Pyrgos (πύργος), Sykamia (Σθκαμία)-Panagia (παναγιά) and Serifos (Σεριφος)

The hike starts in Pyrgos. If you come by bus, ask the driver to drop you off there. If you are by car, it is better to park in Panagia where there is more space and walk to Pyrgos along the road.

Path no. 6 is signposted at the start and the markings are visible at intervals. You will soon come to a chicken coop (1), which you leave on your left and take the small path down to the right. (If you take the wrong path, you will arrive at a kennel where the "tenants" will bark at you to let you know you've made a mistake). Continuing downhill, you will pass the small chapel of Agios Polykarpos (Αγιος Πολυκαρπος) (2). Just after this, a large fig tree blocks the road. You will need to walk around it on the dry stone wall. The path continues through the grass to the small village of Galani (Γαλανη)(3). You may be lucky enough to meet a local, but there's no guarantee... At the exit of the village, there is a beautiful view of Sykamia beach, which you will soon reach by continuing downhill. You will finally arrive on flat ground, passing several vegetable gardens and fruit trees, and at the end of the path you will reach the beach (4) for a well-deserved swim.

If you still have energy left, you can continue along the rocks to the right of the beach. This is path no. 6A on the map. Follow the rough white paint markings to reach the small beach of Skala (5).

The return journey is via the path that starts at the other end of the beach near the Akrogiali tou Vitou tavern, where you can stock up on supplies. Please note that it is closed out of season! Take the first fork to the left (6), where you will now find the markings for path no. 5. Unlike the first part, you now have to climb almost continuously through tall grass. You will then reach the small chapel of Agia Barbara (7), where you can take a break to visit it. The key is on the door. The village of Panagia stands at the top and is easy to reach.

At the waypoint (8), you can choose to climb up the path through the grass or continue along the cement road, which then becomes paved, as indicated on the map (this is the option I took because I accompanied an old man with his donkey along part of this road! This second option is not the shortest or the most interesting, but in these circumstances, it was nice)

In Panagia, if it is open, take the time to visit the small church in the centre of the village.

An easy hike, but good shoes are necessary and walking sticks may be useful (continuous uphill and downhill). There is a tavern at Sykamia beach in high season only.