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Roads between villages

Naturally, these roads have been asphalted before agricultural access roads and it is now unusual to find one that is unsurfaced. Taxi drivers are relieved, but walkers must now find alternative routes.

Cobbled mule tracks

In their heyday around the time of the Turkish occupation (1669–1898) these kalderimia served villages, terracing and grazing pastures. Nowadays most of these old trails, which so delightfully followed the lie of the land, are in a broken-up state. Sections with gradients suitable for vehicles have often been replaced by new roads. This policy spares mule tracks routed up steep ravines, or crags (for example Walks 41, 45 and 47) but these, in turn, are subject to weather erosion.

Old roads in Greece were always made with zigzags at gradients suitable for pack animals. Therefore, if you are following this type of trail and find yourself climbing straight up or down a steep hill, check the route again, since you may well have missed the path. Two examples of old mule tracks still in practical use, and in need of repair, are found on Walk 41 and Trek 7. The Zaranokefala location is too remote and almost disused nowadays, but Sellouda might eventually qualify. Hopefully (for tourists glad to be free of cars) the shoreline of Sfakia is too unstable to make a coast road project worthwhile.