Sandy beaches are scarce on Corfu, most of them are pebbly or rocky.
During our stay, we travelled from the east to the west coast and to the northern and southernmost points of Corfu.
Close to Afionas, there is a small, lovely beach [Porto Timoni] tucked away. You can descend to the beach via a hiking trail on top of the cliff. It’s about a 30 mins walk to admire the crystal clear water. Hiking shoes are recommended. Some walkers however, did it in flip-flops, but they are real daredevils.
Further north is Cape Drastis. We took a beautiful walk there with views of the cliffs and Albania. The path to the viewpoint was not well marked and sometimes difficult to walk on. The surroundings and the view were beautiful. It’s just a shame that there was so much litter. But that’s entirely down to society. There was also a small lagoon nearby which we visited. You had to be careful when walking a little further along the side of the cliff because the rocks were quite slippery.
In the North-Eats of the island is Pantokrator, a mountain 917 metres high in the middle of a nature reserve. The road to it was truly magical. From sea level the narrow road wound its way up through olive groves. At the top lies the Pantocrator monastery built in the 14th century, which is somewhat overshadowed by a television transmission mast. You have an endless 360° view of both the island and the mainland. No drone needed.
As a pilgrim, you can still spend the night there, but no monks live in the monastery permanently anymore. You can also grab a bite to eat, but do yourself a favour and sit down on the terrace of the Oasis tavern in Strinilas under the magnificent elm tree on your way back. Their food is honest and delicious.
In the south is Lefkimmi, the second largest town on Corfu, which is cut in half by a canalised river, the Lefkimmi River. Lefkimi is also known for its salt pans, which have been in production since the 13th century and provides salt for the entire north-west of Greece. If you follow the river to the sea, you will see a few small fishing boats just before you reach the Bouka beach.
Apart from two lonely souls, we were the only ones on the beach. Great!
