The Corfu Trail
The Corfu Trail runs from the southernmost point of Corfu at Cape Asprokavos
and winds for 220km (137 miles) to the northernmost point near Andinioti
Lagoon.
The Corfu Trail
When Hilary Whitton Paipeti first came to Corfu as a holiday
rep at the start of the 1980s, she had no intention of staying, but she fell in
love with the island. More than that, though, she has contributed something to
island life of which she can be forever proud, for Hilary is the woman who
created the island's only long-distance footpath: the Corfu Trail.
'I worked as a rep for two years,' she says, 'and by then I
was totally in love with Corfu. I went into journalism and publishing, and have
been publishing The Corfiot Magazine
for 15 years now. It's aimed at the local community and is published monthly
all year round, but in summer it does carry information on what's going on for
the benefit of the visitors.
I also publish regional magazines that people will
find in the different resorts around the island. More recently I've also been
doing real estate and real estate development.'
Creation of the Corfu
Trail
One of the reasons behind Hilary's venture into the property
market is tied in with the Corfu Trail. Part of its original aim was to link
the villages of the island, and bring some life back into those whose
population was dwindling as young people moved down to the coast to work in the
holiday business, or moved away to Athens and beyond.
'Some of the villages inland were being left to
disintegrate,' Hilary says, 'and yet they have some beautiful Venetian
architecture. I wanted walkers to stop and at least have a coffee in the local
kefeneon, but preferably be able to stay overnight. The problem is that in some
villages there is no accommodation, so walkers have to leave the Trail for
their overnight stay, and return the next morning. Now I'm actively working to
encourage people to buy properties in these villages, with the express purpose
of opening them as small guesthouses.'
Corfu Landscape
Corfu’s Pennine Way
Hilary's energy is beyond doubt, yet she has to credit her
father with the idea for the Corfu Trail. Hilary was already leading walks on
the island (another of her many different hats), and had written The Corfu Book of Walks, when her father
suggested she put together a long-distance path, the Corfu equivalent of the
Pennine Way.
'It was a great idea,' Hilary says, 'but nothing happened
for a while. Then on one of my walks I met a German guy, Fried Aumann, who said
he thought he might be able to get help with EU funding, and put up the rest of
the money himself, so he is the one who people must thank for bringing the
Trail into existence.'
Some Cool Corfu Souvenirs
Paleokastritsa Luggage Tag
Corfu Cypresses Capri Leggings
Hilary met Fried in 1999, and by May 2001 she was leading the first group of walkers to tackle the trail. The route runs from the southernmost point of Corfu at Cape Asprokavos and winds for about 220km (137 miles) to emerge at the northernmost point near the Andinioti Lagoon.
Our Pick of Greek Islands Guides
Corfu Trail from
South to North
'I recommend doing it from south to north,' Hilary advises,
'for several reasons. It's flatter in the south so that gives people time to
build up a bit of stamina. Also the best scenery is in the north so it builds
up to that, as well. And it also means that the sun is on your back and not in
your face for most of the way. The whole trip should take about 10 days, doing
4-6 hours walking a day without pushing yourself.'
Anyone can arrange to do the trail for themselves, and
Hilary has written a guide to it,
but it does take some planning. Instead you can book it all through Aperghi Travel in Corfu Town, who will
not only book the accommodation but arrange for your luggage to be transferred
each day and give you a copy of Hilary's book as well. And if you meet her on
the trail, no doubt she would be delighted to sign it for you.
Video of the Corfu
Trail
Hilary’s Corfu Trail
Tips
• The best times of year are May-June and September-October.
• Even in August, don't assume it will be fine weather. Corfu is very changeable. Always take wet weather gear.
• You should take a sun hat with you, and lots of water.
• Take a mobile phone with you, but also a number to ring. There's no point in having a phone if you don't know where to ring for help.
• In summer you could do most of the walk in walking sandals, except for the mountainous bits at the end when you should wear good boots with ankle support.
• Carry a stick, too. Be aware of snakes. They are not a major problem but they are there so check the ground in front of you if it's overgrown and you can't see where you're treading.
Other Corfu Pages
Mount Pantokrator is the highest mountain on Corfu and it’s easy to drive to the top for spectacular views of Albania, Corfu, and even sometimes to Italy.
Greece Travel Secrets has its list of favourite places where you can eat in north-west Corfu, including in Paleokastritsa, Pelekas, and Ayios Stefanos.
This Mount Pantokrator drive takes you to the top of Corfu’s highest mountain with wonderful views to Albania, mainland Greece, and around Corfu.
This Lawrence Durrell walk takes you from Kaminaki Beach in northern Corfu to the White House in Kalami where the writer Lawrence Durrell lived for four year.
This is the Greece Travel Secrets selection of where to eat in northern Corfu, from classy restaurants and traditional tavernas to beachside fish tavernas.
Kassiopi is a popular tourist resort on the northeast coast of Corfu with a sandy beach, Byzantine fortress, old church, and lots of places to stay and to eat.
Northern Corfu is the most diverse part of the island, with Corfu's highest point, Mt Pantokrator, and beach resorts like Sidari and Palaiokastritsa.
Corfu’s wildlife includes rare and colourful birds, snakes, lizards, fireflies, and insects, with plenty of places to watch the wildlife like lakes and lagoons.
Corfu or Kerkyra is the main island in the Greek Ionian islands with Corfu Town being one of the most attractive of Greek island capitals.
These Corfu shopping tips include advice on buying souvenirs like ceramics, jewelry, gold, silver, wood carvings, and food and drink, with tips on haggling.
Benitses is a popular resort town south of Corfu Town with its own marina, remains of a Roman Baths, an old town, and plenty of walks inland.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in north-west and central Corfu including luxury mansions, inexpensive rooms, and resort hotels.
Kalami in north-west Corfu is a hidden gem which many people know about because writer Lawrence Durrell once lived here in The White House.
Angelokastro is a 13th-century hilltop fortress with breath-taking views near Paleokastritsa on the Greek island of Corfu in the Ionian Islands.
These fun facts about Corfu include how the island got its name, who wrote the Greek National Anthem, and the eccentric Englishman, the Earl of Guilford.
Corfu olives are an important part of this Greek island's economy, with an estimated 3-4 million trees producing olive oil of exceptional quality.
From Nero to Nicolas Cage, the invasion of Corfu goes back to Roman times and through to Hollywood today!
Information for travellers to Greece on Corfu festivals and events including Easter, the Feast of St Spiridhon, Carnival and Name Days.
The history of Corfu and cricket goes back to 1823 when the island was under British rule, which left them with a legacy of loving both cricket and ginger beer.
If you want to tour northern Corfu in three days you can see busy resorts, quiet fishing villages, Mount Pantokrator, and the Andinioti Lagoon.
Northern Corfu’s beaches and villages include busy resorts and secluded beaches, with several hill and mountain villages well worth visiting.
Corfu’s marine life includes dolphins, loggerhead turtles, and rare Mediterranean monk seals.
The Corfu Climate page describes the hours of sun, the rain, the winds, to help you plan the best time to visit this Ionian island.
Corfu’s special cuisine includes dishes like sofrito and pastitsade and the chance to try ginger beer and kumquats.
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