Potistika-Xinovrisi (circular)

                                                                              Potistika
 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

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    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. 

  Χinovrisi

    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. 

                                                               The path next to the 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.

                                                                   View to Melani beach

    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.

                                                                               Potistika

Xinovrisi-Potistika

Potistika beach

Distance: 4,2 km
Time: 1,5 hour (walking time 1.15')
Altitude: from 231 m. (Xinovrisi) to 0 m. (Potistika beach)
Total elevation gain: 63 m.  Total elevation loss: 283 m.
Signed with small round signs and red paint dots

Start: Xinovrisi square  End:  Potistika beach
Drinking water on walk: no
Download GPS track:  from Everytrail   from Wikiloc

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          This route was opened and signed in 2016 by volunteers from the Friends of the Kalderimi Association and Volos Alpine club. Most of the walk takes place on cobbled stone path (kalderimi). The final section is on earth or paved road. Other walking routes in the area include Xinovrisi to Siki and Argalasti.

         Starting 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. 

Near the stream bed

              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. 

Looking back to Xinovrisi

             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 northeasterly 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.

Μelani beach

         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.

Potistika beach

        At the beach of Potistika we will find restaurants and rooms to rent in the summer season, as well as in Xinovrisi.

Argalasti-Xinovrisi

View to Argalasti

Distance: 5,5 km
Time: 2 hours (walking time 1.40')
Altitude: from 250 m. (Argalasti) to 360 m. (max) to 230 m. (Xinovrisi)
Total elevation gain: 188 m.  Total elevation loss: 215 m.
Signed with red paint and round yellow signs

Start: Bus stop at Argalasti   End: Xinovrisi square
Drinking water on walk: no
Download GPS track:  from Everytrail   from Wikiloc

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           In the first section of this walk (from Argalasti to the bridge ''Karidi''), we elected not to follow the old main route, which has now become a muddy earth road. Instead, we prefered to take an alternative path, passing from ''Kamara'' fountain, which is more scenic and pleasant to walk.

           Starting off from the main road junction in Argalasti, where the bus stop is, we walk on the asphalt to the east, passing by the main drinking water fountain called ''Kouvlos'' (water is good for drinking) and then on the narrow road next to the old stone building of the elementary school, which is on our left. Walking uphill on a straight line, we reach a T-junction and head left. The road becomes a kalderimi, which leads to the drinking water fountain ''Kamara''.

''Kamara'' drinking water fountain

          Just a few meters before the fountain (attention), a path branches off at an angle to the right and we follow it, climbing gently. A little further on we join an earth road  and continue in the same direction to the northeast. At a bend of the road to the left, we find the path going straight ahead in bushy vegetation, enjoying nice views over Argalasti and Pagasitic gulf to our left.

Argalasti

            Reaching the ridge, we begin to descend. In front of us, we see a row of cypress trees. The path comes to a junction (attention) and takes a bend to the right to pass just next to the cypresses on our left side and continues to descend on a straight line, parallel to a stream which is on our right side.

          Coming to a junction, we continue straight ahead and walk next to an old fountain, under high plane trees that grow near the streambed. The path opens to an earth road, on which we walk uphill for a short distance, until it takes a sharp left bend. This road leads back to Argalasti, on the course of the old cobblestone path (kalderimi).
         Here we leave the road to the right, noticing the signpost (the path here is narrow and unclear) and descend on the slope, to cross the stream over an arched stone bridge, called ''Karidi'' (''walnut'') after the name of the stream. This is a beautiful secret spot, invisible from the road. The old bridge remains intact despite the wounds of time, resting under the shade of high trees, water running constantly underneath.

The old stone bridge at Karidi

            After the bridge we join the road again, which soon starts climbing to the east. Reaching a junction we turn left and at the next junction turn right. The earth road comes to an end and we continue climbing on the slope in a northeasterly direction. Higher up, we reach a signed junction.

         The earth track straight ahead leads to the nearby settlement of Kallithea. We turn left northeast, walk on the edge of a field, then between two fences and then begin to descend, keeping to the same northeasterly direction. The track becomes an earth road but further down, as the road takes a right turn, the path emerges again on the left. We walk parallel to the asphalt, which is a little down below. We join an earth road again, pass next to ''Leonidas'' bungalows and come down to cross the asphalt. On the other side we continue on a paved track, entering the village of Xinovrisi (previously called ''Bistinika'', a slavic name) and a little further down turn left to reach the cosy square, under the shade of the two large plane trees.

Square of Xinovrisi

            We can stop for food or refreshment at one of the two restaurants that operate at the square. From here, we have the option to continue on foot to the beach of Potistika (1,5 hour) or to the village of Siki (about 2,5 hours).

Siki-Xinovrisi

Distance: 6,2 km
Duration: 2.20' (walking time 1.50')
Altitude: from 291 m. (Siki) to 47 m. (Bourboulithra) to 240 m. (Xinovrisi)
Total ascent: 241 m.  Total descent: 300 m.
Signed with round yellow signs and red paint dots
Drinking water on route: no
Download GPS track:   from Wikiloc

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         This route remained blocked for many years, until it was cleared by volunteers during the winters of 2014-17.  This walk can be combined with the walks Neochori-Siki, Argalasti-Xinovrisi and Xinovrisi-Potistika. At the square of Xinovrisi the restaurant is open all year round, whereas at Siki square only during the summer season.

      Starting from the square at Siki, we walk downhill on the concrete paved road (previously a kalderimi) going southeast. At the first junction we go right on a southerly direction. We exit the village, passing above the cemetery which is down on our left (we can see the cypress trees) and then join a wider asphalt road at an angle. This goes to Potoki beach. Shortly, as the asphalt takes a left bend, we continue straight ahead southeast on an earth road, which incorporates long stretches of kalderimi. 

Long stretches of kalderimi into the earth road

          After about one kilometre, a steep downhill section of the road is paved with cement. Just after the end of the paved section (attention!!), we leave the road to the right and find the path going downhill between two olive groves. It opens to an earth road below, on which we continue left downhill. After fifty meters, at the junction we take the downhill road to the right. This comes to end in an olive grove, and we continue on the path, which initially runs on the left (higher) side of the grove. Following the path, we come eventually  down to the bed of Megalo Rema (Grand Stream). This spot is called Bourboulithra (Βubble). At this peaceful place, where water runs gently under the dense shadow of the plane trees, we can have a refreshing short stop.

Crossing the Megalo Rema stream at Bourboulithra

        Crossing to the other bank of the stream, the path keeps climbing on the slope, until it opens to a road junction on the ridge and we continue straight ahead on the road, now going downhill.

        After fifty metres there is another junction, where we go right on a westerly direction (if we go left, we will come down to Potistika beach). Walking some distance on the earth road, parallel to a stream, we pass from a drinking water fountain with some water running only in winter. After that, we notice a small concrete bridge on our left. We may continue on the road and cross the stream to the left a little further on, or  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, clinbing up the slope.

Entering Xinovrisi

        On 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. From Xinovrisi we can continue on footpath to Argalasti or to the beach of Potistika.

Xinovrisi square