Walking The Cape Skinari Coastal Trail
Zakynthos measures roughly 40km by 20km at it’s longest and widest points, to be honest, I think it’s slightly over 40km long, but we won’t split hairs.
The drive from where we live up to Skinari takes fifty minutes (ish) depending on driving conditions and traffic (*laughing* – the only other car we saw on the drive up belonged to another walker, that’s how busy the roads are in winter). It’s a windy coastal road, so best driven with care as you never know if there will be an ambulance available in the case of an emergency (that’s island life for you!).
Tweet ThisLuckily the weather was cold and clear for this walk… Have I mentioned just how miserable the weather has been this winter? I think so. It’s the English in me that seems to make it a compulsory to mention (and moan) about the weather. I don’t check the weather though, not as in forecasts, I’m more an open the front door to see what the weather’s doing kind of person… Too hot?… Too cold?… Just right?
Anyway, I’m waffling. Cape Skinari is located in the North of Zakynthos. If you’ve ever caught the ferry across to Kefalonia you would have gone to the Port of St. Nicolas, which is close by.
The Northern end of the island has an abandoned feel in winter. It’s beautiful, rugged, but so empty apart from a few sheep and goats.
The Zakynthos Walking Group walked the Cape Skinari Coastal Trail a couple of weeks ago. Come join us and see what we saw through my lens…
Walking The Cape Skinari Coastal Trail – Through My Lens
From Skinari, Kefalonia is clearly visible. It’s a much bigger island than Zakynthos and reminds me of a set from an old Pinewood Studios film.
The first 8km of the walk was mainly uphill, apart from the odd ‘flat’ bit and the walk down to a rocky ‘beach’.
The North end of Zakynthos is very rugged and feels quite uninhabited in winter. The villagers seem to hibernate up there and only venture out to check livestock.
I tried not to let the seemingly endless view of hills scare me too much!
We headed down to a rocky ‘beach’ for a picnic. Not a particularly good move as the walk back up on a full belly was a struggle… Will that teach me not to overeat?… Probably not!
Happy, fed and obviously oblivious to the walk back up to the trail!
The husband taking it all in or quite possibly trying to ignore the steep climb to come, on a full stomach too!
This photo of a newborn goat still attached to Mum was too precious to leave out.
I’d like to think that this lot are goat family standing by to welcome the newborn.
Coming over the top of the hills, we were treated to some beautiful views of Zakynthos. A little out to sea the water was perfectly flat giving an odd feel to the photo above.
Skopos, which is behind Kalamaki, is just about visible from the highest point of the Skinari coastal trail. That’s almost the entire length of the island.
As we came to the end of our walk the sun was low, giving a quiet sleepy feel to Zakynthos.
A Sign Of Spring
An almond tree full of blossom and a busy bumble bee doing its thing is a sign that spring is almost here!
Where have you walked recently?
© 2018, Debbie. All rights reserved.
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Greece • Greek Island • Walking On Zakynthos • Zakynthos • Zante
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