CENTRAL EVIA

Skotini and the Kotylaia Mountains form part of the central Evia mountain range, which stretches for 40 kilometers, and constitute the continuation of the Dirfys–Xirovouni mountain mass. The wider area is characterized by limestone formations with intense karstification and countless dolines, poljes, karren, caves, and sinkholes. Karst, although often associated with caves, is in fact a complex system of surface and underground landforms, resulting from the dissolution of carbonate rocks by slightly acidic rainwater. The Kotylaia Mountains most likely owe their name to their geological structure and the impressive karstic depressions found on their central plateau. In antiquity, the kotyle was a bowl-shaped vessel used as a unit of volume measurement by both the Greeks and the Romans.
The central Evia range is covered with dense forests of Kefalonian Fir, endemic to Greece, which grow up to 1200–1300 meters of altitude. In places, they form mixed forests with chestnut trees, creating breathtaking images with shifting colors during the autumn months. Centuries-old walnut trees, remnants of other times, bear witness to long-standing human activity in these rugged and harsh areas. Giant plane trees, maples, and poplars grow along the streams, while the vegetation is complemented by kermes oaks, mountain cypresses, holm oaks, ash trees, service trees, yews, wild pears, and more. Dozens of Evian endemic plants, as well as many rare species, can be found along the way. In these inaccessible mountains, with their dense forests and rocky cliffs, dozens of bird species find shelter. You can read more about the flora and fauna of these mountain ranges here.

The first kilometers are covered on the steep main asphalt road toward Stropontes, gaining more than 600 meters of elevation. Entering the dirt road through the dense and characteristic local fir-chestnut forest, the main and more adventurous part of the route begins. The dirt road, easy to ride when free of mud, leads us to the Xirovouni–Skotini pass at 1150 meters altitude. The reward for the strenuous ascent is the breathtaking view of Xirovouni’s sheer cliffs.
The following relaxed and enjoyable kilometers descend through the fir forest to the famous Katavothra of Skotini and its namesake plateau. But the difficulties are not yet over. A rough dirt road circles Skotini from the south, initially uphill and then steeply downhill, strewn with loose rocks, thorns, and exposed to the sun, until it reaches the karstic highlands that define the Kotylaia. A steep rocky ascent leads to the summit of Koliadakos at 960 meters, and soon the route reconnects with a wide, well-maintained dirt road, marking the end of the first difficult half.
From there, the trail moves across rocky but fir-covered uplands, losing altitude slowly with gentle ups and downs and unique views of the surrounding mountains, before plunging into a plateau of walnut trees — a true cycling delight. From this point, a narrow but gently sloping path, gradually turning into an abandoned dirt road, leads to the famous and highly impressive, lush green plateaus of Vromonera. The route has one last short climb to a pass, but the finale offers a steep, exhilarating descent on a good dirt road and then on a narrow, very steep cement road (watch your brakes!), bringing us back to the starting point in Metochi.