Fyti – a panorama walk
The walk starts from the centre of Fyti village and gradually unwinds taking in high- level views across and beyond two deep river valleys and visits the tiny village of Milia. At 6.5kms (4.06m) in length, around 2hrs walking, the route uses both tarmac roads and unsurfaced tracks. There are a couple of short but steep ascents and much of the route has little shade. Binoculars would enhance the faraway views.
Getting there: From Polis, take the B7 Paphos road and beyond Skoulli turn left onto the 
E712 signed for Simou and Lasa. At Lasa turn left at the crossroads sign-posted Fyti 2kms. Entering Fyti swing right at the fork and keep straight on to a Stop sign and bus shelter. Turn left and up to park in the main village square.
From Paphos, take the B7 Polis road as far as Stroumpi. Turn right here heading through Polemi and Psathi to Agios Dimitrianos. Here you turn left for Lasa and then second right signed for Fyti. Entering the village bear right at the bus shelter to park up in the village square.
From the church head up past the Weaving Museum. As the road turns right look for the lion over an old doorway. Keep straight on past the village houses before finally twisting past a couple of newish ones. After 400 metres fork slightly left at a cross-roads onto an unsurfaced track. Soon it swings left and extensive views across the Ezousas river valley begin to open up. Below to the left is Kritou Marottou village and in the distance beyond, the Kannaviou Dam. Panagia village, where Archbishop Makarios was born, is towards the left-hand end of the mountain looming 1100m high straight ahead.
Follow the track as it parallels the valley, passing two large vineyards on the left before reaching a tarmac road (22mins/1.3kms). Go left here heading back to the outskirts of Fyti ignoring any side turnings.
On reaching staggered cross-roads just within the village proper (31mins/2.1kms) keep 
straight on along a narrow street. Ignore one to the left and just before the street curves round to the left, turn right and downhill, leaving the village again. Turn left at a T-junction, ignore right turns and follow the tarmac road alongside a concrete retaining wall. As the road starts to ascend once more turn right onto an unsurfaced track heading across the top of a disused washing place (vrisi). Just beyond turn right and downhill along a field track (44mins/2.67kms). Extensive views now into the Stavros river valley with Evretou Reservoir straight ahead, Filousa village above it on the right and Chrysochou Bay in the distance bordered on its left by the Akamas peninsula.
Take care descending the track’s loose surface which soon levels out swinging left up to a concrete vehicle track. Turn left steeply uphill and upon reaching the main Fyti /Lasa road turn right (58mins/3.25kms). After a few metres look for a little-used track on your left crossing a field and then turn left downhill onto a vehicle track. (Should the field be under cultivation take the next track left swinging back by a new house). Shortly turn right at the T-junction (1hr 5mins/3.6kms) onto a lesser track that climbs gently uphill past a large goat farm on your left before levelling out to reach an x-tracks (1hr 10mins/4.1kms). From here, at around 635m altitude, the views are predominantly to the south-west.
Turn left, now heading towards the small village of Milia. Almost straightaway you pass a large grove of Pistachio trees, an uncommon feature hereabouts. Nearing the village, and back on tarmac again, Drinia village can be seen way down to your right. After noting the ‘African theme’ on a house to your left, bear left onto the ‘main’ road and follow this as it rises into the village. When the road bends sharper left by a water-point, bear right onto a concrete track heading, initially steeply, up out of the village (1hr 24mins/4.88kms).
Reaching a T-junction turn right onto a tarmac road (1hr 35mins/5.5kms). Head downhill and shortly turn left just after a house (Dimitri’s Taverna) onto an unsurfaced track. Ignore a track descending into the valley. Views across to Panagia and Kannaviou Dam come into view once more with Agios Dimitrianos village to the right of you. Follow the track as it turns up and away from the valley to a junction of tracks with a telecom tower to your front (1hr 50mins/6.29kms). Bear left onto a concrete track which, after ten minutes, returns you to Fyti village centre. Refreshments are available just around from the church.
In times gone by, Fyti was renowned for its weaving. The textiles, known as ‘Fythkiotika’ and rich in their variety of designs and colours, can be viewed at the Weaving Museum together with old looms and many items of household soft-goods.
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By Colin Gorton, member of the Phoenix Walking Group
