test markdown ~ Test Griff Walks

Amazing views from the mountain walk through to Eleousa

Circular walk from Apollona village to the summit of the Mountain of the Seven Doors

A 10 km (6.2 mile) walk taking in the scenery and exploring the tracks between Eleousa and Archipoli. This area of Rhodes is not too rugged and there are no steep climbs or challenging paths. It makes for a pleasant ramble and in addition the chance to explore the haunting village of Eleousa and the contrasting delights of Archipoli.

This 10.5 km (6.5 mile) circular route offers a perfect blend of mountain woodland full of fragrant pine and cypress, historic villages, and traditional rural life. Along the way, The route rewards hikers with quiet country lanes, traditional churches, the ruins around the Italian-era village square at Eleousa and the peaceful village of Dimilia, ending with the ancient church at Fountoukli.

Essential Information

Walk Statistics

Start location: Apollona
Distance: km ( miles)
Total Gain: metre ( ft)
Total Descent: metre ( ft)
Min Height: metre ( ft)
Max Height: metre ( ft)
Walk Time:
Walk Grade: Moderate
Terrain: path, track and road

Maps:

The following maps and services can assist in navigating this route. There are links to printed maps and links to downloadable GPX route data for importing into navigational software and apps.

GPX Route File

Walk Notes

The walk described here is a circular trail that can be undertaken from any point on the route, with car parking spaces at Eleousa, Fountoukli, and Dymilia and the start of the ECO Route section through the mountains, which is the starting point for this description. On the day, we undertook the by navigating up from Apollona, a more extensive walk, which I have included as a separate route for anyone who wants to undertake this, which can be found at Apollona and Eco 5 Route

This route appears to be a recognised trail given the fact that it has been replicated many times on various trekking apps and online sites. Part of the route incorporates the Alter ECO Route Rho 5, part of the Alter ECO Route series.

Alter Eco was a campaign to promote more sustainable tourism throughout the Mediterranean. The ECO route Rho 5, in this case, is a linear path that negotiates the north side of the Sperioli mountain, the most easterly in the range that culminates in the islands second tallest peak, Profitis Illias, linking St Nikolaos Fountoukli and the village of Eleousa.

The circular route described here complements the ECO route with a return journey through the valley to the village of Dymilia. At only 6km this makes a great days adventure.

When we undertook this, it also involved walking from Apollona and back to the start of the route. This made a more gruelling 21 km hike. I have added that specific route as a separate GPX for those who would like to perform a similar hike. This page will concentrate upon the circular route which is probably more informative for most folk who will access the trail by car due to the limitations of public transport.

The start of the route is on the Profitis Illias road from Eleousa, some 0.7 km further along the road from St Nikolaos Fountoukli, as the road negotiates a hair pin bend around a gulley in the mountainside. The mountain track leads off to the left with a large sign advertising the Eco Route RHO 5.

The way ahead starts with a broad, level dirt track through the forested area. The going is easy, there are caves, ruins and bee hives to feast ones eyes on. There are also amazing panoramas looking north across the landscape below. The route roughly follows the 400m contour although there are a few climbs and descents, particularly in order to negotiate around cliffs, but nothing too arduous. Just beware of loose stones when tacking these.

View looking over Dimilia and the road to Soroni

There are views of Dimilia encapsulated in the olive groves around its centre, and the valley below, with the road leading northwards to Soroni and the blue sea beyond. An amazing and captivating view.

The track leads around to an open area where two tracks diverge. The route required is clearly signposted with the RHO 5 sign and the descent continues.

Along the route now appears ruins of houses, and caves hewn into the cliff face. The ruined buildings are almost certainly from the Italian era (1912 - 1943) when the authorities embarked on a number of planned rural and forestry projects in the interior of the island with Eleousa (originally named Campochiaro) was one of these purpose built villages. Italians from the Alpine regions were brought in principally to work in forestry and wood related industries, including timber cutting, forest management and reforestation around Mount Profitis Ilias and these building may well have been their living quarters.

The purpose of the caves is more difficult to determine. They appear to be man made, certainly when they are square shaped, with some having brick and plaster edgings to the cave itself. There is no indication of caves on historic maps and even modern maps do not depict them. There are several suggestions as to their purpose:

Excavations for building materials
Hydraulic purposes such as creating cisterns and reservoirs where the source was tapped from within the rock
World War II or later military activity, as the countryside was used for various strategic purposes during the Italian and German occupations
Natural caves enlarged for storage purposes

We descend down onto the road, and make our way into Eleousa. The history of this spooky abandoned village is told on another walk, to read this go to Eleousa to Archipoli Circular Walk

We were too early for the Tavernas here so continued on, taking a route north to find a track through to the village on Dimilia. This was quite a revelation, the track led us through a fertile valley full of greenery, olive groves, ripening crops in fields and ploughed earth. It could almost be mistaken for some old English countryside such was the rolling landscape

Dimilia village

The small village of Dimilia is a quite unassuming hamlet on the road that links Soroni and Eleousa. The Kellaeri Cafe is a family run Taverna on the side of the square, a lovely quiet place where you can take in the shaded tables and indulge in the traditional home cooked fair that is on offer.

Dimilia church of the Holy Forty Martyrs

On entering Dimilia, the route emerges at the heart of this traditional agricultural village with a long and layered history. Near the centre stands the parish church of the Holy Forty Martyrs (Agioi Saranta Martyres), the village’s main place of worship and an active focus of community life. The dedication commemorates the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, Roman soldiers executed in the early 4th century for their Christian faith, whose cult spread widely throughout the Byzantine world. While architecturally modest, the church represents the continuity of Orthodox tradition in Dimilia from antiquity to the present day.

Not far from the Church, just a few metres up the road, a short climb leads to the remains of a medieval fortified tower, often referred to locally as Dimilia’s castle. Dating from the 15th century and probably constructed during the rule of the Knights Hospitaller, the rectangular tower once formed part of a wider network of lookout points and refuges intended to protect inland communities from raids and periods of unrest. Today, only fragmentary walls survive, but the elevated position clearly demonstrates its former strategic importance.

Dimilia is an ideal place to pause for refreshments. The Kellaeri Café, located on the village square, is a welcoming stop for walkers. This family run taverna offers drinks and traditional Greek food in a shady, relaxed local setting.

The 15th-century Church of Agios Nikolaos, Foundoukli

After leaving Dimilia, the route turns east and begins the final ascent back to Fountoukli. This steady climb soon leaves the village behind and re-enters shaded woodland, returning to the sound of running water and the cool refuge of the spring. The walk concludes where it began, having linked Byzantine devotion, medieval defence, Italian-era history, and traditional rural life into a single, rewarding circuit.

The final section of the walk is the climb up to Fountoukli. This is on an asphalt track that is pretty steep in places. a perennial spring shaded by plane trees just outside Dimilia. Beside the spring stands the 15th-century Church of Agios Nikolaos (Foundoukli), a small but architecturally significant Byzantine church dating from 1497/8. Its rare tetraconch plan and surviving frescoes reflect the deep religious traditions of rural Rhodes during the late medieval period and provide a fitting historical anchor for the start of the route.

Directions

As this is a circular route, the starting place can be any number of places, Eleousa, Dimilia, Fountoukli or the start of ECO Route RHO 5. In this case we start at ECO Route RHO 5 which is a track that leads off of the Eleousa to Profitis Illias road, some 0.7 km beyond Fountoukli where the road curves around a hair pin bend. The trail is on the left, with a large board annpoucing the start of the ECO Route.

Follow the broad track away from the road. This starts as an easy going level trail. Keep to the main track throughout, eventually there are some sections where it climbs steeply to navigate around cliffs, none of which is too strenuous.
After 2.6 km, as the path descends it meets another track on the left, ignore this and bear around to the right.
Continue for 650 m along this road until it turns to a dirt track. At this point take the dirt track that leads off on the right.
After a further 300m descent, the track meets and open area with an intersection of tracks, bear to the left. There is an ECO Route waymarker here.
The track descends further as it slowly curves around the south east side of the mountain. There are ruins of houses and caves which the track passes by. After 0.8 km, there is a track on the right that leads down to the road, take this.
Turn left onto the road, continue 0.5 km to arrive in the centre of Eleousa. Time can be spent exploring the ruins around the square.
Leave the square on the left hand road at the opposite end of the square to which you arrived, taking the road where the former Hospital building is on your right.
After 130m where the road meets another road, bear left to cross the road.
After a further 50m go straight across at the road junction, then bear left onto a road that descends a little further.
After 70m bear around to the right
Keep to this track. Ignore the left hand road after 0.5km, bearing round to the right through a forested area.
After a further 0.5km from the previous junction, there is another junction, take the right fork.
After another 0.4km, another junction presents itself, turn right to follow a left hand bend then continue on this ignoring all other tracks that lead from It
After 1km the road forks, take the left side and follow the road through to the main road, emerging into the village by the church. The remains of the former medieval tower can be seen by turning left then right. There is little to see here other than the walls, most of which are within private land.
Turn right and within a short distance is the village square with the Kellari Cafe on the left.
Leave the village by taking the road on the left out of the square past the Windmill Fountain. This leads through the village itself. Keep walking ahead until the road bends around to the right after which you need to keep bearing left around the junctions
Keep to the Asphalt road as it ascends the mountainside. After 1.7km it junctions with a track, take the left and follow this to the main road.
At the road junction, turn left to visit the ancient chapel of St Nikolaos Fountoukli
Return back up the road and continue onwards to the point where ECO RHO 5 track starts.

Directions

Follow the broad track away from the road. This starts as an easy going level trail. Keep to the main track throughout, eventually there are some sections where it climbs steeply to navigate around cliffs, none of which is too strenuous.
After 2.6 km, as the path descends it meets another track on the left, ignore this and bear around to the right.
Continue for 650 m along this road until it turns to a dirt track. At this point take the dirt track that leads off on the right.
After a further 300m descent, the track meets and open area with an intersection of tracks, bear to the left. There is an ECO Route waymarker here.
The track descends further as it slowly curves around the south east side of the mountain. There are ruins of houses and caves which the track passes by. After 0.8 km, there is a track on the right that leads down to the road, take this.
Turn left onto the road, continue 0.5 km to arrive in the centre of Eleousa. Time can be spent exploring the ruins around the square.
Leave the square on the left hand road at the opposite end of the square to which you arrived, taking the road where the former Hospital building is on your right.
After 130m where the road meets another road, bear left to cross the road.
After a further 50m go straight across at the road junction, then bear left onto a road that descends a little further.
After 70m bear around to the right
Keep to this track. Ignore the left hand road after 0.5km, bearing round to the right through a forested area.
After a further 0.5km from the previous junction, there is another junction, take the right fork.
After another 0.4km, another junction presents itself, turn right to follow a left hand bend then continue on this ignoring all other tracks that lead from It
After 1km the road forks, take the left side and follow the road through to the main road, emerging into the village by the church. The remains of the former medieval tower can be seen by turning left then right. There is little to see here other than the walls, most of which are within private land.
Turn right and within a short distance is the village square with the Kellari Cafe on the left.
Leave the village by taking the road on the left out of the square past the Windmill Fountain. This leads through the village itself. Keep walking ahead until the road bends around to the right after which you need to keep bearing left around the junctions
Keep to the Asphalt road as it ascends the mountainside. After 1.7km it junctions with a track, take the left and follow this to the main road.
At the road junction, turn left to visit the ancient chapel of St Nikolaos Fountoukli
Return back up the road and continue onwards to the point where ECO RHO 5 track starts.