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The Corfu Trail
The Corfu Trail runs from the southernmost point of Corfu at Cape Asprokavos and winds for 220km (137 miles) to the northernmost point near Andinioti Lagoon.
When Hilary Whitton Paipeti first came to Corfu as a holiday rep at the start of the 1980s, she had no intention of staying, but she fell in love with the island. More than that, though, she has contributed something to island life of which she can be forever proud, for Hilary is the woman who created the island's only long-distance footpath: the Corfu Trail.
'I worked as a rep for two years,' she says, 'and by then I was totally in love with Corfu. I went into journalism and publishing, and have been publishing The Corfiot Magazine for 15 years now. It's aimed at the local community and is published monthly all year round, but in summer it does carry information on what's going on for the benefit of the visitors.
I also publish regional magazines that people will find in the different resorts around the island. More recently I've also been doing real estate and real estate development.'
Creation of the Corfu Trail
One of the reasons behind Hilary's venture into the property market is tied in with the Corfu Trail. Part of its original aim was to link the villages of the island, and bring some life back into those whose population was dwindling as young people moved down to the coast to work in the holiday business, or moved away to Athens and beyond.
'Some of the villages inland were being left to disintegrate,' Hilary says, 'and yet they have some beautiful Venetian architecture. I wanted walkers to stop and at least have a coffee in the local kefeneon, but preferably be able to stay overnight. The problem is that in some villages there is no accommodation, so walkers have to leave the Trail for their overnight stay, and return the next morning. Now I'm actively working to encourage people to buy properties in these villages, with the express purpose of opening them as small guesthouses.'
Corfu’s Pennine Way
Hilary's energy is beyond doubt, yet she has to credit her father with the idea for the Corfu Trail. Hilary was already leading walks on the island (another of her many different hats), and had written The Corfu Book of Walks, when her father suggested she put together a long-distance path, the Corfu equivalent of the Pennine Way.
'It was a great idea,' Hilary says, 'but nothing happened for a while. Then on one of my walks I met a German guy, Fried Aumann, who said he thought he might be able to get help with EU funding, and put up the rest of the money himself, so he is the one who people must thank for bringing the Trail into existence.'
Some Cool Corfu Souvenirs
Paleokastritsa Luggage Tag
Corfu Cypresses Capri Leggings
Corfu T-shirt
Corfu Tote Bag
Hilary met Fried in 1999, and by May 2001 she was leading the first group of walkers to tackle the trail. The route runs from the southernmost point of Corfu at Cape Asprokavos and winds for about 220km (137 miles) to emerge at the northernmost point near the Andinioti Lagoon.
Our Pick of Greek Islands Guides
Corfu Trail from South to North
'I recommend doing it from south to north,' Hilary advises, 'for several reasons. It's flatter in the south so that gives people time to build up a bit of stamina. Also the best scenery is in the north so it builds up to that, as well. And it also means that the sun is on your back and not in your face for most of the way. The whole trip should take about 10 days, doing 4-6 hours walking a day without pushing yourself.'
Anyone can arrange to do the trail for themselves, and Hilary has written a guide to it, but it does take some planning. Instead you can book it all through Aperghi Travel in Corfu Town, who will not only book the accommodation but arrange for your luggage to be transferred each day and give you a copy of Hilary's book as well. And if you meet her on the trail, no doubt she would be delighted to sign it for you.
Video of the Corfu Trail
Hilary’s Corfu Trail Tips
• The best times of year are May-June and September-October.
• Even in August, don't assume it will be fine weather. Corfu is very changeable. Always take wet weather gear.
• You should take a sun hat with you, and lots of water.
• Take a mobile phone with you, but also a number to ring. There's no point in having a phone if you don't know where to ring for help.
• In summer you could do most of the walk in walking sandals, except for the mountainous bits at the end when you should wear good boots with ankle support.
• Carry a stick, too. Be aware of snakes. They are not a major problem but they are there so check the ground in front of you if it's overgrown and you can't see where you're treading.
More Information on the
Corfu Trail
Visit the Corfu Trail website.
Other Corfu Pages
Southern Corfu Beaches and Villages
This guide to southern Corfu’s beaches and villages includes busy resorts, quiet beach, hill villages and the southernmost tip of Corfu at Cape Asprókavos.
Sidari
Sidari is a popular holiday resort on the north coast of Corfu with beaches and unusual rock formations as well as plenty of places to eat and to stay.
Corfu Town
Corfu Town is the capital of Corfu and of the Ionian Islands and has museums, two forts, several museums, churches, and many other attractions.
Corfu Beer Festival
The First Corfu Beer Festival took place in Arillas in North West Corfu and celebrated the beer of Bavaria and of Corfu, in the Ionian islands of Greece.
North-West Corfu Beaches and Villages
North-West Corfu’s beaches and villages include busy resorts, quiet beaches, hill villages, and places ideal for watching the sunset,
Corfu Writers and Artists
Corfu writers and artists inspired by the island include both residents and visitors, like Gerald and Lawrence Durrell, Edward Lear, and Henry Miller.
Mount Pantokrator Drive
This Mount Pantokrator drive takes you to the top of Corfu’s highest mountain with wonderful views to Albania, mainland Greece, and around Corfu.
Corfu’s Special Cuisine
Corfu’s special cuisine includes dishes like sofrito and pastitsade and the chance to try ginger beer and kumquats.
The Achilleion Palace
The Achilleion Palace is one of the most visited sights on Corfu and contains a museum and impressive gardens with wonderful views over the coast.
The Invasion of Corfu
From Nero to Nicolas Cage, the invasion of Corfu goes back to Roman times and through to Hollywood today!
A Lawrence Durrell Walk
This Lawrence Durrell walk takes you from Kaminaki Beach in northern Corfu to the White House in Kalami where the writer Lawrence Durrell lived for four year.
Corfu Shopping Tips
These Corfu shopping tips include advice on buying souvenirs like ceramics, jewelry, gold, silver, wood carvings, and food and drink, with tips on haggling.
Mount Pantokrátor
Mount Pantokrator is the highest mountain on Corfu and it’s easy to drive to the top for spectacular views of Albania, Corfu, and even sometimes to Italy.
Kassiopi
Kassiopi is a popular tourist resort on the northeast coast of Corfu with a sandy beach, Byzantine fortress, old church, and lots of places to stay and to eat.
Corfu Climate: Sun, Rain, Winds
The Corfu Climate page describes the hours of sun, the rain, the winds, to help you plan the best time to visit this Ionian island.
Benítses
Benitses is a popular resort town south of Corfu Town with its own marina, remains of a Roman Baths, an old town, and plenty of walks inland.
Northern Corfu in Three Days
If you want to tour northern Corfu in three days you can see busy resorts, quiet fishing villages, Mount Pantokrator, and the Andinioti Lagoon.
Northern Corfu Drive
There are two sides to every Greek island, the tourist and the traditional, and this drive from Corfu Town through northern Corfu shows the two faces of Corfu.
Where to Stay in Northern Corfu
Greece Travel Secrets picks where to stay in northern Corfu with budget and luxury hotels in Sidari, Daphnila Bay, Kontokali, Ipsos, Barbati and more.
Northern Corfu Beaches and Villages
Northern Corfu’s beaches and villages include busy resorts and secluded beaches, with several hill and mountain villages well worth visiting.
Where to Eat in North-West Corfu
Greece Travel Secrets has its list of favourite places where you can eat in north-west Corfu, including in Paleokastritsa, Pelekas, and Ayios Stefanos.
Southern Corfu
Southern Corfu has busy beach resorts like Benitses, historical buildings like the Achilleion Palace and Gardiki Castle, and wildlife at the Korision Lagoon.
Where to Eat in Northern Corfu
This is the Greece Travel Secrets selection of where to eat in northern Corfu, from classy restaurants and traditional tavernas to beachside fish tavernas.
Corfu and Cricket
The history of Corfu and cricket goes back to 1823 when the island was under British rule, which left them with a legacy of loving both cricket and ginger beer.
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