Agia Roumeli - Loutro

Agis Rouliou

Marmara beach stop for lemonade

Loutro 

Another long walk was the order of the day however we left the gorge behind us and set off to Loutro via the coastal path. Two of our contingent elected to catch the ferry so we were down to eight with our guide. The terrain was much more forgiving than the gorge and for the first time we could get into the rhythm of walking. 

The tracks varied from beaches, rocky tracks (again!), dirt and very steep climbs with huge steps to the final road into Loutro. 

As we set off many of us were feeling our legs but after a while we settled into the walk without too much pain! 

Then there were eight....two of our group have opted to take the later ferry.

Our first stop was at a coastal cafe and a visit to the church of St Paul.

Coffees and lemonades were the order of the day.

A variety of surfaces along the way....

The first stop was at the church of St Paul, a very old and tiny Byzantine church built on a beach. A cafe was next door so we enjoyed coffees and lemonades before moving on. 

Lunch was sitting beneath some caves overlooking the Mediterranean. 

Getting up again was difficult as muscles had seized in the 45 minute break but we improved once we were on our way. 

Channeling my inner mountain goat...nearly to the top of a difficult climb behind the cafe and on our way to Loutro..

As we made our way along the coastal path we saw a few boats taking passengers and presumably cargo between the tiny villages as there are no roads. 

Goats with their bells tinkling were grazing on the high hills and some were confident enough to stand their ground as we walked by. 

On entering MarMara Beach we had time for a refreshment and given the choice of taking the boat to Loutro our destination for the day. One couple opted to do this as one of them had fallen on rocks and injured her wrist. 

Immediately leaving the cafe we went what seemed like directly upwards....we even passed mountain goats on ledges. The path after this was easy and after a little more than an hour we arrived in the pretty village of Loutro. 

Dinner at the restaurant with all the walkers ended a great day.