Archived Reports
https://barefoot.holiday/directory/spithi/
2010 September: A long time visitor to Skala and user of the naturist beach beyond the rocks trusts that the following report is of interest:
- There has been no major rock fall that has wiped out the beach.
- The current situation is erosion of the beach over the last few years has meant the southern end of Skala beach around the rocks no longer exists.
- Beyond the rocks a small section of beach has survived but the sea now reaches the cliff face along the majority of the original beach.
- There are two local opinions on the reasons for this change:
- – New harbour at Poros has altered currents;
- – The last winter, storms that shape the beach have been accompanied by southerly winds; the last few years usually were northerly.
- Only time will tell which of the above is correct but if you go back far enough over 20 years it has happened before but not as severely.
- The small beach left beyond the rocks is still sometimes naturist, the main access being to wade up to chest deep or a swim through the sea, a fair distance.
- The original “no naturism” signs were always positioned the whole length of the beach, it was just that those closer to Skala disappeared/were vandalised first. Currently could not see any, bearing in mind above erosion, doubt they have survived.
2015: The sand continues to disappear making it more and more difficult to access the naturist beach. The naturists now use the space before the big rocks (except in August, when the quiet surroundings disappear).
2016 May: We made three attempts to reach Spithi beach. It was frustrating because it is only about a quarter-mile from the southern end of Skala beach. Apparently it used to be possible to carry on walking along the beach to get there but now it is impossible without being either a good swimmer or a rock climber. Undaunted we attempted to reach it from inland, walking around 2 miles on winding farm tracks to reach the cliff edge overlooking the beach. Not easy as private properties border the edge but we found a deserted club called “Cosmo” at the back of which some steps seemed to lead down to the beach. However the steps had collapsed and this access had been blocked by a strand of barbed wire. I could see from here that there was no-one on the beach.
The next day we walked the 3 miles to Potomakia beach, a half-mile weedy stretch with three nudists. At the far headland Spithia was frustratingly visibly close but again impossible to reach due to the ruggedness of the cliff edge. A boat seems to be the only option for access now.
2017 September: In August 2012 when we last had a holiday in Kefalonia it was accessible from Skala either by a moderately easy climb over the large rocks or by wading around them. There have been some further rockfalls since then which have made climbing over the rocks difficult. Waves and tide have caused much erosion and scoured away the sand and pebbles that once surrounded the rocks. Wading round from Skala is no longer possible but confident swimmers no doubt could manage it.
It is also possible to walk along the shoreline from Mouda, a distance of about 600 metres (0.4 mile). The route is not too difficult although it does entail climbing over some small rocks and, near Cape Mouda for a short distance, the route is little more than a few footholds and a narrow ledge cut into steeply sloping sandstone.
Coastal erosion and rockfalls have somewhat changed the beach since we were there in 2012. Some sand has been lost from the beach and there is now a lot more seaweed on it (that may change with seasonal weather conditions). As the saying goes “it’s an ill wind” and the advantage of these changes is that the beach is now more secluded and perhaps even better for naturism. When we visited there was one other m/f couple and a single female baring all on the beach. Separated by rocks, there are three longish stretches of gritty sand, some patches of soft sand and small pebbles which slope gently to the waterline. Beyond the waterline the seabed is mostly gradually shelving soft sand. Very easy to enter the water and when we visited it was beautifully warm and clear.
2018: All the sand is now gone from the end of the road, the waves have dug under the road and dropped some tamarisks, there are only a few places to put his towel for some naturists.
August: Fairly easy access if you follow Patrick’s suggestion. There is another way down further northeast which we saw people using (map) but this is probably from the villa. We were the only naturist couple (Sunday morning) with 3 textile families but well spread out so wasn’t a problem. Plenty of room left.
2019 July/August: Unfortunately, a lot of sand gone from the Skala end of the beach. Still plenty of room though and access still as previously described. The other access mentioned in 2018 tab is closed with a gate and a sign [is this route 1a)?]. 100% naturist when we visited. Early October: There have been more rockfalls and loss of sand since our previous report in September 2017. This has made it not only near impossible to get to Spithi from Skala but now the northern end of Spithi beach is effectively separated from the rest of the beach and reaching that part of the beach from the south, as from Skala, also now entails a difficult climb over rocks or swimming/wading.
