This new 10th edition of our guidebook for walking in western Crete has been revised on the ground post-pandemic — just a few months prior to publication and contains one new walk – to Vrissinas, a Minoan peak sanctuary above Rethimnon.
The printed maps show waypoints, and free downloadable GPS tracks are available for all the walks. Colour coding on the Contents page enables you to see at a glance the grading of various hikes.
Mountains rearing straight up from the sea, deep wooded gorges, ravines and valleys — and yet more glorious mountains, standing proud and acting as a magnet to the eye and the imagination — that’s Western Crete, or real Crete, as some would say.
Its strong, dramatic scenery and colours create sweeping landscapes of harsh but beautiful countryside – countryside that has been the backdrop for heroic deeds, ancient civilisations and constant intrigue for thousands of years, and the home of obdurate, tough-spirited people – made so by their labours on the land and their experiences.
Getting to know Western Crete takes time; the number of people who explore beyond the obvious is slowly growing.
We hope we will lead you straight to the heart of the matter with this book, whether you are a first- or second-time visitor unsure about how best to get to know the island or, indeed, if you are someone who doesn’t need convincing but would like a reliable, thorough and different guide. We encourage you to explore to the full.
We won’t need to inspire you; one look at Western Crete will do that.