Category Archives: Nature

Nisyros: probably the most dramatic walk in the Aegean

Posted on September 22, 2013 by BarryH

I kid you not, this walk/trek/hike takes some beating. But it’s not a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park. Some short sections are loose scree, route-finding can be difficult, it’s sustained, and it’s wiltingly hot in summer. However, it’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, History, Landscape, Mountains, Nature | Tagged footpaths, fumaroles, Greece, hiking, history, lava, lava bubbles, lava pinnacles, Nisyros, seismic activity, seismic fissures, sulphur, trekking, Volcano, walks | 3 Comments

Nisyros: cue volcano …. ACTION

Posted on September 7, 2013 by BarryH

Let’s face it! What do we expect from a volcano? Right! Some action!! Most would happily forego an eruption and spewing lava but a bit of gurgling and hissing does the trick. The Greek island of Nisyros is a volcano … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Landscape, Mountains, Nature | Tagged Greece, Nisyros, Polyvotis crater, Stephanos crater, sulphur, volcanic caldera, volcanic craters, Volcano | 2 Comments

Nisyros: on the lava trail

Posted on August 29, 2013 by BarryH

Nisyros is a volcano, classed as ‘potentially active’, and it is therefore not surprising that its rocks are entirely volcanic in origin. Perhaps most dramatic are the lavas. After a couple of days re-acclimatising to the heat I put together … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Nature | Tagged agricultural terraces, caldera, caldera rim, Emborios, footpaths, Greece, hiking, holly oak, lava, lava bubble, lava pinnacle, lava pinnacles, lava trail, Medieval fortress, Nikia, Nisyros, Oros Diavatis, Parletia, Stephanos crater, trekking, Volcano | Leave a comment

Greece: Rhodes, Tilos, Nisyros, high speed island hopping

Posted on August 23, 2013 by BarryH

Wednesday morning and my daughter delivered me to Manchester Airport at 06.15 en route to an hour’s skiing in the Chill Factory. How bizarre a beginning to a day is that!!! Given that she was going to minus 2 degrees … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, Landscape, Nature, Wildlife | Tagged airports, bouzoukia, bus, dodecanese islands, english channel crossings, ferries, Greece, Greek Islands, Greek music, hiking, island hopping, Nisyros, Rhodes, skiing, snakes, swallows, taxi, Tilos | 1 Comment

Tilos: images, looking back.

Posted on August 9, 2013 by BarryH

I’m back home now and trying to sort out my garden and come to terms with the vagaries of British weather. The vegetables would have shrivelled and died if a friend hadn’t watered them for me in the heat and … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Greece, Landscape, Mountains, Nature | Tagged castles, cliffs, courgettes, drought, flotsam and jetsam, french beans, frescoes, gardening, Greece, Megalo Horio, Mikro Horio, mountain spring, mountains, nature, Nisyros, potatoes, rain, St Christopher, Symi, Tilos | Leave a comment

Tilos: sea to sky and back again (3)

Posted on July 30, 2013 by BarryH

Gherondas, the third of the small peaks backing Livadia Bay which I set out to find a way to the top of, proved to be as interesting and distinctive as the other two, Thymadheri and Vounos Again the initial approach … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Wales | Tagged Agios Stephanos, Agrosikia castle, castles, Greece, Greek Islands, Livadia, Livadia Bay, ravens, rock, sunbeds, Thollos, Tilos, Welsh castles | Leave a comment

Tilos: sea to sky and back again

Posted on July 26, 2013 by BarryH

Not as dramatic as Vancouver to Whistler, or as long, but very enjoyable and on Tilos all done on foot. Livadia Bay is backed by a curve of mountains, in three main blocks each with its high point (obviously!!)and separated … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Landscape, Mountains, Nature | Tagged Agios Stephanos, Bonelli's eagles, Despoti to Nero, eagles, fishing, freshwater springs, hiking, Δεσπότη το Νερό, Livadia, Livadia Bay, sea to sky, squid, Tilos, Tilos Coast Path | Leave a comment

Tilos: wildlife at your feet

Posted on July 23, 2013 by BarryH

WARNING: this is a long blog, take care if you have a short attention span or if you suspect that your demise is imminent ! I have been a long-time proponent of walking in sandals in Greece. Probably the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Mountains, Nature, Wildlife | Tagged Butterflies, cats eyes, cicadas, dragonflies, goats, Greece, hedgehogs, lizards, mountains, ravens, sparrows, Tilos | 2 Comments

Tilos: a coast walk and making like a commando

Posted on July 21, 2013 by BarryH

It’s not that I’m contrary or perverse but a notice saying that the coastal path is closed due to a landslide is nothing but an invitation to go and look. The path leads to Red Beach and the further, less … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Landscape, Mountains, Nature | Tagged accessibility path, gorge, Greece, Lethra, nature, PPembrokeshire Coast Path, Red Beach, Tilos, Tilos Coast Path | Leave a comment

Tilos: what is getting the goat of the island’s landscape?

Posted on July 19, 2013 by BarryH

My attention was suddenly diverted from picking my way through the excessively prickly vegetation on a narrow mountain-side agricultural terrace to get into position for a photo of yet another abandoned olive press. A noise like a turkey having its … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Landscape, Mountains, Nature | Tagged Billy Goat, fresh figs, goats, Greece, Greek Islands, Landscape, olive press, ripe fruit, sheep, South Wales, strange sounds, Symi, thorns, Tilos, Wales | Leave a comment