Walking and Photography in the Greek Islands Maps of many of the Greek Islands are very poor compared with say, OS maps of the UK or the IGN maps of France. So, for many islands, is the level of detail on Google Earth. Some footpaths are very good, others are difficult to find and follow, few are shown on maps. Walk books are sometimes available and can be helpful but are usually purely descriptive. Therefore walking guides are being prepared which use a combination of photographs of key way-points and GPS referencing using the international default WGS84 as well as description. Descriptions of walks for three islands have been completed so far, on the Dodecanese islands of Symi and Nisyros and, using an older format without grid references, 3 walks on the Saronic island of Hydra. More walks are in preparation on Symi and on Nisyros and will be added as time permits.   last updated 03 July 2009     Symi is a small island with plenty of opportunity for walking on many paths and 'kalderimia'. Some of these are easy to find and follow, others are more challenging. A few are damaged by road construction. Symi has the reputation for being the dryest and hottest of the Greek islands with obvious implications for carrying sufficient water Guides for 3 walks have been completed so far: Walk 1 - to Viewpoint above Horio. Walk 2 - to Agios Vasilios and Lapathos Beach Walk 3 - to Agios Emilianos Google Earth now shows Symi at fairly high resolution. Fly to Symi with the link below and zoom in to see these walks plotted from the edge of the built up area of Horio to the placemarked destinations. Zoom in to look at details of the paths on the ground. Activate and click placemarks for information. Guides for another 5 walks are in preparation: Walk 4 - to Nimborio and its basillica and caves Walk 5 - to Nimborio and Agios Nikolaou Stenou Walk 6 - to Paraskevi and the Nimborios Gorge Walk 7 - to Zoodohou, Gria and Pedi Walk 8 - to Agios Polemou and Nanou Bay Fly to with Google Earth images of Symi       Nisyros is a 'potentially active' volcano with a 3-4 km wide 'restless' caldera at its core. It offers some very spectacular walking with paths around and into the caldera, an accessible crater, and with ancient settlements and archaeology very much in evidence. Guides for 5 walks and 2 optional additions have been completed so far: Walk 1 - Emborios to Mandraki via lava bubble and Evangelistra Walk 2 - Evangelistra monastery to Mandraki Walk 3 - Nikia to Mandraki via the caldera and Evangelistra Walk 4 - Emborios to Mandraki via the caldera and Evangelistra Walk 6 - Nikia to Mandraki via caldera rim and Stavros Walk Option 1- to Nifios (addition to walks 3 & 4) Walk Option 2- to Oros Diavatis (addition to walks 1, 3 & 4) Walk Option 3- to Siones (addition to walk 6) Guides for another walk and an optional addition are in preparation: Walk 5 - Mandraki to Oros Diavatis via Evangelistra Walk 7 - to the Paleocastro Fly to with Google Earth images of Nisyros   Nisyros is unique in the Dodecanese in that a useful diagramatic walking map has been prepared using GPS readings by a regular visitor.   The only way to get around on Hydra is on foot or by donkey - there is no motorised transport save for 4 municipal vehicles.It is therefore ideal for walking, with a clear and well established network of paths and kalderimia. Guides for 3 circular walks have been completed so far: Walk 1 - Hydra – Kamini – Vlychos – Hydra Walk 2 - Hydra – Agios Nilolaos – Agia Triada – Hydra Walk 3 - Hydra – Ag Mamas – Profitis Ilias Monastery - Hydra Fly to with Google Earth images of Hydra       for information contact Barry Hankey for photography of other Greek Islands see Photoze

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