Hike the Trail of the Watermills

This trail takes you through a ravine formed by a small river. In the past, when electricity and power motors were not available in the island, almost twenty watermills were operating here. As such, besides the bursting nature and the numerous waterfalls, hiking this trail is also a historic walk to the past of the island of Kythera.

The trail starts from the central square of the village of Kythera and it is clearly marked. Follow the signs with the code M41. After crossing one of the old alleys of the village, you will be headed to the first waterfall, named Neraida (Neraida means fairy in greek, but it is interesting to note that the same waterfall is also known as the Fonissa Waterfall, which means the waterfall of the murderess). The waterfall is rather impressive and some people also like to dive in the small lake that is formed. During summer months, reppeling and similar activities can also be arranged.

From Neraida waterfall, the trail follows the river bank and en route you will encounter the old watemills one after the other. The watermill of Filipis has been restored and it is possible that the owner will be there to show you how such a mill operated.

The trail continues downwards and it is pretty easy to hike. You will be hiking in shadow as the large trees and the narrow ravine provide plenty of shade and you will encounter multiple smaller or larger waterfalls. Once the trail starts to become more narrow, you will find the markings for trail M10 that will take you back to Mylopotamos village. The overall route is approx. 2.7km.

The overall hike is quite easy, yet rewarding. Because of the shade and running waters, you can easily do it in hot summer days, especially if you consider diving in one of the ponds. As it is an easy hike, you only need to be reasonably fit and the only equipment you actually need is soma sports or hiking shoes. It is safe and very nice to do it with your family and children as well. Once you start the trail, there are not any spots where you can have drinking water, so bring some water with you. The overall activity should not take you more than two hours.

At Mylopotamos village you may find all sorts of facilities, from restaurants to shops with organic products. So you can have a snack before hiking or lunch/dinner once you complete the hike.

If you feel adventurous and are a more avid hiker, instead of taking the M10 trail to get back to the village, you may continue on M41 and eventually reach the pristine Kalami beach, where you may dive. Be warned though that this is a much larger hike and dont take it lightly to complete it, especially as the beach cannot be reached by car and therefore you will have to hike back.