About the Cyclades
The islands of the Cyclades form the biggest, the best known and the most central group. The 25 or so islands in the group would take a lifetime to walk and, at present, Walking the Islands… covers just two, Amorgos and Astipalaia. There is also a major walk for you to try on Naxos.
The modern administrative capital of the group is Syros but Walking the Islands… regards Naxos as the base island, serving the Small Cyclades to the south and east, and in particular Amorgos, which is ripe for walking.
Landscape
The Cyclades are characterised by...
- grey rocky outcrops from brown hills above fertile, often terraced valleys
- deep natural harbours
- typically behind each harbour you will often find a hill-top Chora, the fortified old town
- countryside that is drier than the Sporades but more fertile than the Dodecanese
- delightful valleys and spring-fed farmed areas
- chapels everywhere
- old monopatia (mule-roads)
- summits which give rewarding views
Coastline
An entire spectrum of seaside pleasures awaits you too, from watersports beaches on Naxos to hidden coves only accessible by boat or by long treks on all the islands.
The coast of Amorgos has a particular flavour as there are few sandy beaches and the entire south facing coast is a string of sea cliffs with only five places where you can get to the sea-edge.
