As one of the greenest of the Ionian islands and one of the most accessible, which a great destination for a walking holiday is Corfu.
The best months for walking in Corfu are May, early June, late September and October — temperatures are moderate and the countryside it at its colourful best.
San Stefano is the perfect base for your walking holiday, being located in the middle of the spectacular North East Coast.
There are several walks starting from the village.
Heading north, there are several trails and paths through the Erimitis headland, an area of outstanding natural beauty. The longest trail will take you to Kassiopi, an old fishing village with a bustling harbour and Byzantine Castle.
For more information on Erimitis, please read the ebook at the bottom of this page.
Heading south out of the village the small quiet coast road leads to Kerasia Bay, where it finishes at the Taverna Kerasia. Passing several large estates, with beautiful views of the sheltered bays below, this walk is on a made road and not too demanding. The walk takes you past the Rothchild’s Estate, where Prince Charles and Camila stayed during their 2017 vacation to Corfu.
At the far end of Kerasia Bay, after the long stretch of pebble beach, you can pick up the coastal path that will take you to Kalami Bay, where refreshments can be taken at the White House Taverna, home briefly to Lawrence Durrell and his wife, Nancy.
Heading inland from San Stefano you will find rolling olive-clad hills, dotted with some of Corfu’s prettiest villages and mazed with tracks and footpaths. Terrain varies from gentle olive grove tracks to rough and stony paths hugging mountainous slopes.
Many trails take you through the foothills of Mount Pantokrator, Corfu’s highest mountain, through deserted old villages, cascading waterfalls and inhabited Monasteries.
Complete Book of Corfu Walks
Details of all the walks in this area, together with a comprehensive guide to the trails and footpaths across the island can be found by visiting Hilary Whitton- Paipeti’s excellent website www.corfuwalks.com
Flowers and Forna in Corfu
During April and May the island is a wash with colour. Wild flowers are everywhere. The variety and profusion of flowers and foliage has to be seen to be appreciated. Pathways and clearings in the olive groves come alive with wild Tulips, Iris, Bluebells, Poppies and many varieties of flowering plants. Lupins, Geraniums, Crocus, Asphodel and Gladioli can be found in fields, ditches and even by the roadside. Ipomoea or Morning Glory drapes itself over fences and hedges and although the flowers only last a day nature replaces them with fresh blossoms every morning.
In May, Wisteria is in bloom everywhere on the island.
The olive groves are covered with mosses, fungi, grasses and ferns, the favoured haunt of the tortoise, butterflies and woodland birds.
Further information on the flowers and forna of Corfu can be found on these websites,
( click on the links below)
Flora Ionica – An inventory of ferns and flowering plants of the Ionian Islands.
Corfu Flowers – Photographs showing many of the island’s flowers, identified and named by a botanist whilst walking the Corfu Trail.
Erimitis ebook
This is an excellent guide to the eco system of Erimitis, an area of outstanding natural beauty, adjacent to San Stefano on the North East coast.