Monolithos to Fourni Beach
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Sunday, 18 February 2024
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Monolithos to Fourni Beach
Extensive hike to the secluded Fourni beach
An extensive hike to Fourni Beach, taking in the coastline with spectacular views. This is a challenging walk and the return route is by road although there is supposedly a path directly back from the beach, it is certainly not easy to access.
Monolithos to Fourni Beach - Essential Information
Walk Statistics (calculated from GPX):
- Start location: Monolithos
- End location: Fourni Beach
- Distance: km ( miles)
- Total Gain: metre ( ft)
- Total Descent: metre ( ft)
- Min Height: metre ( ft)
- Max Height: metre ( ft)
- Walk Time:
- Walk Grade: Moderate
- Terrain: Road, tracks, footpath, rocky river bed
Maps:
The following maps and services can assist in navigating this route. There are links to printed maps and links to downloadable GPX route data for importing into navigational software and apps.
- GPX Route File
Route Verification Details
- Date of Walk: 06/10/2023
- Walk Time: 08:30:00 to 15:00:00
- Walkers: Griff, Kat
- Weather Conditions: Hot, clear blue skies
Walk Notes
Fourni Beach is a captivating haven that seamlessly blends natural beauty and a tranquil escape, far removed from the bustling crowds of more popular tourist coastal areas. The beach is framed by rugged cliffs and lush greenery, providing a scenic backdrop that enhances the overall charm of the location.
There are sunbeds and a kantina, but certainly out of the main season there are few people who venture down to the beach. There are toilets available on the beach but to gain access you do need a key which involves making a purchase at the kantina.
At the far end of the beach is a rocky promontory known as Cape Fourni that ends with the rubbled remains of a small round medieval watchtower. It is thought that this was one of a chain of coastal watchtowers constructed by the Knights of St. John during the 1500s. Unless you research this, the feature may seem nothing more than a pile of stones. On the southern side of the cape are several caves that have been carved into the rock. These are ancient burial chambers said have been created in the Helenistic period (3 - 2 BC). Latterly it is thought that the caves were used as Christian cave chapels.
Fourni Beach is quite an extensive hike, even by taking the direct route of following the road that heads to Monolithos Castle and continues down to Fourni Beach. The route chosen in this instance initially veers away from the road route to take a more rural track and path to join a coastal track. This is more adventurous, and in places it is a little challenging where the route follows the bed of a stream in which gulleys and boulders provide obstacles to negotiate.
The original intention of the route was to return from Fourni Beach via a path across the scrub that followed the hills back up into Monolithos. Research had shown other hikers had achieved this in previous years although the most recent reference had indicted that it seemed difficult and cumbersome to locate the path. There was no path marked on any of our maps for this return, the only path that is indicated in this area extends down from Monolithos and ends at the top of the cliff just behind Fourni Beach, where one intrepid explorer, who walked this from Monolithos, noted it being nothing more than a cliff top viewpoint.
The return path supposedly starts where Cape Fourni joins the beach. This promontory, with Greek flag painted on the strata of rock that makes up its height, is a popular place to explore for visitors to the beach and during our time at the beach Kantina we witnessed many folk clambering onto this rock and then heading out to the its furthest reaches. There was also one couple who appeared to have climbed from the beach on the far side and over to Fourni beach. At no point did we witness any other soul negotiating a path up the cliff towards Monolithos.
Despite this, after lunch we headed to the promontory to try to find this route. To get onto the promontory, one has to walk up to the point where the rock joins the cliff face where there is a makeshift step. The first step up is easy then one has to heave oneself up onto the ledge, this is a little effort but most folk seem to achieve this judging by the number of people we see taking up this challenge. The path then leads outwards along the flat portion of the rock in a fairly well defined route that most visitors follow, heading towards the tip. There is no clear path or markers leading up the cliff face. Following the well marked route one comes to the apex of the hill where a ridge leads upwards to the top of the cliffs. This looked a very precarious challenge and after cross referencing the map and the gps track, this clearly was not the way to go.
After a little more investigation it did look like there was a slightly worn area that led upwards, close to where we joined the promontory, which led to a rather precarious ledge by a couple of scrawny trees on the cliff side. This then appeared to merge into the rock just beyond the second tree. This was probably the route and seemed to correlate with a description found from a couple who followed the route a year earlier. However, given the slippery nature of the rock face, the fact that a very brisk wind made even standing up a challenge at this point, and that this looked more like mountaineering rather than hiking, we had to concede that it would be dangerous to proceed in attempting to climb this with no conclusive evidence that we would get any further than the trees. To have done so would also have been risky as it would be easy to loose grip and fall, therefore we returned back to the beach.
This was unfortunate, but one has to assess risks, personal abilities and the fact that this would not be termed hiking in the event of an insurance claim having to be made. It could well be that a path had once led up this cliff face but erosion has worn it away. Like most of our explorations and expeditions on Rhodes, such disappointments are not seen as defeats but a gain in knowledge. Maybe there is a way and a means to get up this cliff but it certainly was not obvious. If and when we return to Monolithos, then one of our first expeditions would be to follow the path outwards from the village to determine where it meets the cliff that may provide a clue as to whether the beach is accessible from above.
Given this failure to locate the path, the only option was to return by road. This had always been catered for in the plans and we had water supplies for such an eventuality. On the day we were fortunate to be offered a lift from one of the tourists visiting the beach for which we were very grateful. It has to be said this is quite a distance with little in the way of shade.
Directions
1. From Christos Corner, head through the village of Monolithos keeping to the principle road. At 500m, pass the Taverna Panorama on the left and continue out of the village. After a further 540m there is a junction with a road off to the right and spectacular view of the coast with Monolithos Castle perched atop a rocky outcrop. Take the road to the right. Keep to this road for 1km. It will initially bend round to the left then sharply bend to the right after which there is a double bend before it starts to straighten out again.
2. At this point there is a rough track on the left that veers off down the hillside (see above photo), take this, it soon levels out a little.
3. Keep to the track which passes by olive groves on the left. The going is easy, and the track is clear to follow.
4. After some 700m from leaving the road the track chicanes down the hillside and then leads into a wider area of scrub. Follow the track over this scrub, it turns around to the right almost going back upon itself.
5. At the edge this area there is a rocky path leading down. This is not totally clear but there are indications of people have walked this, including cairns to highlight the way. This is essentially a watercourse and may change with winter rains.
6. Once on this rocky route it soon becomes clear that this is the way to follow, albeit that it is not an easy walk. There are many boulders and rubble brought down by winter rains together with gullies eaten out by the flows. It is a case of choose the best way ahead. Cairns mark the way other walkers have used.
7. This section is a little challenging but persevere. It is not steep just full of obstacles. The total distance of this section is 500m but it does seem longer when negotiating it. Take your time and it can be achieved.
8. At the bottom is a smooth track, turn left and follow this. Take a congratulatory swig of water having conquered this part.
9. Keep to the track for 1.4 km
10. At this point a track leads off on the right and twist down to a small bay where a rocky outcrop known as Cape Kasaro extend into the ocean. A watchtower once stood here but there is little evidence remaining of this. To visit the cove is a total of 1,2km return distance and that is not included in the total distance of this walk.
11. Continue along the track a further 730m to meet the road.
12. At the road, if preferred one can turn left and follow the road back to Monolithos. This is 4.25km to get back to the starting point. Otherise turn right and proceed down to Fourni Beach which is 2.6 km following the road.Either way, the roads are open with little shade.
13, Thus far found, the only viable method of return is to follow the road back to Monolithos
Summary of Document Changes
Last Updated: 2024-02-18
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