Independent Walking Holiday

The late Lance Chilton wrote many books on walking, the majority of them about Greece. My husband and I bought his `Walks in Northwest Corfu`(sadly now unavailable), booked a package holiday to the quiet village of Arillas and using his hand-drawn maps and precise directions explored the surrounding countryside. We’ve since returned many times, usually in May, to enjoy the wildflowers, butterflies and other wildlife, and to swim from the sandy beach. We now book our own flights, taxi transfer and self-catering accommodation although a couple of tour operators organise holidays to Arillas. Even without a map the coastal walks are easy to follow and the community spirited locals have marked a walking trail starting in Arillas that largely follows Lance Chilton’s routes inland, along farm tracks and through olive groves, and at the beginning of May they organise a walk along it. The coastal walks are easy to follow without a map and there are spectacular views; you can venture north to busier Agios Stefano or south to pretty Afionas and beyond. Several events are held throughout the year – a wine festival, Corfu Beer Festival, traditional music and dance and religious celebrations. It is more suited to families with young children or more mature people as although it has many good tavernas and bars there are no nightclubs. There are also shops, a bakery, brewery and a doctor. I had excellent treatment from the doctor when I suffered from heatstroke a couple of years ago: many of the villagers have undertaken first aid courses. The village website (www.Arillas.com) has a wealth of useful information, maps, phone numbers and there’s a live webcam.