Distance: 8,6 km. (+1 km to visit Bourboulithra)
Time: 3,5 h with stops (+1/2 hour to visit Bourboulithra)
Altitude: from 0 m. (Potistika) to 218 m. (Xinovrisi square)
Total elevation gain/loss: 354 m. (including visit to Bourboulithra)
Signed with round yellow signs and red paint
Drinking water on walk: no
Start/end: Potistika beach
Download GPS track: from Wikiloc
This is a suggested circular walk between Potistika beach and Xinovrisi village. On our way up from Potistika, we have the option to visit the location Bourboulithra at the bed of the stream that lies between Xinovrisi and Siki. Other walks in the area include Siki to Xinovrisi and Argalasti to Xinovrisi.
Starting from the beach of Potistika, we initially walk on the asphalt to the north (to the left as we face the sea). In a few meters we come to a road junction, where there is a sign to Volos pointing left. We take the right branch climbing sharply and keep climbing on the main road, ignoring branches to the right or left. Further on, it becomes an earth road, with sections of kalderimi in it. After two kilometers from the start, there is a signed Τ-junction with a road on the right. Here we have the option to make a detour to visit the location Bourboulithra down at the bed of the stream. This detour will take half an hour with return. In order to visit Bourboulithra we turn right, in the direction towards Siki (to the north). In a few metres up the road there is another T-junction and we go straight ahead on the path to reach the streambed, overgrown with vegetation as water is running constantly.
Returning back from Bourboulithra, we continue on the road in a westerly direction, parallel to a stream. We pass by a drinking water fountain with some water running only in winter. After that, we notice a small concrete bridge on our left. It is better to continue on the road and cross the stream to the left a little further on, or alternatively pass over the bridge and then walk parallel to the stream to come out on the road again, and go uphill. Then we easily find the kalderimi again on the right, climbing up the slope.
Reaching the ridge, we meet the asphalt road coming from Potistika beach. We walk on this uphill entering Xinovrisi and turn left to reach the peaceful village square with the two big plane trees offering plenty of cool shadow in summer. Here at the square is a good place to have a stop for refreshment.
Now it`s time to start walking back to Potistika. From the big plane tree at the square of Xinovrisi, we walk down the stone paved kalderimi, which soon opens to a concrete paved road at the lower edge of the village, and we take it to the left. After twenty meters we find the kalderimi on the right, hidden by grass and soil, descending just below the last house of the village. A little further down, it joins an earth road for a short distance, but soon emerges again, descending towards a large stream.
Crossing the (normally dry) stream bed, we continue for some distance at the opposite bank. Then we start to climb on the slope, the kalderimi eventually becomes an earth road and opens to the asphalt, on the outside of a bend. If we look back, we can see Xinovrisi. To the north, Siki and Neochori are visible too.
We walk on the asphalt for fifty meters and then leave it to the right, descending to find the kalderimi again. We go past a small fountain on the right and a cottage on the left, then cross a field overgrown with canes and then come to an earth road junction.
We continue on the road straight ahead in a north-easterly direction and we do the same at the next junction with an uphill road to the right. After a little while, our road heads uphill and takes a right bend, where we notice a short section of kalderimi. Here we leave the road to the left, following the fence on our left side and descend on a path, which shows some traces of kalderimi here and there. Eventually it joins an earth road, which we follow downhill and turn left at the junction. We keep walking on the road, passing by olive groves and summer cottages. On our way, we can see the beaches of Potistika to the left and Melani to the right.
Further on, the road becomes concrete paved and then joins the asphalt. We can avoid the last piece of asphalt down to the beach, if we take the earth track from the chapel we meet on the left.
