Kato Pyrgos

2018

March: Kato Pyrgos, which has been described as a part of Cyprus that time has forgotten, is nestled between the Turkish Kokkina enclave to the west, UN controlled demilitarised zone to the east, and Paphos forest and mountains to the south. Its’ location makes it a little isolated and remote but the drive, meandering through the forest and mountains to avoid Kokkina, is very scenic and absolutely delightful. The roads are paved, in very good condition and though winding, are not at all difficult. One route skirts the demilitarised zone around Kokkina passing through Mosfili and Mansoura. Another, which we felt to be the more scenic, is just a little further inland and passes through Pigenia. We parked at Grape By The Sea restaurant (35°11’02.5″N 32°41’30.2″E), which is right on the beachfront but unfortunately closed when we visited. We explored the part of the beach that runs east from Grape By The Sea for nearly 1km.

At the end of March we had the entire beach to ourselves! It is a long, fairly wide and easily accessible pebble and sand beach. The beach shelves moderately beyond the waterline and entering the water is not too difficult. Much of the beach is backed by cliffs which are high in places and provide some seclusion. North facing and backed by high ground, the beach is sheltered from prevailing westerly and south-westerly winds which are typical in Cyprus during the early part of the year. With this shelter the sea was noticeably less rough than on south and west facing coastlines. At the far end the beach narrows and rocks and small caves offer additional privacy. There are fewer pebbles too so entering the water there is a little easier. However this end of the beach is close to, if not within the demilitarised zone and we felt we were being observed! We did not stop long there but instead moved back a couple of hundred metres to a part of the beach that was not so open to surveillance from higher ground!

We spent a pleasant and completely undisturbed afternoon on the beach after which we visited the harbour and amphitheatre.

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Editor

2018

March: Kato Pyrgos, which has been described as a part of Cyprus that time has forgotten, is nestled between the Turkish Kokkina enclave to the west, UN controlled demilitarised zone to the east, and Paphos forest and mountains to the south. Its’ location makes it a little isolated and remote but the drive, meandering through the forest and mountains to avoid Kokkina, is very scenic and absolutely delightful. The roads are paved, in very good condition and though winding, are not at all difficult. One route skirts the demilitarised zone around Kokkina passing through Mosfili and Mansoura. Another, which we felt to be the more scenic, is just a little further inland and passes through Pigenia. We parked at Grape By The Sea restaurant (35°11’02.5″N 32°41’30.2″E), which is right on the beachfront but unfortunately closed when we visited. We explored the part of the beach that runs east from Grape By The Sea for nearly 1km.

At the end of March we had the entire beach to ourselves! It is a long, fairly wide and easily accessible pebble and sand beach. The beach shelves moderately beyond the waterline and entering the water is not too difficult. Much of the beach is backed by cliffs which are high in places and provide some seclusion. North facing and backed by high ground, the beach is sheltered from prevailing westerly and south-westerly winds which are typical in Cyprus during the early part of the year. With this shelter the sea was noticeably less rough than on south and west facing coastlines. At the far end the beach narrows and rocks and small caves offer additional privacy. There are fewer pebbles too so entering the water there is a little easier. However this end of the beach is close to, if not within the demilitarised zone and we felt we were being observed! We did not stop long there but instead moved back a couple of hundred metres to a part of the beach that was not so open to surveillance from higher ground!

We spent a pleasant and completely undisturbed afternoon on the beach after which we visited the harbour and amphitheatre.