This long walk starts  almost  at the summit of Mt. Holomondas above the village of axiarchis  and then descends through remote terrain  to the village of  Paleochora, 1Okm  to   the   northwest.

The route follows modem forest   tracks   as  well   as much older mu1e tracks in its gradual descent through beautiful forest, bush and fannland.

The start of the route is a forest   track   on   the   left hand side of the road from Taxiarchis to Arnea, approximately 3.3 km north of the junction of the road to Arnea with the road leading down into the village  of  Taxiarchis. Look  for  the  waymarker sign which shou1d be prominently displayed.

Follow the forest track that descends to the northwest as it clings to the western slopes of Holomondas. If the weather is clear there is a fine view to the left, over the forest and across to Mount Olympus in the far background.     In  600m,  at  a fork in the track, take the upper padl (waymarker). One hundred metres further on an open area is reached with fine views to the southwest. Here the path turns  sharply   to  the   north, passing  to   the   right   of   a concrete water reservoir and entering    thicker woodland. Follow the waymarkers for the next  400m,  as 1he pa1h contours round the         hillside through fairly dense woodland  As  an open area is reached the route leaves the path we are on and turns to the north (follow the waymarkers).In another 500m or so the route emerges from the woodland onto a wide forest track, which is joined for a few metres to a corner. The route now leaves the track, dropping down the hillside to the west and passing a fenced compound in  which Christmas trees are grown. Most of the Christmas trees sold in Greece come from this area. Soon the road is reached again, but we continue on a quiet forest track to the right, ignoring a left fork into a field. In 150m or so locked gates block the track (another Christmas tree nursery). Turn left here and follow  the  fence  round, through the trees for a further

300  m or so. Continue on a further  50m, along  the  left hand edge of a ploughed field, to arrive at an open top, giving fine views to the  north. The route   now  follows a small, but beautiful, shrub and   gorse covered ridge  (see  Photo), which   descends  gradually to the northwest. In 500m the ridge levels out, crosses a farm track and continues on through the bushes for a further 1OOm, when a field begins on the left. Cross over at the top end of the field (to avoid damage to crops) onto  the main  farm  road. The route follows this road for the next  900m,  through  the  com­ fields. At the end of the fields a little used track drops away to the right, away  from  the road (look for the waymarker). This is          an           old          mule      track      to Paleochora, which we will join and leave several  times during the  remainder  of  the  journey. The route  continues  westward for 500m before turning to the south   and   rejoining  a  farm road. Follow this fann  road to the  left  for  200m,  around  the head  of the valley  and up the hill. Here the old track reappers on the right and we follow it for 400m to arrive at a goat shelter. The old route continues on down through a rocky gully. The original  path  has  been  mostly washed away over the years during wet weather, but in several places the old stone set surface of the road can be seen. After 800m of descent this ancient road meets up with a modem  track, which  we join.

200m further on is a water reservoir and in a further 1OOm we arrive at another church, dedicated to the Prophet Elias, situated just above the village of Paleochora. Follow the road to the right of the church, which leads down into the village,  where there are several  taverna's.  Here  you can explore or rest a while, before booking a taxi back to Holomondas.