Cape Maleas

The final southerly shout of the Maleas Peninsula is a rough, harsh, craggy place, towering above a restless sea, the bane of the millennia of seamen. And excellent walking.

The cape is an empty place, too harsh for even the ultra-hardy Maniots, but you will walk to a little cape-end monastery.

To the Cape (South coast): This 11km/ 4.5hr walk winds on a track then a path from Ayia Marina chapel (or the end of the track if you want a shorter walk) across fine, steep, scruffy hillsides and cliffs, high above the sea, past some weird rock formations, a former pirates' cove. The St. Irene Monastery near the cape is now empty, but still a lovely, peaceful, inspiring place. (You can stay here by arrangement, something Walkopedia would leap at!) A mere 15 minutes on is the crumbling Agios Georgios chapel, with the ruins of an old tower and church, right on the cape. Retrace your steps. A marvellous walk. This page's rating is for this walk.

To the lighthouse (North coast): This 16.5km/ 6.5hr round trip leads from the village of Velanidia on the former lighthouse keeper's path to the now unmanned lighthouse down the northern side of the cape. A fine walk but perhaps not as thrilling as the walk to the cape.

Sunflower's Landscapes of the Southern Peloponnese has 30 walks, including these walks. The Mountains of Greece - Ciceronehas a worthwhile section too. Find relevant books by using our Amazon search function:

For more information and photos, including detailed practical information and some warnings, see our Taygetus range and the Mani walk page.