ENERGETIC WALKSPhotographs ASPRO NERO WALK 2 hours
- The final decent to the aspro nero ('white water') walls is a steep zig-zag path that starts at the foot of the lower village of Kato Rougav. There are various ways to reach this path from The Ark.
- You can take the crazy paved road through the top village ('Ano Rouga') to its western edge and then the dirt track south. This quickly becomes a tarmacked road that wends its way through the dwellings of the lower village. Look out for the decaying house on the corner of the first right hand bend. It is a beautiful example of a traditional stone house with a walled courtyard.
- Or you can follow a route that runs parallel to the crazy paved road through Ano Rouga. Take the path below The Ark grounds to the west and then, after the first two houses, uphill towards a junction dominated by a telegraph pole. Continue uphill until the next junction and head west on the narrow road ahead. This bisects more houses before contracting into a charming old village path that eventually joins the road to Kato Rouga.
- Alternatively, you can stop at the first house to the west below The Ark. This is built around a huge "rock oak" and traversed by a lower path. To the west, this path offers a 'back and front' view of village life before heading down the hillsideu to join the road at the foot of Kato Rouga (just after where it turns sharply to the east and tarmac gives way to dirt).
- Close to this bend is the steep zig-zag pathv down to the white water falls. It is signposted to the 'Ancient Springs' - a bit of a misleading description!
- Lined by centuries old olive trees and giant prickly pear cactuses, this zig-zag path has a number of mileposts including a rocky vantage pointw.
- A little further on is a welcome seat with a water fountain for weary walkers. Look out for blue-brown crabs hiding under stones. These land crabs are more common along the banks of the river but can been found higher up.
- The waterfall, which falls for 60 metres breaking into white foam, is best viewed from a purpose-built wooden viewing platformx.
- Beyond this point, although trees provide shade, the going can get difficult as the path gets overgrown and eroded by rushing water. Be prepared to scramble a little if you want to continue on to the rivery.
- Here, you can enjoy a riverside picnic and / or cool off in the freezing water before retracing your steps back up the zig-zag path to Kato Rouga.
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