as we had walked unwittingly into a joint Cypriot/ Israeli exercise....
They kindly let us walk over to Mandria, but on the way we saw all the military elements of the National Guard in action, and we were all buzzed by some Israeli jets taking part!
An unforgettable experience!
Dee

[Anarita John]

Thanks Dee. Must have been a bit scary walking through a military exercise.
Where we have a house in North Wales is on the Wales Coast Path. It is brilliant and attracts lots of walkers, both local and visitors from all over the world. It would be brilliant if long distance paths could be maintained and well signposted here in Cyprus.