Agia Efimia to Myrtos in Kefalonia
This walk is an opportunity to get into the water on both sides of the island in a single day. The walk takes you from Agia Efimia on the east side across to the famous Myrtos Bay on the west. It's not as strenuous as it first appears because the walk takes you across the narrowest part of the island.
I would recommend stout shoes or boots as the surface of the unmade roads consists of very large pebbles. Having said that although Linda, and myself had boots our friends Bev and John who came with us had trainers on and managed with only a bit of grumbling.
The walk starts off at the harbour in Agia Efimia, when the seafront road widens out look for an information sign just by a bus stop and taxi rank on the sea side of the road. We found ample parking space on the road towards the port although this was October so it might be a bit more crowded in the summer.
The walk is clearly indicated by red squares all the way so finding your way is fairly easy.
The walk is clearly displayed on a large board and to begin the walk you should head NE. On the opposite side of the road you will see a yellow signpost just behind a "no entry" sign indicating the way.
In 3 minutes we passed the village square and began to wonder where we had to go next.
However the sign was hidden behind a large olive tree and we had to take a right fork onto the unsurfaced road.
After about 25 minutes we came across a rather ambiguous sign that seemed to point the way down an overgrown track. This is the right way but it does lead you past a rather derelict taverna and you have to pick your way through a lot of rubbish. An easier way is to go left here and loop round with the taverna on the right hand side, walk straight across the road and pick up the main walk again as it comes in from the right.
You will see some red triangles on this detour and a look at the map will show you that it is part of a detour to one or two other places of interest. If you are feeling energetic you can do the detours, just follow the red triangles.
The track is then very easy to follow, you will find yourself crossing a tarmac road after about 50 minutes and another at about 1 ¼ hours into the walk. After about another 5 minutes the track curves right and the gradient starts to increase and at 1hr 25 mins into the walk you will come across the Well of Strifti. I looked this up when I came back but could only find strifti as a spinach and cheese pie!
From the well you should turn sharp left and follow the steep concrete drive out to the road where you go left down the road. There are some very good views across the valley as you walk down the road. 10 minutes later you will come to a T junction where you should turn left and follow the road round towards the right downhill between some houses.
At the village square of Divarata turn left and then right to take you down to Myrtos bay. You may wish to pause here for lunch as there are a number of tavernas in this area. Myrtos bay itself only has a small refreshment hut which was closed when we were there.
From the top of the steep road down you will get your first view of the sea and later on the beach itself. It is now just a couple of kilometres of steep winding tarmac road down to the beach. There you can soak your feet for a well deserved rest.
If you are going to retrace your steps allow an hour to climb back to Divarata making a total round trip of approximately 5 ½ hours or 15 kilometres, easily achievable in a day. Just take plenty of water!
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